Now for the Masters, I have yet said but little, nor am able to say

halfe of what they deserve. They are men of great abilities and

parts, otherwise they could not go through, with such great works as

they undertake; the managing of one of their Plantations, being a

work of such a latitude, as will require a very good head-peece, to

put in order, and continue it so.

I can name a Planter there, that feeds daily two hundred mouths, and

keeps them in such order, as there are no mutinies amongst them;

and yet of severall nations. All these are to be employed in their

severall abilities, so as no one be idle. The first work to be

considered, is Weeding, for unlesse that be done, all else (and the

Planter too) will be undone; and if that be neglected but a little

time, it will be a hard matter to recover it again, so fast will the

weeds grow there. But the ground being kept clean, ’tis fit to bear

any thing that Country will afford. After weeding comes Planting,

and they account two seasons in the year best, and that is, _May_

and _November_; but Canes are to be planted at all times, that they

may come in, one field after another; otherwise, the work will stand

still. And commonly they have in a field that is planted together,

at one time ten or a dozen acres. This work of planting and weeding,

the Master himselfe is to see done; unlesse he have a very trusty and

able Overseer; and without such a one, he will have too much to do.

The next thing he is to consider, is the Ingenio, and what belongs

to that; as, the Ingenio it selfe, which is the _Primum Mobile_ of

the whole work, the Boyling house, with the Coppers and Furnaces,

the Filling room, the Still-house, and Cureing-house; and in all

these, there are great casualties. If any thing in the Rollers, as

the Goudges, Sockets, Sweeps, Cogs, or Braytrees, be at fault, the

whole work stands still; or in the Boyling-house, if the Frame which

holds the Coppers, (and is made of Clinkers, fastned with plaister

of _Paris_) if by the violence of the heat from the Furnaces, these

Frames crack or break, there is a stop in the work, till that be

mended. Or if any of the Coppers have a mischance, and be burnt, a

new one must presently be had, or there is a stay in the work. Or if

the mouths of the Furnaces, (which are made of a sort of stone, which

we have from _England_, and we call it there, high gate stone) if

that, by the violence of the fire, be softned, that it moulder away,

there must new be provided, and laid in with much art, or it will not

be. Or if the barrs of Iron, which are in the flowre of the Furnace,

when they are red hot, (as continually they are) the fire-man,

throw great shides of wood in the mouths of the Furnaces, hard and

carelesly, the weight of those logs, will bend or break those barrs,

(though strongly made) and there is no repairing them, without the

work stand still; for all these depend upon one another, as wheels in

a Clock. Or if the Stills be at fault, the _kill-devill_ cannot be

made. But the main impediment and stop of all, is the losse of our

Cattle, and amongst them, there are such diseases, as I have known in

one Plantation, thirty that have died in two daies. And I have heard,

that a Planter, an eminent man there, that clear’d a dozen acres of

ground, and rail’d it about for pasture, with intention, as soon as

the grasse was growne to a great height, to put in his working Oxen;

which accordingly he did, and in one night fifty of them dyed; so

that such a losse as this, is able to undo a Planter, that is not

very well grounded. What it is that breeds these diseases, we cannot

finde, unlesse some of the Plants have a poysonous quality; nor

have we yet found out cures for these diseases; Chickens guts being

the best remedy was then known, and those being chopt or minc’t,

and given them in a horn, with some liquor mixt to moisten it, was

thought the best remedy; yet it recovered very few. Our Horses too

have killing diseases amongst them, and some of them have been

recovered by Glisters, which we give them in pipes, or large seringes

made of wood, for the same purpose. For, the common diseases, both of

Cattle and Horses, are obstructions and bindings in their bowells;

and so lingring a disease it is, to those that recover, as they

are almost worn to nothing before they get well. So that if any of

these stops continue long, or the Cattle cannot be recruited in a

reasonable time, the work is at a stand; and by that means, the Canes

grow over ripe, and will in a very short time have their juice dried

up, and will not be worth the grinding.

Now to recruit these Cattle, Horses, Camells, and Assinigos, who

are all lyable to these mischances and decaies, Merchants must be

consulted, ships provided, and a competent Cargo of goods adventured,

to make new voyages to forraigne parts, to supply those losses; and

when that is done, the casualties at Sea are to be considered, and

those happen severall waies, either by shipwrack, piracy, or fire. A

Master of a ship, and a man accounted both able, stout, and honest,

having transported goods of severall kinds, from _England_ to a

part of _Africa_, the River of _Gambia_, and had there exchanged his

Commodities for _Negres_, which was that he intended to make his

voyage of, caused them all to be shipt, and did not, as the manner

is, shakle one to another, and make them sure; but having an opinion

of their honesty and faithfulnesse to him, as they had promised; and

he being a credulous man, and himselfe good natur’d and mercifull,

suffered them to go loose, and they being double the number of those

in the ship, found their advantages, got weapons in their hands, and

fell upon the Saylers, knocking them on the heads, and cutting their

throats so fast, as the Master found they were all lost, out of any

possibility of saving; and so went down into the Hold, and blew all

up with himselfe; and this was before they got out of the River.

These, and severall other waies there will happen, that extreamly

retard the work of Suger-making.

Now let us consider how many things there are to be thought on,

that go to the actuating this great work, and how many cares to

prevent the mischances, that are incident to the retarding, if not

the frustrating of the whole work; and you will finde them wise and

provident men, that go on and prosper in a work, that depends upon so

many contingents.

This I say, to stop those mens mouths, that lie here at home, and

expect great profit in their adventures, and never consider, through

what difficulty, industry, and paines it is acquired. And thus much I

thought good to say, of the abilities of the Planters.

