Page 106
An. 1684
Sea-Tortoise, and their Kinds.
and the belly 6 Foot broad: Captain Roch's Son of about 9 or 10 Years of Age went in it, as in a boat, on board his Father's Ship about a quarter of a Mile from the shore. The leaves of Fat afforded 8 Gal- lons of Oyl. The Turtle that live among the Keys or small Islands on the South side of Cuba, are a mixt sort, some bigger some less; and so their flesh is of a mixt colour, some green, some dark, some yellowish. With these Port Royal in Jamaica is constantly supplied, by Sloops that come hither with Nets to take them. They carry them alive to Jamaica, where the Turtlers have wires made with Stakes in the Sea to preserve them alive: and the Market is every day plentifully stored with Turtle, it being the common food there, chiefly for the or- dinary sort of People.
Green Turtle live on Grass which grows in the Sea, in 3, 4, 5, or 6 fathom water at most of the places before mentioned. This Grass is different from Manatee Grass; for that is a small blade: but this a quarter of an Inch broad and 6 Inches long. The Turtle of these Islands Gallapagos, are a sort of a bastard Green Turtle; for their Shell is thicker than other Green Turtle in the West or East Indies, and their flesh is not so sweet. They are larger than any other Green Turtle; for it is common for these to be 2 or 3 foot deep, and their Callapees, or bellies 5 foot wide: but there are other Green Turtle in the South Seas that are not so big as the smallest Hawksbill. These are seen at the Island Plata, and other places thereabouts: They feed on Moss, and are very rank, but fat.
Both these sorts are different from any others: For both He's and She's come ashore in the day time, and lye in the Sun; but in other places none but the She's go ashore, and that in the night only, to lay their Eggs: The best feeding for Turtle in the South Seas is among these Gallapago Islands; for Here is plenty of Grass.
There