The Negros are of several sorts, from the several places of Guinea, which are reckoned the best Slaves, those from the East-Indies or Madagascins, are reckoned good enough, but too choice in their Diet, being accustomed in their own Countries to Flesh Meat, &c. and do not well here, but very often die. Those who are Creolians, born in the Island, or taken from the Spaniards, are reckoned more worth than others in that they are season'd to the Island.
Clothing of the Island is much as in England, especially of the better sort, that of the Indians and Negros is a little Canvass Jacket and Breeches, given them at Christmas. It seems to me the Europeans do not well, who coming from a cold Country, continue here to Cloth themselves after the same manner as in England, whereas all Inhabitants between the Tropics go even almost naked, and Negros and Indians live almost so here, their Cloths serving them but a very small part of the year.
When they sleep they unty their Breeches, and loosen thir Girdles, finding by experience this Custom healthy, and there is good reason for it, for by that means the Circulation of the blood is not interrupted, and so consequently humours are not deposited in the several parts of the Body, which ever follows such interruption.
The Buildings of the Spaniards on this Island were usually one Story high, having a Porch, Parlour, and at each end a Room, with small ones behind for Closets, &c. They built with Posts put deep in the ground, on the sides their Houses were plaistered up with Clay on Reeds, or made of the split Truncs of Cabbage-Trees nail'd close to one another, and covered with Tiles, or Palmetto Thatch. The Lowness, as well as fixing the Posts deep in the Earth, was for fear their Houses should be ruin'd by Earthquakes, as well as for Coolness.
The Houses built by the English, are for the most part Brick, and after the English manner, which are neither cool, nor able to endure the shocks of Earthquakes. The Kitchens, or Cook-Rooms here, are always at a small distance from their Houses, because of the heat and smell, which are both noisom and troublesome.
There are no Chimneys or Fire-places in their Houses, but in the Cook-Room, this word is used to signifie their Kitchen, and is a Sea word, as many others of that Country.
The Houses of considerable Planters are usually removed from their Sugar, or other Works, that they may be free from the noise and smells of them, which are very offensive.
The Negroes Houses are likewise at a distance from their Masters, and are small, oblong, thatch'd Huts, in which they have all their Moveables or Goods, which are generally a Mat to lie on, a Pot of Earth to boil their Victuals in, either Yams, Plantains, or Po-tatoes,
