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
the people of _England_, which for their value were not worthy her
acceptance, yet for their Novelty, they might be of some esteem, such
having bin worn by the great Queens of _Europe_, & intreated her to
vouchsafe to receive them. She with much gravity, and reservedness,
opened the paper; but when she lookt on them, the Colours pleased her
so, as she put her gravity into the loveliest smile that I have ever
seen. And then shewed her rowes of pearls, so clean, white, Orient,
and well shaped, as _Neptunes_ Court was never pav’d with such as
these; & to shew whether was whiter, or more Orient, those or the
whites of her eyes, she turn’d them up, & gave me such a look, as was
a sufficient return for a far greater present, and withall wisht, I
would think of somewhat wherein she might pleasure me, and I should
finde her both ready and willing. And so with a gracefull bow of her
neck, she took her way towards her own house; which was not above a
stones cast from the _Padres_. Other addresses were not to be made,
without the dislike of the _Padre_, for they are there as jealous of
their Mistrisses, as the _Italians_ of their wives.
In the afternoon we took leave, and went aboard; where we remained
three or four days; about which time, some passengers of the ship,
who had no great store of linnen for shift, desired leave to go
ashoare and took divers women along with them, to wash their linnen.
But (it seem’d) the _Portugalls_, and _Negroes_ too, found them
handsome and fit for their turnes, and were a little Rude, I cannot
say Ravisht them; for the Major part of them, being taken from
Bridewell, Turnboule street, and such like places of education, were
better natur’d then to suffer such violence; yet complaints were
made, when they came aboard, both of such abuses, and stealing their
linnen.
But such a praise they gave of the place, as we all were desirous
to see it: for, after the Raine, every day gave an increase to the
beauty of the place, by the budding out of new fruits and flowers.
This was the valley on the left side of the Hill, more spacious and
beautifull by much than that on the right hand, where the _Padre_
dwelt. The next day, a dozen Gentlemen of our company, resolv’d to
go and see this so much admired valley, and when our Saylers with
their long boat went to fetch water, (as dayly they did,) we went
along with them and landed there, in as high going Billows, as I have
ever seen, so near the land. Much adoe we had, to be carried to land
though on mens backs, and yet the grapple came as near the shoare as
they durst bring it, for bulging against the bottome.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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