The next thing is, of their natures and dispositions, which I

found compliable in a high degree to all vertues, that those of

the best sort of Gentlemen call Excellent; as, Civilly in treating

of Strangers, with communicating to them any thing within the

compasse of their knowledge, that might be beneficiall to them, in

any undertaking amongst them, and a assisting them in it, giving

them harbour for themselves and servants. And if their intentions

were to buy Plantations, to make diligent inquiries for such as

they desired, and to drive the bargain as neer the winde for their

advantages, as possibly they could, and to put themselves in some

travells, in setling the businesse: Or, if that could not do them

service, to recommend them to any friend they had, that lay more fit

and convenient for their purpose. Loving, friendly, and hospitable

one to another; and though they are of severall Perswasions, yet,

their discretions ordered every thing so well, as there never were

any fallings out between them: which to prevent, some of them of the

better sort, made a Law amongst themselves, that whosoever nam’d

the word _Roundhead_ or _Cavalier_, should give to all those that

heard him, a Shot and a Turky, to be eaten at his house that made

the forfeiture; which sometimes was done purposely, that they might

enjoy the company of one another; and sometimes this Shot and this

Turky would draw on a dozen dishes more, if company were accordingly:

So frank, so loving, and so good natur’d were these Gentlemen one

to another; and to expresse their affections yet higher, they had

particular names one to another, as, Neighbour, Friend, Brother,

Sister: So that I perceived nothing wanting, that might make up a

firme and lasting friendship amongst them; though after I came away,

it was otherwise.

Sports and exercises they never us’d any, as Bowling, Shooting,

Hunting, or Hawking; for indeed there are no places fit for the two

first exercises, the Countrey being so Rocky, uneven and full of

stumps of trees: and for the other two, they want game; for there are

no kind of wild beasts in the Iland, nor any foule fit to hawk at;

besides the Country is so woody, as there is no Champian to flye in;

Pheasants, Partridges, Heathpoults, Quailes, or Rayles, never set

foot upon this ground, unlesse they were brought there; and if so,

they never liv’d, and for Hawkes, I never saw but two, and those the

merriest stirrers that ever I saw flye; the one of them was in an

evening just at sunne setting, which is the time the Bats rise, and

soar to a good height; and at a downecome, this Barbary faulcon took

one of them and carried it away.

[Sidenote: _Tame beasts that are living on the Iland. Camels._]

If I shall begin with the largest first I must name Camells, and

these are very usefull beasts, but very few will live upon the Iland:

divers have had them brought over, but few know how to diet them.

Captaine _Higginbotham_ had foure or five, which were of excellent

use, not only of carrying down sugar to the bridge, but of bringing

from thence hogsheads of Wine, Beer, or Vinegar, which horses cannot

do, nor can Carts pass for Gullies, and _Negroes_ cannot carry it,

for the reasons afore mentioned; a good Camell will carry 1600 l.

weight, and go the surest of any beast.

[Sidenote: _Horses._]

We have from severall parts of the world, _England_, _Holland_,

_Bonavista_, the _Iles_ of _Cape Verd_, _Virginia_, _New England_,

and some from one of the _Leeward Ilands_ in the _Carribbies_

call’d _Currissa_, besides some we breed and very strong and good

mettled, bold and fit to charge on: these horses we use either for

the Ingenio, or the Saddle, seldom or never for carrying sugar, the

gullies being so steep.

[Sidenote: _Oxen, Bulls, and Cowes._]

We have from the severall places I have nam’d, but chiefly Bulls,

from the Ile of _May_, and _Bonavista_; which are Cattell, being well

taught, will work the orderliest that I have seen any. With these, we

have Cowes, and some of them we use for the Payle, and some for the

Ingenio, some we breed, and have speedier increase then in _Europe_,

for here a Calfe will bring a Calfe in fourteen months; and if it

were not for the diseases that take away our Cattell, we should not

need to fetch any from forraine parts.

[Sidenote: _Assinigoes._]

Are here of exceeding great use in the Iland, in carrying our sugars

down to the bridge which by reason of the gullies, the Horses cannot

doe: besides when the great raines fall the wayes are so deep, and

full of roots, as when a horse puts in his legge between two roots,

he can hardly pull it out againe, having a great weight on his back;

and if he fall, ’tis hard lifting him up. Whereas the Assinigoes

pick and choose their way, and sometimes choose out little wayes in

the wood, such as they know are fit for them to passe, which horses

cannot doe, because the wayes are too narrow for them, or if they

were not, they would want much the wit of the Assinigoes, to pick and

choose their way. And if by chance the Assinigoes fall, two _Negroes_

are able to help him up, and we seldome use more then two, for

assistance to the Christian that has the charge of the carriages.

One of these Assinigoes will carry 150 weight of sugar; some of the

strongest 200 weight; our Planters have been very desirous if it were

possible to get Mules there, for they would be of excellent use, in

carrying their sugars, and working in the Ingenio; but they had got

none when I was there, but they were making trialls, either to get

some of those, or some large Horse Assinigoes, to breed with the

Mares of that Country.

[Sidenote: _Hogges._]

We have here in abundance, but not wild or loose, for if they

were they would do more harme then their bodies are worth; they

are enclos’d, and every man knows his own, those that reare them

to sell, do commonly sell them for a groat a pound; weighing them

alive; sometimes six pence if flesh be deere. There was a Planter

in the Iland, that came to his neighbour and said to him: Neighbour

I hear you have lately bought good store of servants, out of the

last ship that came from England, and I heare withall, that you want

provisions, I have great want of a woman servant; and would be glad

to make an exchange; If you will let me have some of your womans

flesh, you shall have some of my hoggs flesh; so the price was set

a groat a pound for the hogges flesh, and sixe pence for the Womans

flesh. The scales were set up, and the Planter had a Maid that was

extreame fat, lasie, and good for nothing. Her name was _Honor_; The

man brought a great fat sow, and put it in one scale: and _Honor_ was

put in the other, but when he saw how much the Maid outwayed his Sow:

he broke off the bargaine, and would not go on: though such a case as

this, may seldome happen, yet ’tis an ordinary thing there, to sell

their servants to one another for the time they have to serve; and in

exchange, receive any commodities that are in the Iland; I have said

as much already of the largeness weight and goodnesse of these hogs

as is needful, and therefore I shall need no more.

[Sidenote: _Sheepe._]

We have here, but very few; and those do not like well the pasture,

being very unfit for them; a soure tough and saplesse grasse, and

some poysonous plant they find, which breeds diseases amongst them,

and so they dye away, they never are fat, and we thought a while the

reason had been, their too much heate with their wool, and so got

them often shorne; but that would not cure them, yet the Ews bear

alwayes two Lambs, their flesh when we tried any of them, had a very

faint taste, so that I do not think they are fit to be bred or kept

in that Countrey: other sheep we have there, which are brought from

_Guinny_ and _Binny_, and those have haire growing on them, instead

of wool; and liker Goates then sheep, yet their flesh is tasted more

like mutton then the other.

