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
Are here of exceeding great use in the Iland, in carrying our sugars
down to the bridge which by reason of the gullies, the Horses cannot
doe: besides when the great raines fall the wayes are so deep, and
full of roots, as when a horse puts in his legge between two roots,
he can hardly pull it out againe, having a great weight on his back;
and if he fall, ’tis hard lifting him up. Whereas the Assinigoes
pick and choose their way, and sometimes choose out little wayes in
the wood, such as they know are fit for them to passe, which horses
cannot doe, because the wayes are too narrow for them, or if they
were not, they would want much the wit of the Assinigoes, to pick and
choose their way. And if by chance the Assinigoes fall, two _Negroes_
are able to help him up, and we seldome use more then two, for
assistance to the Christian that has the charge of the carriages.
One of these Assinigoes will carry 150 weight of sugar; some of the
strongest 200 weight; our Planters have been very desirous if it were
possible to get Mules there, for they would be of excellent use, in
carrying their sugars, and working in the Ingenio; but they had got
none when I was there, but they were making trialls, either to get
some of those, or some large Horse Assinigoes, to breed with the
Mares of that Country.
[Sidenote: _Hogges._]
We have here in abundance, but not wild or loose, for if they
were they would do more harme then their bodies are worth; they
are enclos’d, and every man knows his own, those that reare them
to sell, do commonly sell them for a groat a pound; weighing them
alive; sometimes six pence if flesh be deere. There was a Planter
in the Iland, that came to his neighbour and said to him: Neighbour
I hear you have lately bought good store of servants, out of the
last ship that came from England, and I heare withall, that you want
provisions, I have great want of a woman servant; and would be glad
to make an exchange; If you will let me have some of your womans
flesh, you shall have some of my hoggs flesh; so the price was set
a groat a pound for the hogges flesh, and sixe pence for the Womans
flesh. The scales were set up, and the Planter had a Maid that was
extreame fat, lasie, and good for nothing. Her name was _Honor_; The
man brought a great fat sow, and put it in one scale: and _Honor_ was
put in the other, but when he saw how much the Maid outwayed his Sow:
he broke off the bargaine, and would not go on: though such a case as
this, may seldome happen, yet ’tis an ordinary thing there, to sell
their servants to one another for the time they have to serve; and in
exchange, receive any commodities that are in the Iland; I have said
as much already of the largeness weight and goodnesse of these hogs
as is needful, and therefore I shall need no more.
[Sidenote: _Sheepe._]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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