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The history of the Caribby Islands, viz., Barbados, S'Christophers, S'Vincents, Martinico, Dominico, Barbouthos, Monserrat, Mevis, Antego, &c. in all XXVIII. In two books. The first containing the natural; the second, the moral history of those islands. Illustrated with several pieces of sculpture, representing the most considerable rarities therein described. With a Caribbian-vocabulary.

This early study of the Caribbean is an English translation of a French work published anonymously in Rotterdam in 1658 under the title Histoire naturelle et morale des iles Antilles de l'Amerique (Natural and moral history of the Antilles). The original author was Charles de Rochefort (1605-83...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Rochefort, Charles de, 1605-1683.
Corporate Author: Pre-1801 Imprint Collection (Library of Congress)
Contributors: Davies, John, 1625-1693., Breton, Raymond, 1609-1679.
Format: eBook
Language:English
French
Published: London, Printed by J.M. for T. Dring and J. Starkey, 1666.
Subjects and Genres:
Natural history > West Indies > Pre-Linnean works.
Indians of the West Indies > Early works to 1800.
Carib Indians > Early works to 1800.
Apalachee Indians > Early works to 1800.
Carib language > Glossaries, vocabularies, etc.
Sciences naturelles > Antilles > Ouvrages prélinnéens.
Indiens d'Amérique > Antilles > Ouvrages avant 1800.
Caraïbes (Indiens) > Ouvrages avant 1800.
Apalachee (Indiens) > Ouvrages avant 1800.
Caraïbe (Langue) > Glossaires, vocabulaires, etc.
Apalachee Indians.
Carib Indians.
Carib language.
Indians of the West Indies.
Natural history.
Travel.
Antilles, Lesser > Description and travel > Early works to 1800.
Petites Antilles > Descriptions et voyages > Ouvrages avant 1800.
Lesser Antilles.
West Indies.
Early works.
Glossaries, vocabularies, etc.
Online Access:http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.rbc/rbfr.0034
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Summary: This early study of the Caribbean is an English translation of a French work published anonymously in Rotterdam in 1658 under the title Histoire naturelle et morale des iles Antilles de l'Amerique (Natural and moral history of the Antilles). The original author was Charles de Rochefort (1605-83), who identified himself in subsequent editions of the book. Not much is known about de Rochefort. The available evidence suggests he was a Protestant pastor sent to be a minister or chaplain to French-speaking Protestants in the Caribbean. He based his work on his own observations and the writings of previous authors, notably the Dominican priest Jean-Baptiste Du Terte (1610-87). De Rochefort's work is in two parts, the first dealing with the geographical features and the second with the people of the Caribbean. The islands covered are listed and briefly described in chapters 3-5 of Book I. De Rochefort was interested in indigenous peoples and languages, and the book includes a detailed chapter on the Apalachee Indians as well as a vocabulary of the Caraïbe language prepared by Raymond Breton (1609-79), a Jesuit priest sent by Cardinal Richelieu (with Du Terte) to Guadeloupe in the 1630s. The work contains a few illustrations, mainly of animals, fish, and shells.
Item Description: Plates face p. 271, 282, 291, 296, 297, 303, 309, 313, 326.
"Le vocabulaire caraïbe paraît être du P. Breton. "Barbier, Dict. des ouvrages anon.
"A translation of the anonymous French edition of 1658. "Sabin, Bibl. amer."
"Chap. VIII. By way of digression giving an account of the Apalachites, the nature of their country, their manners, and their ancient and modern religion:" p. 228-249.
"A Caribbian vocabulary:" [10] p. following p. 351.
Physical Description: 4 preliminary leaves, 351, 15 pages 9 plates 28 cm
Also available in digital form on the Library of Congress Web site.

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