every day, 'tis the place where the Governour usually resides, and where the Courts of Justice and Records of the Island are kept. It was very great in the Spaniards time, and then consisted of Two thousand Houses built all in good order, every Street running parallel to or else piercing the others at right Angles, being broad and very long. It had four Churches and a Monastery. 'Tis situated on the Banks of the Rio Cobre, and has Plains on each side of it for several Miles. Here the Assembly and Supream Courts reside, which must make this place in some time very considerable. There were here some few Palisadoed Houses defended with Guns, but now they are ruin'd. When the Island was taken, the Soldiers burnt many of the Houses, neglected the rest, and made it so much below what it was formerly, that now they reckon its straggling Houses to be reduced to three hundred. Either this Place or Old Harbour, were called formerly Oristan. Here lived formerly the Spanish Governor, who had about One thousand, or Two thousand Pieces of Eight Income, more or less, according to his Profits by Trade. The Duke of Veraguas, who was descended from Columbus, and whose Ancestors had been Proprietors of the Island from the time of Fernand and Isabella, had for Anchorage, and other dues, about three or four thousand Pieces of Eight yearly Revenue from this Governor and Island, as the Spaniards inform'd Sir Thomas Lynch.
Besides these places, there are several other, as Morant, Withy-Wood, &c. but neither are they strong, nor very considerable.
I was resolved to go to the North-side of the Island, and visit the Mountains between it and the South side, to see what they brought forth. Wherefore I got some Gentlemen of the Country, one who drew in Crayons, a very good Guide, and a sure-footed Horse, and set out. Having passed Sixteen Miles Walk before-mentioned, where are some of the best and securest Plantations of the Island, I came to the Magotty, a large Savanna or Plain. I met here, growing in great plenty, a sort of small and low sensible Plant, not described by any person. If any one mov'd a Switch or Whip over it, as a Pen on Paper, the forms of the Letters remain'd legible for some time after: this is describ'd hereafter. I went on towards Mount Diablo, at the bottom of which, being benighted, I lay. The Horses of our Company were tied with Withs, and fed upon such Grass as they could reach. My Company and I went into a Hunters Hut, and lay on Plantain and Palm-Leaves all night. Our Sleep was very much interrupted by the Croaking of a sort of Tree-Frogs, described hereafter, the singing of Grashoppers, and noise of night Animals. We got up early inthe
