ed. Their hides are from eleven to thirteen feet
long.

It is now time to speak of the French who inhabit great part of this
island. We have already told how they came first into these parts: we
shall now only describe their manner of living, customs, and ordinary
employments. The callings or professions they follow are generally but
three, either to hunt or plant, or else to rove the seas as pirates. It
is a constant custom among them all, to seek out a comrade or companion,
whom we may call partner in their fortunes, with whom they join the
whole stock of what they possess towards a common gain. This is done by
articles agreed to, and reciprocally signed. Some constitute their
surviving companion absolute heir to what is left by the death of the
first: others, if they be married, leave their estates to their wives
and children; others, to other relations. This done, every one applies
himself to his calling, which is always one of the three
afore-mentioned.

The hunters are again subdivided into two sorts; for some of these only
hunt wild bulls and cows, others only wild boars. The first of these are
called bucaniers, and not long ago were about six hundred on this
island, but now they are reckoned about three hundred. The cause has
been the great decrease of wild cattle, which has been such, that, far
from getting, they now are but poor in their trade. When the bucaniers
go into the woods to hunt for wild bulls and cows, they commonly remain
there a twelvemonth or two years, without returning home. After the hunt
is over, and the spoil divided, they commonly sail to Tortuga, to
provide themselves with guns, powder, and shot, and other necessaries
for another expedition; the rest of their gains they spend prodigally,
giving themselves to all manner of vices and debauchery, particularly to
drunkenness, which they practise mostly with brandy: this they drink as
liberally as the Spaniards do water. Sometimes they buy together a pipe
of wine; this they stave at one end, and never cease drinking till it is
out. Thus sottishly they live till they have no money left. The said
bucaniers are very cruel and tyrannical to their servants, so that
commonly they had rather be galley-slaves, or saw Brazil wood in the
rasphouses of Holland, than serve such barbarous masters.

The second sort hunt nothing but wild boars; the flesh of these they
salt, and sell it so to the planters. These hunters have the same
vicious customs, and ar