Butter, through the heat of the Air, is so soft here as 'tis when half melted in England; and Tallow-Candles here are very often so soft as not to be able to stand upright, without falling and doubling down, which makes the nicest sort of people desire those of Wax.
The Dog-days, and some weeks about that time, are intolerably hot, and unhealthy, few people find themselves then perfectly well and easie, be they either the antient Inhabitants, or new Comers.
The heat of the Air here is endeavour'd to be amended by great Fans in some Parlours, such as are us'd about Montpelier, and by lying in Hamacs.
There are as many sorts of Water here as in England; River-water, Pond water, Well-water, Spring-water, &c.
Fresh-water is very scarce in dry years, or some parts of the year, in the Savannas distant from Rivers, so that many of their Cattle die with driving to water. If the place be near the Sea, or sandy, the Well-water, as at Port-Royal is brackish. This brackish water, which is very common in Wells on Sea-shores, is not wholesome, but the cause of Fluxes, and other Diseases in Sailers drinking of it. It may be easily discovered by dropping a solution of fine Silver into it, which according to Mr. Boyles computation precipitates a white settlement, if it contain 1⁄1500 of Salt in it. I have not yet known, or heard of any method which will clear Water of this brackishness but Destillation.
Pond-water, or River-water here, is more pure and not so much infected with Weeds as in England, because of the swiftness of the Currents, or great Inundations, destroying the Water-Herbs at certain Seasons of the year. River- water, because of its great Descents and Precipices, carries with it much Clay and Earth, whereby 'tis muddy and thick; this drunk, has an odd taste, which, in the Town-River, gave occasion to the Spaniards to call it Rio Cobre, and the English to say 'tis not wholesome, and tasts of Copper; whereas on trial of Sand and other Sediments, there is no Metal found therein. This River water, if suffered to settle some days in earthen Jars, the Sediments go to the bottom, and the Water is good. It's thought that Pebbles in the bottom of the Jar promote this separation; and Seamen think a lead-holed plate does the same; but 'tis likely these two methods only hinder the subsidence from rising easily. The porous Stones for percolating water is the best remedy for this muddiness; they must be clean'd every day, and sometimes the water put through them twice or thrice. They are brought from the Canaries to the Spanish Main, and thence to Jamaica. They are made into the form of Mortars, the water being put into their Concave side, foul and troubled, passes through them, and is filtred, leaving its filth in the pores of the Stone. Sometimes thiswater
