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
And for the Faulconer, though his Hawk have reach’d such
excellencies, as may exalt her praise as high, as her wings can
raise her body; yet, she must be taken down to a bare Lure. And the
painfull and skilfull Faulconer, who has applyed himselfe solely to
the humour of the brave Bird he carries, who must be courted as a
Mistresse, be she never so froward, and like a coy Mistresse, will
take check at any thing, when her liberty gives her license; and
though by a painfull and studied diligence, he have reclaimed her so,
as to flie at what, and when, and where, and how she is directed;
and she, by her own practice and observation, has learnt to know,
which Spaniell lies, and which tells truth, that accordingly she
may sleight the one, and regard the other; and with this, has all
other qualities that are excellent, in so noble and heroick a Bird:
Yet, this painfull diligence in the Faulconer, this rare perfection
in the Hawk, will be of little use, where there is neither Champion
to flie in, Brookes to flie over, nor Game to flie at. No mountie
at a Hieron, to cause the lusty Jerfaulcon to raise her to a losse
of her self, from the eyes of her Keeper, till by many dangerous
thorows, she binde with her Quarrie, and both come tumbling down
together. No teem of Ducks, or bunch of Teales, to cause the high
flying Haggard make her stooping, and strike her Quarrie dead. And
for the Ostringer, though his well-man’d Goshauk, or her bold mate
the Tarcell, draw a Covert nere so well; yet, no Eye of Phesants will
spring, or perch in these woods.
_The Eagle and the Sacre sure, here ever misse their prey.
Since Bustard and the Barnacle, are never in the way.
No Tarcel drawes a Covert here, no Lanner sits at mark;
No Merline flies a Partridge neer, no Hobbie dares a Lark._
Another pleasure, the better sort of the people of _England_ take
delight in, which, in my opinion, may be rather call’d a toyle then a
pleasure, and that is Race-Horses, forcing poor beasts beyond their
power, who were given us for our moderate use. These exercises are
too violent for hot Countries, and therefore we will forget them.
Shooting and Bowling may very well be used here; but at Butts onely,
and in Bares, or close Allies, for the turfe here will never be fine
enough for a Green, nor the ground soft enough, for an Arrow to fall
on. Amongst all the sports without dores, that are used in _England_,
these two are onely sufferable in the _Barbadoes_. But for the sports
within the house, they may all be used there, as, all sorts of
Gaming, _viz._ Chesse, Tables, Cards, Dice, Shovel-abord, Billiards;
and some kinds of Dances, but none of those that are laborious, as
high and loftie Capers, with Turnes above ground; these are too
violent for hot Countries.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account