[Sidenote: _Goates._]

We have in greater plenty, and they prosper farre better then the

sheep, and I find little difference in the taste of their flesh, and

the Goats here; they live for the most part in the woods, sometimes

in the pasture, but are alwaies inclos’d in a fence, that they do

not trespass upon their neighbours ground; for whosoever finds Hog

or Goat of his neighbours, either in his Canes, Corne, Potatoes,

Bonavist, or Plantines, may by the lawes of the Iland shoot him

through with a Gun, and kill him; but then he must presently send to

the owner, to let him know where he is.

[Sidenote: _Birds._]

The Birds of this place (setting two aside) are hardly worth the

pains of describing; yet, in order, as I did the Beasts, I will set

them down. The biggest is a direct Bussard, but somewhat lesse then

our grey Bussards in _England_, somewhat swifter of wing; and the

only good they do, is, sometimes to kill the Rats. The next to him

in bignesse, is the larger Turtle Dove, and of them, there is great

store in the Iland: ’tis a much handsomer bird, both in shape and

colour, then ours in _England_, and is very good meat. Next to her

is the lesser Turtle, a far finer bird then she, but of a contrary

shape; for this is of the shape of a Partridge, but her plumidge

gray, and a red brown under the wings; a pretier bird I do not know,

of so few glorious colours; her tune like the other. The next is

a bird like a Thrush, of a melancholly look, her feathers never

smooth, but alwaies ruffled, as if she were muing, her head down, her

shoulders up, as if her neck were broke. This bird has for three or

four notes, the loudest and sweetest, that ever I heard; if she had

variety, certainly no bird could go beyond her; she lookes alwaies,

as it she were sick or melancholly.

Another there is, not much unlike a Wren, but big as a Thrush; and

this is as merry and jolly, as the other is sad; and as she sits on

a stick, jets, and lifts up her train, looking with so earnest and

merry a countenance, as if she would invite you to come to her, and

will sit till you come very neer her. This bird I never heard sing.

The next is Black-bird, with white eyes, and that so ill becomes her,

as she is accounted an unhandsome bird; her voice harsh, somewhat

like our Jay in _England_; they go in great flocks, and are harmefull

birds, for they are great devourers of corn, and blossomes of trees,

and the Planters wish them destroyed, though they know not which way.

They are a kinde of Stares, for they walk, and do not hop as other

birds. One thing I observe in these birds, which I never saw in any

but them, and that is, when they flie, they put their train into

severall postures; one while they keep it straight, as other birds;

sometimes they turn it edge-waies, as the tail of a fish, and by and

by put it three square, with the covering feather a top, and the

sides downwards. The next is of the colour of a Feldefare, but the

head seemes too big for her body, and for that reason they call her

a Counsellor; her flying is extream wanton; and for her tune, ’tis

such as I have not heard any like her, not for the sweetnesse, but

the strangenesse of it; for she performes that with her voice, that

no instrument can play, nor no voice sing, but hers; and that is,

quarter notes, her song being composed of five tones, and every one

a quarter of a note higher then other. Mr. _John Coprario_, a rare

composer of Musick, and my dear friend, told me once, that he was

studying a curiosity in musick, that no man had ever attempted to do;

and that was, of quarter notes; but he not being able to go through

with it, gave it over: But if he had liv’d to have gone with me to

the _Barbadoes_, this bird should have taught him. Under this size,

there are none considerable; Sparrowes, Haysocks, Finches, yellow

Hamers, Titmise, and divers others of that sort, for which I have no

names. But the last and strangest of all, is, that which we call the

huming Bird, much lesse then a Wren, not much bigger then a humble

Bee, her body long, her wings small and sharp, of a sullen sad green,

no pleasant colours on her; her manner of feeding is, just as a Bee,

putting her bill into a blossome or a flower, tastes as lightly as

a Bee, never sitting, but purring with her wings, all the time she

staies with the flower; and the motion of her wings are as nimble and

swift, as a Bee: We have no way to take her, but by shooting sand

out of a gun at her, which mazes her for the present, that you may

take her up; but there is no way to keep her alive, her feeding being

such, as none can give her but her selfe. Now for the Birds that

live upon the outward verge of the Iland, I have not much to say.

Sometimes Teals come to our Ponds, three or four couple together, but

never go away; for when we see them, we take a gun, and comming neer,

shoot them, and the report of the gun frights, and makes those that

are alive flie away, and fetch one turn, and come back to see their

fellowes dead, and alight to them, and so we shoot and shoot again

till all be kill’d; for they will alwaies come back to see their dead

friends. The like we do with those birds we call Oxen and Kine, which

come to us in like manner. Small Swallowes we have now and then, but

somewhat different from ours in colour.

But there is a Bird they call, a Man of war, and he is much bigger

than a Heron, and flies out to Sea upon discoveries, (for they never

light upon the Sea) to see what ships are comming to the Iland; and

when they return, the Ilanders look out, and say, A ship is comming,

and finde it true. I have seen one of them, as high as I could look,

to meet us twenty leagues from land; and some others, almost as big

as Ducks, that in an evening came in a flock of twenty, or there

about, and they made divers turnes about the ship, a little before

Sun-setting; and when it grew dark, they lighted upon the ribs of the

ship, and with little nooses of packthred, the saylers caught them;

they were very fat and good.

Though the Bat be no Bird, yet she flies with wings, and alwaies

a little before Sunsetting, at which time they come out of holes,

chimneys, and hollow trees, and will raise them to a great height,

feeding themselves with flies that they finde in the aire, at that

time of the evening.

