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
Some men I have known in _England_, whose bodies are so strong and
able to endure cold, as no weather fits them so well as frost and
snow; such Iron bodies would be fit for a Plantation in Russia:
For, there is no traceing Hares under the Line, nor sliding on the
Ice under either Tropick. Others there are that have heard of the
pleasures of _Barbadoes_, but are loath to leave the pleasures
of England behind them. These are of a sluggish humour, and are
altogether unfit for so noble an undertaking; but if any such shall
happen to come there, he shall be transmitted to the innumerable
Armie of Pismires, and Ants, to sting him with such a reproof, as he
shall wish himselfe any where rather then amongst them. So much is
a sluggard detested in a Countrey, where Industry and Activity is
to be exercised. The Dwarfe may come there, and twice a year vie in
competition with the Giant: for set them both together upon a levell
superficies, and at noone, you shall not know by their shadowes who
is the tallest man.
The Voluptuous man, who thinks the day not long enough for him
to take his pleasure. Nor the sleepie man who thinks the longest
night too short for him to dreame out his delights, are not fit
to repose and solace themselves upon this Iland; for in the whole
compasse of the Zodiacke, they shall neither find St. Barnabies day,
or St. Lucies night, the Sun running an eeven course, is there an
indifferent Arbiter of the differences which are between those two
Saints, and like a just and cleere sighted Judge, reconciles those
extreams to a Medium, of 12 and 12 houres, which equality of time is
utterly inconsistent to the humours and dispositions of these men.
But I speak this, to such as have their fancies so Aereall, and
refin’d as not to be pleased with ordinary delight; but think to
build and settle a felicity here: above the ordinary levell of
mankind. Such spirits, are too volatile to fixe on businesse; and
therefore I will leave them out, as useless in this Common-wealth.
But such as are made of middle earth: and can be content to wave
those pleasures, which stand as Blocks, and Portcullisses, in their
way; and are indeed, the main Remoras in their passage to their
profits. Such may here find moderate delights, with moderate labour,
and those taken moderately will conduce much to their healths, and
they that have industry, to imploy that well, may make it the Ladder
to clyme to a high degree, of Wealth and opulencie, in this sweet
Negotiation of Sugar, provided they have a competent stock to begin
with; such I mean as may settle them in a Sugar-work, and lesse then
14000 l. sterling, will not do that: in a Plantation of 500 acres
of land, with a proportionable stock of Servants, Slaves, Horses,
Camels, Cattle, Assinigoes, with an Ingenio, and all other houseing,
thereunto belonging; such as I have formerly nam’d.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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