particukriy, lo tbe otBer West Jfldia i^lajids. It is said to cure many
of the disorders prevalent here» and j I liave bee»] assn red* fey a gentleman
whoas ft: native Baiiaaidóé% that k will even stop the progress
of the leprosy* if taken in time.- How fortunate would this
discovery fee,tvas till y®t so manyjfether experiments to ;©urei this;
disorder have been in vai®, ,The personifrom whom I had thi&aemunt
is a gentfeman :of greak veraci ty ; hot perhaps he was .mistaken in
the appearanoe jofi the disorder, which might not have been the-
leprosy-
The eemmonopeople use the Harfeadoes tar, not only as a valuable
medicine», but likewise in lamps instead of oil. a
Owingcto the great hurricanes. to which Barbadoes is exposed,,
the planters cannot depend en the growing of the banana, which-
is the favourite nourkbijient of the negroes,, fc» its roots do>
not strike deep into the earth, and '■ its 1 dargé leaves nbfwigr < sopn
caught by the high winds, the plant is rooted up, wherefore the
principal diet here for the negroes is rice, Indian corn, cassava,
yams, and other vegetables; but what will give you the most plea-.
sure to hear, is, that in all my walks, which have: been so. frequent
through many plantations and in different times of the day, I never
heard the unmerciful stripes of a whip, nor the groaning of a suffering
slave.
The long wished for squadron to protort: thisdsland is arrived,
and the inhabitants in consequence are become more cheerful in
their conversation; but I shall not be able ito enjoy the pleasure o f
it, as we sail to-morrow; I will therefore leave this letter here, with
a request that it may be sent to Europe by the first opportunity.
- Unless the Jason had been taken by the privateer, I should not
havé seen so soon a part of the West Indies; notwi thstanding
it was my plan, should there be a general peace before I left South
America, to take into my lour the principal islands. I might
then have travelled over all the country more to the satisfaction.
of myself and my,letters would of -course have proved mop Interesting
; but I amrtsensible, that you will consider this has been a
voyage, performed entirely against my will,,, and therefore will
accept kindly these few remarks« Earewell.