I took a Tide with Mr. C. toa plantation where there were many,
bread fruit-trees from Otaheite• :büt'the frok;ii^ii>tyet* come té
such degree of perfection as to be judged of by the taste. I was
still more disappointed ih a tour which we took, for the purpose of
seeing a particular kind of animal plant,; 8Ü sêa polypus,' growing
here in one of the grottoes close to the sea shore; but'the waves
were dashing so violently against the passage as to make it impossible
to pass through. I have been twice since, and was each time
prevented by the same obstacle.
Having spent a week in the pleasant and interesting company of
Mr. and Mrs. C. I received a letter from Mr. I* G.Kinforming me
that the vessel in which he had taken a place as well as myself,
was to sail in a few days ; I therefore hastened to return to Bridgetown
h y the same road that I came. The appearance of the country,
though, made pleasant by a number of handsome houses, and well,
cultivated' fields, yet is too scanty in frees to render it a fine landscape
; a dark shaded forest would undoubtedly prove an admirable
contrast to the other parts of the scenery, which are too highly
illuminated by the brilliant light of the Tropics, for in this climate
the view Of a large cluster of trees always affords an agreeable sensation,
as conveying the idea of a cool and refreshing air.
The records of the West Indies assert, that when the first Europeans
landed in Barbadoes, they found the island entirely forsaken
by its former inhabitants. The Indians probably had sought a settlement
elsewhere, when this island hadfailed in supplying them with
game and fruit. The Portugueze, who landed here in a voyage
from South America to Europe, found little inclination to form an
establishment, as the extensive coast of the rich and fertile country
Of the Brazils, which they had lately discovered, employed all their
attention. The next visitants were the English ; and their settlers,
though few at first, considerably increased during the time£ of the
civil war, by the emigration of many royalists, who came to settle
a t Barbadoes; and their successors have always shewn a great
fecefathers. By the industry of
those exiles from their native soil, the island became very'flourishing';
It has however* suffered by several violènt hurricanes, and of
fete ir-has fallen off very much in colonial produce;*.which renders
it necessary to manure the soil: this is ; done by the cattle being
penned in at night, and lodged on a bed made of the refuse of
Sugar cubes, and other waste materials which useful compost
being mixed and trod together enriches the land, and occasions a
good.’crop. Though.this* addition, ofisibour and expense, to which
the first planters ‘ivefe hot accustomed, seems riot very; favourable
fefe the ^ppi^ntrdultivatioh, it has the material advantage of rearing
cattle, by which means the market' is well supplied, and Barbadoes,
nf course, is less exposed to the want of provisions in time ,of war,
than many of the other, islands. 11
The cattle here are rather small and lean, but swift. Whether this
is.owing to the effect of the climate, or the manner of feeding and
keeping them,' I have had no ..opportunity of observing; six oxen
are sometimes put to a Waggon, which might easily be drawn by
half tlie number of the European breed. As I am speaking he^e . of
cattle, it has been told me, that the bu tchers at Barbadoes never kill
an’ ox before all its parts are sold to their different customers, which
in this climate is certainly the best practice, as then the purchasers
always get their meat quite fresh besides which they may seê that
the animal is in perfect health before it is killed, as we in Europe
have ,not the pleasure of doing. The butcher’s meat, however, is
indifferent, but the fowls are excellent, numbers of which ar*e reared
by the free negroes.' Besides! the principal articles of sugar.and;
cotton* for the West India market, na Lure produces. here a liquid
used in medicine, known by the name of Barbadoes tar, which; is
found in pitsnear the rocks. If many accounts of its beneficial virtues
are not exaggerated, it should seem.to merit a greater exportation,