Page 101
An. 1684
Dildoe-tree. Burton-wood.
West from the Line, as far as 5 degrees N. but we saw not above 14 or 15. They are some of them 7 or 8 leagues long, and 3 or 4 broad. They are of a good heighth, most of them flat and even on the top; 4 or 5 of the Eastermost are rocky, barren, and hilly, producing neither Tree, Herb, nor Grass; but a few Dildoe-trees, except by the Sea side. The Dildoe-tree is a green prickly shrub, that grows a- bout 10 or 12 foot high, without either Leaf or Fruit. It is as big as a mans Leg, from the root to the top, and it is full of sharp prickles, growing in thick rows from top to bottom: This shrub is fit for no ufe, not fo much as to burn. Close by the Sea there grows in some places bushes of Burton-wood, which is very good firing. This fort of Wood grows in many places in the Weft Indies, especially in the Bay of Campeachy, and in the Sambaloes. I did never fee any in these Seas but here. There is Water on these barren Islands, in ponds and holes among the Rocks: Some other of these Islands are mostly plain and low, and the Land more fertile; producing Trees of divers forts, unknown to us. Some of the Westermoft of these Islands, are 9 or 10 leagues long, and 6 or 7 broad; the Mould deep and black. These produce Trees of great and tall bo- dies, especially Mammee-trees, which grow here in great Groves. In these large Islands there are some pretty big Rivers; and on many of the other lesser Islands, there are Brooks of good Water. The Spa- niards when they first discovered these Islands, found multitudes of Guanoes, and Land-turtle or Tortoife, and named them the Gallapago's Islands. I do be- lieve there is no place in the World, that is fo plentifully stored with these Animals. The Gua- noes, here, are as fat and large, as any that I ever faw; they are fo tame, that a man may knock down 20 in an hours time with a club. The Land-turtle are here fo numerous, that 5 or 600 men might subsist