[Sidenote: _Of lesser Animals and Insects._]

Having done with Beasts and Birds, we will enquire what other lesser

Animalls or Insects there are upon the Iland, of which, Snakes are

the chiefe, because the largest; and I have seen some of those a yard

and a halfe long. The only harme they do, is to our Pigeon houses,

and milk panns; so that if we leave any hole in the bottom of the

house, where they can come in, they will get to the nests, and devour

the young Pigeons, if they be not over big. And yet ’tis strange

to see, what great morsells they will swallow; slide they will up

against a wall, if it be but perpendicular; but if it be declining

outward, they cannot get up, but will fall back ten foot high, if

they be hindred by any stooping of the wall; for which reason we

make jetties, neer the top of such roomes, as we will keep them out

of; they have climbed six foot high upon the outside of a wall, come

in at a window, down on the inside, skim our milk pannes, and away

again: Till we took one of them there, we knew not by what means our

pannes were thus skim’d. They never sting any body, nor is there

any venomous beast in the Iland. The next to these are Scorpions, of

which, some of them are as big as Ratts, smooth, and coloured like

a Snake, somewhat blewer, their bellies inclining to yellow, very

nimble and quick to avoid their pursuers: yet, the Snakes will now

and then take them, between whom there is a great conflict, before

the quarrell be decided; for, the Scorpions that are large, are

very strong, and will maintain the fight sometimes halfe an houre;

I have seen them wrastle together a good part of that time: But in

conclusion, the Snakes get the better, and devour the other. These

Scorpions were never known to hurt man or beast. Toads or Frogs we

have none.

Lizards we had in great plenty, but the Cats kill them so fast in

the houses, as they are much lessened in their number. This little

Animal loves much to be where men are, and are delighted to stand and

gaze in their faces, and hearken to their discourse. These with us, I

think, are different from those of _Europe_; the bodies of ours are

about four inches long, the tail neer as much, headed not much unlike

a Snake; their colour, when they are pleased, a pure grasse-green on

the back, blewish toward the side, and yellowish on the belly; four

leggs, and those very nimble: When they see at distance some of their

own kinde, that they are angry with, they swell a little bigger,

and change their colour, from green to russet or hair-colour, which

abates much of their beauty; for, their green is very pleasant and

beautifull: Cold they are as Frogs. Next to these are Cockroches,

a creature of the bignesse and shape of a Beetle; but of a pure

hair-colour, which would set him off the better, if he had not an

ugly wabling gate, but that makes him unhandsome. He appears in the

evening when ’tis dark, and will, when he pleases, flie to your bed,

when he findes you sleeping, and bite your skin, till he fetch blood,

if you do not wake; and if you take a Candle to search for him, he

shifts away and hides himselfe, as the Puneses do in _Italy_. The

Negres, who have thick skins, and by reason of their hard labour,

sleep soundly at night, are bitten so, as far as the breadth of

both your hands together, their skins are rac’t, as if it were done

with a currie-comb. Next to these tormentors, are Musketos, who

bite and sting worse then the Gnats and Stouts, that sting Cattle

in _England_, (and are commonly felt in marish ground). And next to

them Meriwings, and they are of so small a sise, and so thin and

aereall, as you can hardly discern them, but by the noise of their

wings, which is like a small bugle horn, at a great distance: Where

they sting, there will rise a little knob, as big as a pease, and

last so a whole day; the mark will not be gone in twenty four hours.

Caterpillars we have sometimes in abundance, and they do very great

harme; for, they light upon the leaves of our Potatoes, which we

call Slips, and eat them all away, and come so low, as to eat of

the Root too: And the only remedy we have, is, to drive a flock of

Turkies into the place where they are, and they will devour them. The

harmes these vermine do us, is double; first, in the slips, which is

the food we give our Horses, and is cast into the rack; and in our

Potatoes, being the root of these slips, which we our selves feed

upon.

Flies we have of so many kindes, (from two inches long with the great

hornes, which we keep in boxes, and are shewed by _John Tredescan_

amongst his rarities) to the least Atome, as it would be a weary work

to set them down; as also the sudden production of them, from Nothing

to Maggets, from Maggets to Flies; and there is not only a race of

all these kindes, that go on in a generation, but upon new occasions,

new kindes; as, after a great downfall of rain, when the ground has

been extreamly moistned, and softned with the water, I have walk’d

out upon a drie walk (which I made my selfe) in an evening, and there

came about me an army of such flies, as I had never seen before, nor

after; and they rose, as I conceived, out of the earth: They were as

big bodied as Bees, but far larger wings; harme they did us none, but

only lighted on us; their colour between ash-colour and purple.

The next of these moving little Animalls, are Ants, or Pismires, and

those are but of a small sise, but great in industry; and that which

gives them means to attain to their ends, is, they have all one soul.

If I should say, they are here or there, I should do them wrong;

for they are every where, under ground, where any hollow or loose

earth is, amongst the roots of trees, upon the bodies, branches,

leaves, and fruit of all trees, in all places without the houses and

within, upon the sides, walls, windowes, and roofes without; and

on the floores, side-walls, sealings, and windowes within; tables,

cupbords, beds, stooles, all are covered with them, so that they are

a kind of Ubiquitaries. The Cockroaches are their mortall enemies,

and though they are not able to do them any mischiefe, being living,

(by reason they are far stronger and mightier then a hundred of them,

& if they should force any one of them with multitudes, he has the

liberty of his wings to make his escape) yet, when they finde him

dead, they will divide him amongst them into Atomes; and to that

purpose, they carry him home to their houses or nests. We sometimes

kill a Cockroach, and throw him on the ground, and mark what they

will do with him; his body is bigger then a hundred of them, and yet

they will finde the means to take hold of him, and lift him up; and

having him above ground, away they carry him, and some go by as ready

assistants, if any be weary; and some are the Officers that lead and

shew the way to the hole into which he must passe; and if the Van

curriers perceive, that the body of the Cockroach lies crosse, and

will not passe through the hole, or arch, through which they mean to

carry him, order is given, and the body turned endwise, and this done

a foot before they come to the hole, and that without any stop or

stay; and this is observable, that they never pull contrary waies.

Those that are curious, and will prevent their comming on their

Tables, Cupbords, or Beds, have little hollowes of timber, fill’d

with water, for the feet of these to stand in; but all this will not

serve their turne; for they will some of them, goe up to the sieling,

and let themselves fall upon the teasters of the Beds, Cupbords, and

Tables.

To prevent them from comming on our shelves where our meat is kept,

we hang them to the roofe by ropes, and tarre those roapes, and the

roofes over them, as also the strings of our Hamacks, for which

reason we avoid them better in Hamacks then in beds.

