Friday, May 8, 2015

CJ (#41) Instructions 1689

On the same page of the Calender of State Papers - Colonial Series 13, American and West Indies 1689 - 1692 [p. 179] is the following instructions to "Governor Cadwallader Jones":

"Instructions to Governor Cadwallader Jones of the Bahama Islands.  As to land-grants, the rights of cutting certain woods and searching for wrecks and for ambergris. Signed. Craver, Askley, Carteret, P. Colleton."

[ Col. Entry BK. Vol. XXII, pp. 151, 152 ]

This gives the issues important to the folks in charge.  There are 1) "land-grants", 2) "the rights of cutting certain woods", 3) "the searching for wrecks, and 4) "ambergris".  [ ambergris = a waxy substance found floating in or on the shores of tropical waters, believed to originate in the intestines of the sperm whale, and used in perfumery as a fixative ]  Wow...what a list of priorities!