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
[Sidenote: _The Length of daies._]
When the Sun is in the _Æquinoctiall_, or within 10 Degrees of
either side, we finde little change in the daies length; for at six
and six the Sun rises and sets: but when he is neer the Tropick of
_Capricorn_, and is 37 Degrees from us, we finde a difference; for
then, the day is somewhat shorter, and we perceive that shortning, to
begin about the end of _October_; the _Crepusculum_ being then not
much longer then at other times, which is not halfe the length, as
’tis with us in _England_.
At the time of new _Moon_, we finde both her Corners equally high,
when the Sun is neer us; but when it is at the distance of 37 Degrees
to the Southward, we finde some difference; for then it hangs not
so equall, but one end is higher then the other, by reason of the
position we are in.
[Sidenote: _Temperature of the ayre._]
Eight months of the year, the weather is very hot, yet not so
scalding, but that servants, both Christians, and slaves, labour and
travell tenne hours in a day.
As the Sunne rises, there arises with him coole breezes of wind, and
the higher and hotter the sunne shines, the stronger and cooler the
breezes are, and blow alwaies from the Nore East, and by East, except
in the time of the _Turnado_: And then it sometimes chops about into
the South, for an hour or two, and then returnes againe to the same
poynt where it was. The other foure months it is not so hot, but is
neer the temper of the aire in England, in the middle of May, and
though in the hot seasons we sweat much, yet we doe not finde that
faintnesse, that we finde here, in the end of July, or beginning of
August. With this great heat, there is such a moysture, as must of
necessity cause the ayer to be very unwholsome.
We are seldome drye or thirsty, unlesse we overheat our bodyes with
extraordinary labour, or drinking strong drinks; as of our English
spirits, which we carry over, of french Brandy, or the drinke of the
Iland, which is made of the skimmings of the Coppers, that boyle
the Sugar, which they call kill-Divell. And though some of these be
needfull if they be used with temper; yet the immoderate use of them,
over-heats the body, which causes Costivenesse, and Tortions in the
bowels; which is a disease very frequent there; and hardly cur’d,
and of which many have dyed, but certainely, strong drinks are very
requisit, where so much heat is; for the spirits being exhausted with
much sweating, the inner parts are left cold and faint, and shall
need comforting, and reviving. Besides, our bodyes having bin used to
colder Clymates, finde a debility, and a great fayling in the vigour,
and sprightliness we have in colder Climats; our blood too, is
thinner and paler than in our own Countreys. Nor is the meat so well
relisht as in England; but flat and insipid, the hogges flesh onely
excepted, which is indeed the best of that kinde that I thinke is in
the world.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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