Sometimes when we try conclusions upon them, we take the Carpet off

the Table, and shake it, so that all the Ants drop off, and rub

down the leggs and feet of those tables, (which stood not in water)

and having done so: we lay on the Carpet againe, and set upon it a

Sallet dish, or Trencher, with suger in it, which some of them in the

room will presently smell, and make towards it as fast as they can,

which is a long journey; for he must begin at the foot of the table,

and come as high as the inside of the Carpet, and so go down to the

bottome and up of the outside of the Carpet, before he gets on the

table, and then to the sugar, which he smels to; and having found

it, returns againe the same way, without taking any for his paines,

and enformes all his friends of this bootie; who come in thousands,

and tenne thousands, and in an instant, fetch it all away; and when

they are thickest upon the table, clap a large book, (or any thing

fit for that purpose) upon them so hard as to kill all that are under

it, and when you have done so, take away the book, and leave them

to themselves, but a quarter of an houre, and when you come againe,

you shall find all those bodies carried away. Other trials we make

of their Ingenuity, as this. Take a Pewter dish, and fill it halfe

full of water, into which put a little Gally pot fill’d with Sugar,

and the Ants will presently find it, and come upon the Table; but

when they perceive it inviron’d with water, they try about the brims

of the dish, where the Gally pot is neerest, and there the most

venturous amongst them, commits him selfe to the water, though he be

conscious how ill a swimmer he is, and is drown’d in the adventure:

the next is not warn’d by his example, but ventures too; and is alike

drown’d and many more, so that there is a small foundation of their

bodies to venture on; and then they come faster then ever, and so

make a bridge of their own bodies, for their friends to passe on;

neglecting their lives for the good of the publique; for before they

make an end, they will make way for the rest, and become Masters of

the Prize; I had a little white sugar which I desired to keep from

them, and was devising which way to doe it, and I knockt a Nayle in

the beam of the roome, and fastned to it a brown thread, at the lower

end of which thread, I tyed a large shell of a fish; which being

hollow I put the sugar in; and lockt the door, thinking it safe;

but when I returned, I found three quarters of my sugar gone, and

the Ants in abundance, ascending and descending, like the Angels on

Jacobs Ladder, as I have seen it painted, so that I found no place

safe, from these more then busie Creatures.

Another sorts of Ants there are, but nothing so numerous or harmfull

as the other, but larger by farre; these build great nests, as bigge

as Bee hives, against a wall, or a tree, of Clay and Lome, sometimes

within doors, and in it severall little Mansions, such as Bees make

for themselves, but nothing so curious; these the Cockroaches and

Lizards meet withall, way-laying them neere their nests, and feed

upon them: which to prevent they make from thence, many and severall

galleries that reach some of them sixe or seaven yards severall

waies, of the same earth they doe their nests; so that for such a

distance as that, they are not to be perceiv’d, by any of their

enemies, and commonly, their Avenues go out amongst leaves, or mosse,

or some other Covert, that they may not be perceiv’d; but the most

of these are in the woods; for we have destroyed their nests, and

their galleries within doors so often, as they are weary of building,

and so quit the house, I can say nothing of these, but that they are

the quickest at their work of building, of any little Creatures that

ever I saw. Spiders we have, the beautifullest and largest that I

have seen, and the most curious in their webs; they are not at all

Poysonous.

One sort more of these harmefull Animals there are, which we call

Chegoes; and these are so little that you would hardly think them

able to doe any harme at all, and yet these will do more mischiefe

then the Ants, and if they were as numerous as harmefull, there were

no induring of them; they are of a shape, not much unlike a Louse,

but no bigger then a mite that breeds in cheese, his colour blewish:

an Indian has laid one of them, on a sheet of white paper, and with

my spectacles on I could hardly discern him; yet this very little

Enemy, can and will do much mischiefe to mankind. This vermine will

get thorough your Stocken, and in a pore of your skinne, in some

part of your feet, commonly under the nayl of your toes, and there

make a habitation to lay his off spring, as bigge as a small Tare,

or the bagge of a Bee, which will cause you to go very lame, and put

you to much smarting paine. The Indian women have the best skill to

take them out, which they do by putting in a small poynted Pinne, or

Needle, at the hole where he came in, and winding the poynt about

the bagge loosen him from the flesh, and so take him out. He is of a

blewish colour, and is seene through the skinne, but the _Negroes_

whose skinns are of that colour (or neer it) are in ill case, for

they cannot finde where they are; by which meanes they are many of

them very lame: some of these Chegoes are poysonous, and after they

are taken out, the Orifice in which they lay, will fester and rankle

for a fortnight after they are gone. I have had tenne taken out of my

feet in a morning, by the most unfortunate _Yarico_ an Indian woman.

Some kind of Animals more there are in the woods, which because I

never saw I cannot speak their formes: some of them I guesse are no

bigger than Crickets; they lye all day in holes and hollow trees,

and as soon as the Sun is downe, they begin their tunes, which are

neither singing nor crying, but the shrillest voyces that ever I

heard: nothing can be so neerely resembl’d to it, as the mouths of a

pack of small beagles at a distance; and so lively, and chirping the

noyse is, as nothing can be more delightfull to the eares, if there

were not too much of it, for the musick hath no intermission till

morning, and then all is husht.

I had forgotten amongst my fishes to mention Crabs; but because this

kind of them live upon the land, I might very well overslip them and

now bring them in, amongst these Animals: they are small Crabs, such

as women sell by dozens in baskets in the streets, and of that colour

raw and alive, as these are boyl’d, which is of a reddish colour.

These Crabs are comming from the Sea all the year long, (except in

_March_) they hide themselves in holes, and in houses, and sometimes

in hollow trees; and into every part of the Iland they come, some

times we meet them going up stairs in the night, sometimes in our

low rooms, sometimes in our Gardens, where they eat the berries. We

hold them not good meat: But the Negres will often upon Sundaies go

a Crabbing, and think them very great dainties when they are boyled.

These Crabs in _March_ come all out of their holes, and march down

towards the Sea in such multitudes, as to cover a great part of the

ground where they go, and no hedge, wall, or house can stop them, but

they will over. As we ride, our Horses tread on them, they are so

thick on the ground. And they have this sense, to go the nearest way

to the Sea, from the place where they are, and nothing can stop or

stay them, but death. ’Tis the time I guesse they go to breed.

