A true & exact history of the island of Barbados

by Richard Ligon

Now if we go by the rule of Three, and say, If 16 inches diamiter make 200 foot high, what shall 25 inches? And by this rule we shall prove her to be 312 foot high. But the branches of this tree were all carried away, so that I could see none of them. But I have measured a branch of one of those trees of 200 foot high, and found it 25 foot long. So then, by the same Rule: If 200 foot high bear a branch of 25 foot long, what shall a Tree of 312 foot high do? And I see by the same Rule, it appears to be 39 foot long. And one of these trees, after she comes to bear fruit, will have no lesse then 20 branches at once, (but many more in her nonage) and halfe of them hold this length. I have seen a branch of one of these small trees of 200 foot high, fallen down, and blown from the tree in the falling, twenty paces off, which has made me admire from whence it should come: For, the tree being of so great a height, the branches lose much of their bignesse and length by their distance: But, lying on the ground, where we can take the just measure, we find what they are. And it is an admirable thing, to see the form of this sprig or branch, which is not above two inches broad where it joynes to the film, and is lessening of the breadth from that end to the point, which is twenty five foot long, so insensible, as it is not possible to discern where the diminution is. So smooth, so eeven, so firme and tough, as though it be not wood, ’tis much stronger, and abler to endure the weather, or any kinde of bending. The leaves that grow upon this stalk, are all of them (unlesse towards the points) two foot long; that part which touches the stalk, small, but strong enough to bear the leafe, and has a little short stalk, to which the leafe growes, which leafe is as exactly form’d, as the stalk, growing by degrees, to make two inches broad in the middle, and losing that breadth insensibly to the point. These leaves are thin, but tough enough, to endure the strongest winde that blowes, without being broken, and not above four inches distant one from another; which multiplicity of leaves, makes the beauty of the tree the fuller. About the time this tree parts with her belly, & growes to a slender kind of shape, she drawes up amongst her roots some of the soyle that bred her, about two foot higher than the levell of ground that is neer it; and by reason it is held in by an infinity of small roots, that come from the body, it there remaines firm, and falls not down; the outside of this earth is about a foot round about, broader than the diameter of the tree; so that if the diameter of the tree be a foot, the diameter of this earth is three foot at top, but somewhat more below; for the sides are not so steep, as to hold one breadth above and below. If this earth were beautifull, smooth, and large enough, it might be called the Pedistan to that Corinthian Pillar, the Palmeto Royall. But what is wanting in the Pedistall, is supplyed in the dimensions of the Pillar; for, the Corinthian Pillar is allowed for length but nine of her own diameters, and this will not aske leave to take 150. which makes her the more beautifull, since the strength she hath, is able to support the weight she bears: And for the Architrave, Frize, and Cornise, they are not to be compar’d with the beauty of the head of this Pillar, together with the fruit & supporters. And I believe, if Vitruvius, himself had ever bin where this Pillar grew, he would have chang’d all his deckings and garnishings of Pillars, according to the form of this. And though the Corinthian Pillar be a Columne laciviously deckt, like a Curtesan, and therein participating (as all inventions do) of the place where they were first born; (Corinth having been without controversy, one of the wantonnest Townes in the world) yet, this wants nothing of her beauty, and yet is chast, which makes her the more admirable and the more worthy to be prised. One thing more I have to say of this tree, which is not onely the root that brings forth all this beauty, but the root of much admiration and wonder; that, being a tree of that height, bearing a top of so vast an extent, as from the point of the branches of one side, to the point of the stalk on the other side, to be 78 foot, upon which, the winde cannot but have a main power and force; yet, I never saw any of them blown down, nor any root of this tree bigger then a Swans quill: but there are many of them, and they fasten themselves in the Rocks, which hold them very firm. The wood of this tree is so extream hard, and tough withall, as most of the axes that are employed to fell them, are broken in the work; and they are well enough serv’d, for cutting down such beauty. The use our Planters made of them at first comming, before they knew how to make shingles, was, to saw the bodies of these trees to such lengths, as might reach from the ridge pole, to the Eves of the house; for, they were hollow, and then sawing them long-wise, there were two concaves, which they laid together, setting the hollow sides upward; and where they close, one to cover them, with the hollow side downward, and so the whole house over. And this was the use they made of the bodies of these Trees, for which, very many of them were destroyed.

page. 78.

This plant here exprest is of the least Magnitude being but a foot in diametre, and the height som what less then 100 tymes his owne diametre; But there have bin some growing upon the Iland, which have bin two foot diametre, and have bin 150 tymes theyr owne diametre, which is 300 foot high.

But, I doubt, I have tir’d you with the naming of so many trees, and therefore I will give over; but, with this rule; that which way soever I have travelled, (from the place I dwelt) either East, West, North, or South; (but four miles distant) I have still found trees, such as I had never seen before, and not one of those I have named, and many of them extreamly large and beautifull. And the neerer the middle of the Iland, the larger the trees, and the leaves: so that from trees of a hundred foot high, to diminution of twenty; and from leaves of eighteen inches long, with a proportionable breadth to that length, to the smal ones of halfe an inch, which most of the trees bear that are neer the Bridge, and, I think, neer the Sea, every where you shall finde many, and the most such. And the reason I have given before; the land in the highest part of the Iland, being very rich mould, and that neer the Sea being sandy light earth. And in the partings or twists of the branches of those trees, (which I have not named) such excrescences grow out, as are strange for their formes, and no doubt medicinable in their natures; such as is our Misleto, or Polypodium, and much larger, and more frequent; but we want skilfull men, to find out their vertues.

Plants that bear fruit. Ginger.

There are (besides the Bay-leaves, which, as I told you, might serve for Cloves, Mace, and Cinamon) two sorts of spices, Ginger, and red-Pepper: The Ginger being a root which brings forth blades, not unlike in shape to the blades of Wheat, but broader and thicker, for they cover the ground so, as you cannot see any part of it. They are of a popinjay colour, the blossome a pure scarlet. When ’tis ripe, we dig up the roots, (cutting off the blades) and put them into the hands of an Overseer, who sets many of the young Negres to scrape them, with little knives; or small iron spuds, ground to an edge. They are to scrape all the outward skin off, to kill the spirit; for, without that, it will perpetually grow. Those that have Ginger; and not hands to dresse it thus, are compell’d to scald it, to kill the spirit; and that Ginger is nothing so good as the other, for it will be hard as wood, and black; whereas the scrapt Ginger is white and soft, and has a cleaner and quicker taste.

Red Pepper.

There is of this kinde two sorts, the one so like a childs Corall, as not to be discerned at the distance of two paces; a crimson and scarlet mixt, the fruit about three inches long, and shines more then the best polisht Corall. The other, of the same colour, and glistering as much, but shap’t like a large button of a Cloak; both of one and the same quality; both so violently strong, as when we break but the skin, it sends out such a vapour into our lungs; as we fall all a coughing; which lasts a quarter of an hour after the fruit is removed; but, as long as we are garbling it, we never give over. This Spice the Spaniards love, and will have it in all their meat, that they intend to have picant; for a greater Hough goo is not in the World. Garlick is faint and cool to it. It growes on a little shrub, no bigger then a Goosbery-bush.

Cucumber.