A true & exact history of the island of BarbadosLigon, Richard
History
A true & exact history of the island of Barbados
Ligon, Richard
Barbados -- Description and travel; Plants -- Barbados; Sugar -- Manufacture and refining -- Barbados
I will trouble you no more, with mentioning the variety of shapes
and colours of fishes, till I come to St. _Jago_; onely one, and
that a very small one; for his body is not much bigger then a large
Pomegranate, and yet his faculties are such, as may draw more eyes to
look on him and more mindes to consider him, then the Vast _Whale_:
for though it be true, that his large body, appearing above the
surface of the water being in calmes a smooth leavell superficies,
and suddenly appearing, is one of the strangest and most monstrous
sights that can be in nature; (and the more admirable, when he is
incountred by his two mortall enemies, the _Sword_ and _Theshal_
fishes. For to shake them off, he leapes more then his owne length,
above water; and in his fall, beats the sea with such violence, as
the froth and foame is seen a quarter of an houre after, White, as
when ’tis beaten by a strong West wind against a Rock; and at other
times, spouts out the Water in great quantities; the height of an
ordinary Steeple.) Yet this great master-piece of Nature, is not in
my opinion so full of wonder, nor doth raise the consideration to
such a height: as this little fish the _Carvill_, who can when he
pleases, enjoy himselfe with his neighbour fishes, under water; And
when he putts on a resolution to trie his fortune in another Element,
the _Ayer_, he riseth to the top of the sea, let the billow go never
so high, and there without the help of a sayler, Raises up his maine
Mast, spreads his sayles, which he makes of his own sinewes, fits
his Rudder and Ballast, and begins his voyage; But to what Coast he
is bound, or what trafique he intends, himselfe and He that made
him onely can tell. Fishes there are none to prey on, nor flies,
and therefore ’tis not for food he travailes; I have seen them 500
leagues from any land, if his voyage be to any Port, he must have a
long time and much patience to get thither; if to sea, hee’s there
already; in one thing he hath the advantage of any ship that ever
sayled: for he can go neerer the wind by a poynt, then the most yare
Friggot that ever was built. Which shewes how farre Nature can exceed
Art. Another advantage he has, that in the greatest Tempest, he never
feares drowning. Compasse, nor Card he needs not, for he is never out
of his way; whether then his voyage be for pleasure or profit we are
yet to seeke.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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