es; whether it were as having enough to satiate
themselves without ravening upon others, or that they never before saw
the sight of man, nor heard the report of murdering Guns, I leave it to
others to determine. Some Trees bearing wild Fruits we also saw, and
of those some whereof we tailed, which were neither unwholsome nor
distasteful to the Pallate, and no question had but Nature here the
benefit of Art added unto [77]it, it would equal, if not exceed many
of our European Countries; the Vallyes were every where intermixt with
running streams, and no question but the earth {{22 }} hath in it rich
veins of Minerals, enough to satisfie the desires of the most covetous.

It was very strange to us, to see that in such a fertile Countrey which
was as yet never inhabited, there should be notwithstanding such a free
and clear passage to us, without the hinderance of Bushes, Thorns, and
such like fluff, wherewith most Islands of the like nature are pestered:
the length of the Grass (which yet was very much intermixt with flowers)
being the only impediment that we found.

Six dayes together did we thus travel, setting several marks in our way
as we went for our better return, not knowing whether we should have the
benefit of the Stars for our guidance in our going back, which we made
use of in our passage: at last we came to the vast Ocean on the other
side of the Island, and by our coasting it, conceive it to be of an
oval form, only here and there shooting forth with some Promontories.
I conceive it hath but few good Harbours belonging to it, the Rocks in
most places making it inaccessible. The length of it may be about two
hundred, and the breadth one hundred miles, the whole in circumference
about five hundred miles.

It lyeth about seventy six degrees of Longitude, and twenty of Latitude,
being scituate under the third Climate, the longest day being about
thirteen hours and fourty five minutes. The weather, as in all Southern
Countries, is far more hot than with us in Europe; but what is by the
Sun parched in the day, the night again refreshes with cool pearly dews.
The Air is found to [78]be very healthful by the long lives {{23 }} of
the present inhabitants, few dying there till such time as they come to
good years of maturity, many of them arriving to the extremity of old
age.

And now speaking concerning the length of their Lives, I think it will
not be amisse in this place to speak something of their Burials, whic