[Sidenote: _Trees._]

Having past through all the reasonable and sensitive Creatures of

this Iland, I come now to say somewhat of the Vegetables, as of

Trees: and of those there are such infinite varieties, as to mention

all, were to loose my selfe in a wood; for, it were impossible for

any one in the time I stayed there, (though he studied nothing else)

to give an account of the particulars. And therefore I will onely

mention such, as for beauty or use, are of most and greatest esteem

in the Iland.

[Sidenote: _Physick-Nut._]

And for that there is none of more use than the _Physick-Nut_, I will

begin first with that, which though the name seem to promise health,

yet, it has poyson lodg’d secretly within, and that poyson may bring

health, being physically applyed, and in fit times and seasons. The

reason why I think it poysonous, is, because Cattle will not brouse,

nor feed on the leaves, nor willingly come neer the shade. This tree

will grow to be eighteen foot high, but we have a way to employ it;

as for beauty and use, there are none such in the Iland. This tree

(_which is of the height as I have told you_) has many sprigs, of

four, five, and six foot long; we lop them one after another, and as

we take off the branches, cut stakes of them, about foure foot and a

halfe long, and stick them in the ground an inch deep, and no more,

close to one another, in the manner of Palissadoes; and so, with a

rail of either side, to keep them eeven, and here and there a spur

or braket on either side, to keep them steedy for a month; by which

time, they will not only gather roots to strengthen them, and hold

them up, but leaves to cover their tops, and so even and smooth they

fall, as to cover the tops of themselves, at least two foot and a

halfe downward; and will in a month more, be so firmly rooted in the

earth, as you may remove your railes and brakets, to assist those

that are planted after them, in other places. These leaves being

large, smooth, and beautifully shap’t, and of a full green, appear

to your eyes like so much green Satin, hang’d on a rail or line, so

eeven and so smooth they hang naturally.

The stems will grow apace, but more in their bignesse then their

height, (for you may if you please, keep them at this height, by

cutting off the tops) and in a while they will not only touch, but

imbody themselves one into another; and then they become as strong

and usefull a fence, as any can be made, so close, as to keep in

Conies, and keep out Rats; for, neither Cattle nor Vermine love

to come neer it. And as it is a beautifull and usefull fence, for

Gardens and Orchards, and to keep in Conies, Turkies, _Muscovia_

Ducks, and Dunghill foul, that cannot flie over, (having one wing

clipt) so it serves us for singular use, in fencing about all our

Pastures, or what other ground we would enclose: For, our fences

being all made of faln trees, with the ends laid crosse one upon

another, and many of those trees such wood, as were apt to rot and

decay, by extream moisture, and violent heat; and the Planters having

found the most of them were rotten and decayed, and to make new

fences of that kind unpossible, by reason the timbers and trees that

grew very neer that place, were imployed in making those fences,

(for as they made them, the timber stood in their way, and no more

adoe but cut them down, and lay them in their places without further

removing) and removes of so great trees as they were, not to be done

with few and weak hands: So that they were come to a great strait,

and knew not which way, nor how, to renew these fences; some of

the Pastures having no lesse then three thousand two hundred sixty

eight trees to encompasse them. At last, they thought upon this

way, of making new fences, which is the most commodious that can be

imagined. And so they gather’d all the Physick-nuts they could, and

sowed them, and made large Nurseries of them, which as soon as they

grew to any strength, they remov’d, and planted them so, as making

a sleight hedge between the old fence and the Pasture, that Cattle

might not tread them down, being young and tender, they planted them

between; and in four years time they grew so strong, as they were of

sufficient ability to defend themselves, and became a very sufficient

fence to keep in or out the strongest Bulls in the Pasture. And then,

all the wood of the old fence being drie, and fit for the Furnaces,

was cut in short pieces, cleft, and sent home by the Assinigos; and

part was gathered together, and made into Charcoals, for fewell at

home, and for the Smiths Forge, for we have there no Sea-coales.

Besides this, there is another use of this Plant, and that is

Physicall: Take five of the kernells, and eat them in a morning

fasting, and they are a Vomit and Purge; but the body must be strong

that takes so many: three will serve a body that is easie to work

on: I my selfe took five of them, and they gave me twelve vomits,

and above twenty stooles, which was too great an evacuation in a

hot Country, where the body is weak, and the spirits exhausted by

continuall sweating.

But I saw a stronger man there take them before me, and they wrought

moderately with him; but, finding a weaker constitution to work on,

they had the more powerfull operation.

This Nut, as it growes on the tree, is like a white Pear-plumb, and

of a yellowish colour, with a pulpe on it, as much as a Plumb; but

that being taken off, there remains a stone, of a blackish colour,

and within that, a kernell, and in that kernell, in the parting it in

two halves, as our Hazle-nuts in _England_, will part in the middle

long-wise, you shall finde a thin filme, which lookes of a faint

Carnation, which colour is easily discerned, the rest of the kernell

being so perfectly white; Take out that filme, and you may eat the

nut safely, without any operation at all, and ’tis as sweet, as a

_Jordan_-Almond. This filme is perfectly discern’d, when the nut is

new gathered; but I have look’d on them which have been longer kept,

after I brought them into _England_, and I finde the Carnation colour

quite gone, but the kernell retaines still his operation, both in

Vomit and Purge.

The leaves are shap’d not much unlike a Vine leafe, but thrice as

big, and much thicker, and fuller green.

[Sidenote: _Poyson tree._]

The poysoned tree, though I cannot commend for her vertues, yet

for her beauties I can. She is almost as large every way as the

Locust, but not of that manner of growing; her leaves full out as

large and beautifull, as the Lawrells, and so like, as not to be

known assunder. The people that have lived long there, say, ’tis not

wholsome to be under the shade of this tree. The fellers, as they

cut them down, are very carefull of their eyes; and those that have

Cipers, put it over their faces; for if any of the sap flie into

their eyes, they become blinde for a month. A Negre had two Horses

to walke, which were left with him by two Gentlemen; and the Horses

beginning to fight, the Negre was afeard, and let them go; and they

running into the wood together, struck at one another, and their

heeles hitting some young trees of this kind, struck the poysonous

juice into one anothers eyes, and so their blindnesse parted the

fray, and they were both led home stone blind, and continued so a

month, all the hair and skin pilling off their faces. Yet, of this

timber we make all, or the most part, of the Pots we cure our Sugar

in; for, being sawed, and the boards dried in the Sun, the poyson

vapours out.

