Page 87
An. 1683
The Isle of John Fernando describ'd.
named by any of us ; and will complain for want of it, if we do not appoint them some name when they are with us : saying of themselves they are poor Men, and have no name.
This Island is in lat. 34d. 15m. and about 120 leagues from the Main. It is about 12 leagues round, full of high Hills, and small pleasant Valleys; which if manured, would probably produce any thing proper for the Climate. The sides of the Moun- tains are part Savanahs, part Wood-land. Savanahs are clear pieces of Land without Woods; not be- cause more barren than the Wood-land, for they are frequently spots of as good Land as any, and often are intermixt with Wood-land. In the Bay of Campeachy are very large Savanahs, which I have seen full of Cattle : but about the River of Plate are the largest that ever I heard of, $50$, $60$, or $100$ miles in length ; and Jamaica, Cuba, and Hispaniola, have many Savanahs intermixt with Woods. Places cleared of Wood by Art and Labour do not go by this name, but those only which are found so in the uninhabited parts of America, such as this Isle of John Fernandoes ; or which were originally clear in other parts.
The Grass in these Savanahs at John Fernando's is not a long flaggy Grass, such as usually in the Sa- vanahs in the West-Indies, but a sort of kindly Grass, both thick and flourishing the biggest part of the year. The Woods afford divers sorts of Trees; some large and good Timber for Building, but none fit for Masts. The Cabbage Trees of this Isle are but small and low ; yet afford a good head, and the Cabbage very sweet. This Tree I shall describe in the Appendix, in the Bay of Campeachy.
The Savanahs are stocked with Goats in great Herds : but those that live on the East end of the Island are not so fat as those on the West end ; for though there is much more Grass, and plenty of Water