96 NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. settled by the English, and Florida, so far as it is adapted to trade, by the Spaniards. The large Islands are occupied by the Spaniards the small are difficult of access; their condition ;

as yet but little known, and some of the best of all the roadsteads are in the possession of the French and English in addition to this, the English lay claim to all the Caribbean islands, by ;

virtue of a certain grant made to the Earl of Carlisle. Moreover, from the Cape of Florida, which runs out opposite Cuba, to the beginning of New Spain, there is still more land adapted for settlement, and people to trade with. Now, from New Spain, Eastward, the whole coast of Incanata, Honduras and Terra Firma (as the Spaniards call it) to beyond Trinidad, and not only the coasts, but also the islands, are all settled by Spaniards; except next to these, the Guiana country, which we call the Wild coast; this Coast and divers rivers are inhabited by free Indians, and still unsettled in these countries are many products which might be advantageously ;

brought hither but what of them ? Those people are so barbarous, and have so few wants ;

(inasmuch as they feel no desire for clothing, and require no necessaries for their subsistence) that all the trade which exists there, can easily be carried on with two or three ships a year, and be maintained with trifling Capital. The country is bounded by the great river of the Amazons, which also, is not free from Spanish settlements, as our people have experienced to their damage. Next follows again, an extensive coast unto Ikazil, the greatest part of which possessing any capability of producing articles of trade or cultivation, is altogether settled by the Portuguese.