Page:A voyage to New Holland - Dampier.djvu/46

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Verdona-wine, Fruits, &c.

tice of their coming, by a great Sea that tumbles in on the Shore for some time before they come, and by a black Sky in the N. W. Upon these Signs Ships either get up their Anchors, or slip their Cables and put to Sea, and ply off and on till the Weather is over. Sometimes they are forced to do so 2 or 3 times before they can take in their Lading; which 'tis hard to do here in the fairest Weather: And for fresh Water, they send, as I have said, to Santa Cruz. Verdona is green, strong-bodied Wine, harsher and sharper than Canary. 'Tis not so much esteemed in Europe, but is exported to the West-Indies, and will keep best in hot Countries; for which Reason I touch'd here to take in some of it for my Voyage. This sort of Wine is made chiefly on the East-side of the Island, and Shipt off at Santa Cruz.

Besides these Wines, which are yearly vended in great plenty from the Canary Islands (chiefly from Grand Canary, Teneriffe, and Palma) here is store of Grain, as Wheat, Barly and Maiz, which they often transport to other places. They have also some Beans and Peas, and Coches, a sort of Grain much like Maiz, sow'd mostly to satten Land. They have Papah's, which I shall speak more of hereafter; Apples, Pears, Plumbs, Cherries, and excellent Peaches, Apricocks, Guava's, Pomegranates, Citrons, Oranges, Lemons, Limes, Pumpkins, Onions the best in the World, Cabbages, Turnips, Potato's, &c.