making him a clear Stage, that the beſt Pair of Heels might carry it; ſo he loſt the Suit of Cloaths, and before he could return to his Bag, others of them had beat off his Servant, and ſhared the reſt.
Moſt of the Ships from Guiney, of their own Nation, and frequently thoſe of ours, call at one or other of theſe Iſlands, to recruit with freſh Proviſions, and take in Water, which on the Coaſt are not ſo good, nor ſo conveniently to come by: Their own Ships likewiſe, when they touch here, are obliged to leave the King his Cuſtom for their Slaves, which is always in Gold, at ſo much a Head, without any Deduction at Braſil, for the Mortality that may happen afterwards; this by being a conſtant Bank to pay off the civil and military Charges of the Government, prevents the Inconveniency of Remittances, and keeps both it and Princes Iſle rich enough to pay ready Money for every Thing they want of Europeans.
Their Beefs are ſmall and lean, (two hundred Weight or a little more,) but the Goats, Hogs and Fowls very good, their Sugar courſe and dirty, and Rum very ordinary; as theſe Refreſhments lay moſt with People who are in want of other Neceſſaries, they come to us in Way of bartering, very cheap: A good Hog for an old Cutlaſh; a fat Fowl for a Span of Braſil Tobacco, (no other Sort being valued, &c.) But with Money you give eight Dollars per Head for Cattle; three Dollars for a Goat; ſix Dollars for a grown Hog; a Teſtune and a Half for a Fowl; a Dollar per Gallon for Rum; two Dollars a Roove for Sugar; and half a Dollar for a Dozen of Paraquets: Here is Plenty likewiſe of Corn and Farine, of Limes, Citrons and Yamms.
The Iſland is reckoned nigh a Square, each Side 18 Leagues long, hilly, and lays under the Æqui-