And as this tree’s poyson is in her sap, so the Mantionell’s is

in her fruit, which they account as high a poyson, as that of the

Cassavie. The fruit is like an apple _John_, and ’tis said to be

one of those poysons, wherewith the Indian Caniballs invenome their

Arrowes.

[Sidenote: _Cassavie._]

And now I have nam’d the Cassavie, ’tis fit it come in the rank

of poysons, though with good ordering it makes bread. ’Tis rather

a shrub then a tree, the sprigs, few of them bigger then a

broom-staffe, crooked and ill shap’d; but no matter for that, for

the leaves are so thick, as to cover them; and they grow in tufts

or bunches, and ever an odd one, as, 5. 7. 9. or 11. every leafe an

inch broad, and six or seven inches long; dark green, and turning

backward from the foreside. Their Roots I have set down already,

their bignesse, and manner of growth, with the use of them.

[Sidenote: _Coloquintida._]

Coloquintida is as beautifull a fruit, as any you can see, of

the bignesse of an Ostrages egge; a fruit of so ill a taste, as

a spoonfull of the liquor mars a whole pot of pottage; the rinde

smooth, with various greens, interlac’d with murries, yellowes, and

faint carnations.

[Sidenote: _Cassia-fistula._]

Next to this shall be the Cassia fistula, which is a tree that will

grow the most, in the least time, of any that ever I knew: I set

one of the seeds, (which is but a small seed) and in a yeers time,

it grew to be eight foot high, and as large and big in the stem, as

an ordinary Rattoon you walk withall: The leaf of this tree is like

that of an Ash, but much longer, and of a darker colour; the fruit,

when ’tis ripe, just of the colour of a black pudding, and shap’d as

like, but longer. I have seen of them above 16 inches long; the pulp

of it is purgative, and a great cooler of the reins.

[Sidenote: _The poysoned Cane._]

Now because we will have all, or as many of the poysonous and

Physicall trees and plants together as we can, that they may not

trouble another leafe, we will put in a plant amongst the trees, and

that is so like a sugar Cane as hardly to be discern’d, the one from

the other: and this Plant hath this quality, that whosoever chews

it, and sucks in any of the juyce, will have his tongue, mouth, and

throat, so swell’d as to take away the faculty of speech for two

dayes, and no remedy that I know but patience.

[Sidenote: _Tamarine._]

Tamarine trees were but newly planted in the Iland, at the time I

came away, and the Palme tree (so much admir’d for her two rare

vertues of Oyle and Wine) was newly begun to be planted, the plant

being brought us from the _East Indies_, but the Wine she brings may

rather be called a pleasant drink, then to assume the name of Wine:

’tis thus gather’d, they cut the bark in such a part of the tree,

where a bottle may fitly be plac’t, and the liquor being received

into this bottle, it wil keep very good for a day and no longer, but

is a very delicious kind of liquor.

[Sidenote: _Fruit trees._]

[Sidenote: _Figge tree._]

The poysonous trees and plants being past over: ’tis now fit to

mention such as will make amends, and put our mouths in taste, but

not too suddenly to fall upon the best, I will begin with the most

contemptible fruits which are in the Iland, the Fig tree and Cherry

tree, which have savory names, but in their natures neither usefull,

nor well tasted. The Fig tree being very large, but beares a small

fruit, and those of so meane a condition, as I never saw any one eate

of them, and the leaves not at all of the shape of our Fig leaves,

nor the fifth part so large, the body of the tree I have seen as

large as; an ordinary Elme here in England.

[Sidenote: _Cherry tree._]

The Cherry tree is not altogether so large, the fruit as useless and

insipid: but the colour something resembling a Cherry, and the shape

not much unlike; which caused the planters to call it by that name.

The next to these shall be fruites, rather for sauce then meat, to

whet our appetites to those that follow after; and these are the

Citrons, Oranges, Lymons, Lyme.

The Citron is a small tree, though she beare a great fruit; and so

ill matcht they are, as the fruit pulls it down to the ground, and

most of the fruit touches, and beares upon the ground; the stalk of

a dark colour, the leafe shap’t like that of the Limon, but of a

very dark green: these fruits we had in great abundance, when first

we came there, but were all cast away, by reason we had none but

Muscavado suger, and that is not fit to preserve with; besides there

were very few then that had the skill to do them.

[Sidenote: _Orange._]

The Orange trees do not prosper here, nor are the fruits so kindly

as those of _Bermudos_: large they are and full of juice, but not

so delicious as those of that Iland; besides they are very full of

seeds, and their rinds neither so deep, and pure an Orange Tawny, nor

so thick, and therefore not so fit to preserve: the trees seldome

last above seven years in their prime, and then decay.

[Sidenote: _Limon._]

The Limon tree is much better shap’t and larger, but this fruit is

but here and there, stragling in the Iland. I have seen some of

the fruit large, and very full of juice, with a fragrant smell:

the leaves both of these and the Orange trees, I shall not need to

mention being so well known in England.

[Sidenote: _Lime-tree._]

The Lime tree is like a thick Hollybush in England, and as full

of prickles: if you make a hedge of them, about your house, ’tis

sufficient proofe against the _Negres_; whose naked bodies cannot

possible enter it, and it is an extraordinary sure fence against

Cattell; it commonly growes seven or eight foot high, extreamly thick

of leaves and fruit, and of prickles; the leaves not unlike those

of a Limon tree, the fruit so like as not to be discerned, at the

distance of three yeards, but only that ’tis less, but in the taste

of the rinde and juice, extreamly different, much fitter for sauce

then the Limon, but not so good to eate alone.

[Sidenote: _Prickled apple._]

The Prickled apple, growes on a tree extreamly thick leav’d, and

those leaves large, and of a deep green, shap’t not much unlike the

leafe of a Wallnut tree in England: this fruit is shap’t like the

heart of an Oxe, and much about that bigness; a faint green on the

outside, with many prickles on it, the tast very like a musty Limon.

