Page 227
An.1685
Indico. Otta or Anatta.
great Fields of it, and I think they sow it every year; but I did never see the Seeds it bears. In- dico is produced all over the West Indies, on most of the Caribbee Islands, as well as the Main; yet no part of the Main yields such great quantities both of Indico and Otta as this Country about Guatimala. I believe that Otta is made now only by the Spani- ards; for since the destroying that at the Angels Plantation in Jamaica, I have not heard of any improvement made of this commodity by our Countrymen any where; and as to Jamaica, I have since been informed, that 'tis wholy left off there. I know not what quantities either of Indico or Ot- ta are made at Cuba or Hispaniola: but the place most used by our Jamaica Sloops for these things is the Island Porto Rico, where our Jamaica Tra- ders did use to buy Indico for 3 Rials, and Otta for 4 Rials the pound; which is but 2s. 3d. of our Money: and yet at the same time Otta was worth in Jamaica 5s. the pound, and Indico 3s. 6d. the pound; and even this also paid in Goods; by which means alone they got 50 or 60 per Cent. Our Traders had not then found the way of trading with the Spaniards in the Bay of Honduras; but Captain Coxon went thither (as I take it) at the be- ginning of the year 1679. under pretence to cut Logwood, and went into the Gulf of Matique, which is in the bottom of that Bay. There he landed with his Canoas, and took a whole Store- house full of Indico and Otta in Chests, piled up in several parcels, and marked with different marks, ready to be shipt aboard two Ships that then lay in the road purposely to take it in; but these Ships could not come at him it being fhole- water. He opened some of the Chests of Indico, and supposing the other Chests to be all of the same species, ordered his Men to carry them away. They immediately set to work, and took the nearest at hand;