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An. 1681
Isle of Querisao.
mas, which is an Island, and Free Port, belonging to the Danes, and a Sanctuary for Privateers, he would send a Sloop with such Goods as we wanted, and Money to buy the Sugar, which he would take at a certain rate; but it was not agreed to.
Querisao is the only Island of importance that the Dutch have in the West-Indies. It is about 5 leagues in length, and may be 9 or 10 in circumference: the Northernmost point is laid down in North lat. 12 d. 40 m. and it is about 7 or 8 leagues from the Main, near Cape Roman. On the South side of the East end is a good harbour, called Santa Barbara; but the chiefest harbour is about 3 leagues from the S. E. end, on the South side of it; where the Dutch have a very good Town, and a very strong Fort. Ships bound in thither must be sure to keep close to the Harbour's mouth, and have a Hafar or Rope ready to send one end ashore to the Fort: for there is no Anchoring at the entrance of the Harbour, and the Current always sets to the Westward. But being got in, it is a very secure Port for Ships, either to Careen, or lye safe. At the East end are two hills, one of them is much higher than the other, and steepeft toward the North side. The rest of the island is indifferent level; where of late some rich Men have made Sugar works; which formerly was all pa- sture for Cattle: there are also some small Planta- tions of Potatoes and Yames, and they have still a great many Cattle on the Island; but it is not so much esteemed for its produce, as for its fituation for the Trade with the Spaniard. Formerly the Har- bour was never without Ships from Cartagene and Portabell, that did use to buy of the Dutch here 1000 or 1500 Negroes at once, besides great quantities of European Commodities; but of late that Trade is fallen into the hands of the English at Jamaica: yet still the Dutch have a vast Trade over all the West Indies, sending from Holland Ships of good force laden with