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The "Map of the Island of Barbados," drawn by Reverend Griffith Hughes, is a detailed and informative representation of the island in the 18th century. Based on actual surveys and personal observations by Hughes, the map offers an in-depth view of the island's geography and societal makeup.

The map clearly outlines the eleven parishes of Barbados, each demarcated with distinct precision. The towns are marked, highlighting their spatial relationships to each other and the rest of the island's topography. Significant features, such as churches and forts, are dotted across the map, serving as reminders of the island's colonial era and religious landscape.

More than just human settlements, the map also spotlights the vibrant sugar industry that dominated Barbados in the 18th century. Detailed illustrations of sugar works, mills, and plantations, showcase the island's primary economic engine. The web of roads connecting these places gives a sense of the logistic network and the labor-intensive nature of the industry.

The rivers of Barbados, while not abundant due to the island's geological characteristics, are carefully outlined. They often stretch from the highlands towards the coast, hinting at their importance for irrigation in the agriculture-centered economy.

Mountainous areas, though not as prevalent as on other Caribbean islands, are effectively depicted with shading and hachures to represent their relative heights. This gives the viewer a sense of the island's terrain, which, while not exceptionally steep, does feature gentle slopes and undulations.

Barbados in the 18th century was a bustling hub of trade and commerce. It was one of the wealthiest of the British colonies, thanks to its sugar, rum, and molasses production, as evidenced by the numerous plantations scattered across Hughes's map. African slaves were the backbone of these labor-intensive industries, though their existence is only implicitly suggested through the extensive infrastructure depicted.

Hughes, serving as the rector of St. Lucy's Parish from 1736, used his position to study and record the island's natural features, plants, and wildlife. His keen observations and meticulous detailing offer an invaluable perspective on Barbados's physical and human geography during this period.

This map is more than a navigational aid; it is an historical document that paints a picture of an era. It offers insights into the development of Barbados, revealing the intertwining of geography, industry, and colonial rule. Through Hughes's diligent work, we glimpse the 18th century Barbadian landscape, an island shaped as much by human endeavor as it is by its natural boundaries.

The Reverend Griffith Hughes (fl. 1707-1758), was a naturalist and author. He served as the rector of St. Lucy's Parish in Barbados from 1736 until his return to London. While on Barbados, he recorded his observations of the natural features, plants, and wildlife over a period of several years.