[page 228]

160.

160.

it is very rich! One can find many oranges, lemons, a lot of pepper, coffee, cotton, sugar etc. There are spices a-plenty.

seynd sehr vornehm ! worunder sehr viele Bomeranzen Citeronen, Pfeffer, Caffé, Baumwolle, Zucker etc. Was das Gewürtz anbelangt hat es in der Menge.

On this island there is also a river that flows with gold[296]. On the 21st, we sailed all day long in close proximity to the island. On the 22nd, we were joined by our fleet, which had stayed in Boston.

Auch befindet sich auf dieser Insul ein Fluß welcher Gold mit sich führet. Den 21ten fuhren wir den gantzen Tag bey der Insul auf und ab. Den 22ten kame unser Escadre auch alda, welches bey Boston zurück ge-blieben ware.

On the 23rd, we stayed again near Puerto-Rico.

Den 23ten hielten wir uns noch bey Porto-Rico auf.

On the 24th, we passed by a great rock located in the sea about a half-hour from land.

Den 24ten passierten wir den grossen Berg im Meer welcher ohngefähr ein halbe Stund vom Land abstehet im Wasser.

On the 25th, we caught sight of the lands of the isle of Bonheure, which is not inhabited[297].

Den 25ten sahen wir das Land von der Insul Bonheure welche nicht bewohnt ist.

On the 26th, we passed off the coast of the island of Santo Domingo, a French island formerly called Hispaniola[298]. On the 27th, we had good winds, which fulfilled our wishes.

Den 26ten passierten wir die Insul St Domingue eine französche Insul, oder vor Zeiten Hispaniola ge-nandt. Den 27ten hatten wir guten Wind nach Wunsch und Willen.

On the 28th, good winds again, just as we wished.

Den 28ten als noch guten Wind, nach Wunsch und Begehren.

On the 29th, we passed near the island of Guadeloupe, a French island[299].

Den 29ten passierten wir die Höhe von der Insul Quadeloupe ein frantzösische Insul.

On the 30th, we passed near the island of Martinique, a French island[300].

Den 30ten passierten wir die Höhe von der Insul Martinique eine frantzösche Insul.

On the 31st, we arrived near the island of Curaçao, a Dutch island[301]; that same day a few of our war ships

Den 31ten kamen wir in die Höhe von der Insul Ciracao eine holländische Insul, selbigen Tag fuhren noch etliche von unsren Kriegsschiffe

[réclame]

in

https://gallica.bnf.fr/iiif/ark:/12148/btv1b10110846m/f115/pct:0,0,50,100/,700/0/native.jpg

Strasbourg, Médiathèque André Malraux, ms f 15, p. 228.

[agrandir]

 Notes

296. Here one can see how much Flohr is receptive to rumors.
297. The identity of this island remains undetermined. It could be the island of Bonaire, near Curaçao, which Flohr mentions later.
298. Cf. Carte de l’isle de Saint-Domingue, map, late eighteenth century, [reproduction en ligne - RMN]
299. Cf. Burty, Colonies françaises (en Amérique) (northern hemisphere), map, 1854, taken from Atlas national illustré des 86 Départements et des Possessions de la France divisé par Arrondissements, Cantons et Communes avec le tracé de toute les routes, chemins de fer et canaux. Dressé d’après les Travaux du Cadastre du Dépôt de la Guerre et des Ponts et Chaussées par V. Levasseur, Ingénieur Géographe attaché au Génie du Cadastre et de la Ville de Paris, Paris, Lemercier, 1854 [reproduction en ligne - Rosalis] [catalogue de la Bnu].
300. The meaning of this expression deserves clarification. Whether mention is made of Florida, Guadeloupe, or Martinique, the flotilla did not move close enough to land to be able to see it. Passing by the Lesser Antilles between Puerto Rico and Curaçao meant deviating from the direct route. This kind of expressions can lead one to suppose that when Flohr narrated his voyage, he had a geographical map at hand. Cf. Veue du Fort Royal de la Martinique, drawing, eighteenth century [reproduction en ligne - BNF]
301. The first Europeans to arrive on the island of Curaçao were the Spanish in 1499. The island was occupied by the Dutch starting in 1634 and was managed by the Dutch West India Company. The main city, Willemstad, was founded on a site favorable for the establishment of a port. The island became a major center of trade and contraband. The slave trade and salt harvesting established this coveted colony’s prosperity. Holland being allied with France and Spain against England, the port of Curaçao was a convenient stop over for ships in distress like L’Île de France, le Neptune, or La Couronne to resupply or repair damage. Cf. Île de Curaçao, map, 1783 [reproduction en ligne - BNF]