[Sidenote: _Prickled Peare._]

The next in order, shall be the Prickled peare, much purer in

taste and better form’d; the fruit being not unlike in shape to a

Greenfield-peare, and of a faint green, intermixt with some yellow

neare the stalk; but the body of a mixt red, partly Crimson, partly

Stammell, with prickled spots of yellow, the end of it growing

somewhat larger then the middle, at which end, is a round spot of a

murrey colour, the bredth of an inch, and circular with a Centre in

the middle, and a small circle about it, and from that circle within,

lines drawn to the utmost extent of that round Murrey spot, with

faint circles betweene the small circle and the largest, upon that

Murrey spot.

These lines and circles, of a colour no more different in lightnesse

from the murry, then only to be discerned, and a little yellower

colour.

[Sidenote: _Pomegranate._]

The Pomegranate is a beautifull tree the leaves small, with a green

mixt with Olive colour, the blossome large, well shap’t, and of a

pure Scarlet colour; the fruit not so large there, as those we have

from Spaine. The young trees being set in rowes, and planted thick

make a very good hedge, being clipt eeven a top with Garden shears.

The fruit is very well known to you and therefore I shall need say

nothing of that, and these are all the remarkable fruits that grow on

trees, and are proper to this Iland, that I can remember, though I

believe there are many more.

[Illustration:

_The Prickled Peare_

_The Blossom of the Pomegranate_

page. 70.]

[Sidenote: _Papa._]

The Papa is but a small tree, her bark of a faint willow colour,

her leaves large, and of the shape of the Physick nut tree, but of

the colour of her own bark, the branches grow out four or five of

one height, and spread almost levell, from the place where they bud

out; to the ends of the branches, and about two foot higher, such

other branches spreading in the same manner, and if the tree grow to

a greater height then ordinary, a story or two more of these bowes:

the top handsomely form’d to the branches, the fruit somewhat

bigger then Turnips, growing close to the body of the tree, where the

branches grow, and are somewhat a fainter Willow, then either the

body, branches, or leaves. The tree, though it may be accounted wood,

yet the softest that yet I ever saw; for, with my knife, I can cut

down a tree as big as a mans leg at one chop. The fruit we boyl, and

serve it up with powdred pork, as we do turnips in _England_; but the

turnip is far the more savoury fruit.

[Sidenote: _Guaver._]

The Guaver growes on a Tree, bodied and leav’d like a Cherry-tree,

but the leaves somewhat larger and stiffer; the fruit of the bignesse

of a small Limon, and neer that colour, onely the upper end somewhat

blunter then the Limon; the rinde about the thicknesse of the rinde

of a Limon, but soft, and of a delicate taste; it holds within a

pulpie substance, full of small seeds, like a fig, some of them

white within, and some of a stammell colour. These seeds have this

property, that when they have past through the body, wheresoever

they are laid down, they grow. A Planter, & an eminent man in the

Iland, seeing his Daughter by chance about her naturall businesse,

call’d to her: _Plant even, Daughter, plant even_. She answered: _If

you do not like ’em, remove ’em, Father, remove ’em_. These fruites

have different tastes, some rank, some sweet; so that one would

give a reason of this variety, which was, according to the severall

constitutions they had past through, some having a milder, some a

stronger savour.

This tree doth much harm in our Plantations; for the Cattle eating

of them, let fall their loads every where, and so they grow in

abundance, and do much harm to the Pastures, and much pains and

labour is taken to destroy them. They are the best fruites preserv’d

of any, the seeds being taken out, and the rinde only preserved.

[Sidenote: _Coco._]

I have been told by some Planters in the Iland, that Coco-trees grow

there, and they are such men as I give credit to, but I never saw

any; yet, I may venture to tell what shapes they bear, having been

well acquainted with them at the Iland of St. _Jago_, where there

grew very many of them. They seldome are above 80. or 90 foot high,

some a 100. The branches of these come out in severall parts of the

tree, leaving spaces between the heights; but the greatest quantity

is at top, and that top alwaies stoops a little; but the Nuts grow

where the lower boughes break out.

These Nuts are of severall sises, the most of them as big as a large

foot-ball, with a green skin without, and between that and the

shell, a pulpy substance, which when it is drie, is like the rinde

of the Mangrave tree, of which they make roaps, or (to bring the

resemblance a little neerer) like hemp hurds. This Nut-shell is neer

half an inch thick, which we commonly cut at one end, a hole as big

as a thirty shilling piece, and we finde the shell full of a clear

and pure tasted liquor, very delicious, but not very wholsome. This

shell is lin’d within with a substance as thick as it selfe, a white

colour, and tastes sweeter then the best french Walnut, and of that

softnesse. The colour of the leaves of this tree, are like the Olive

leaves.

[Sidenote: _Custard-Apple._]

The Custard apple growes on a tree full of branches and large leaves,

and is a lively and lusty tree to look on; the fruit, when ’tis

ripe, as big as the largest Pomewater, but just of the colour of a

Warden. When ’tis ripe, we gather it, and keep it one day, and then

it is fit to be eaten. We cut a hole at the lesser end, (that it

may stand the firmer in the dish) so big, as that a spoon may go in

with ease, and with the spoon eat it. Never was excellent Custard

more like it selfe, then this to it; only this addition, which makes

it transcend all Custards that art can make, though of naturall

ingredients; and that is, a fruity taste, which makes it strange and

admirable. Many seeds there are in it, but so smooth, as you may put

them out of your mouth with some pleasure.

[Sidenote: _Anchovie-Pear._]

’Twas never my luck to see any of those trees, that bear the

Anchovie-Pears, nor to taste of the fruit, and therefore can give you

no account of that tree; only to let you know, that there is such a

tree in the Iland.

[Sidenote: _Trees of mixt kinds. Macow._]

The Macow is one of the strangest trees, the Iland affords; the body

and branches being stuck all over with prickles, of the finest formes

that I have seen.

They are black as jet, or Ebony polish’d; the sises, from one

to seven inches long, sharp at the point, with proportionable

increasings, from that part where it growes to the tree or bough, and

wav’d, as I have seen some swords, from the point to the hilts, the

finest naturall pick-tooths that can grow. I brought a large bundle

with me, but had them pickt out of my Box by the way. This tree is

about the largenesse of an ordinary Willow, the leaves of that colour

and shape, but extreamly stiffe and hard.

It bears at top a large tuffe of fruit, which we call Apples, but

they are not a fruit to be eaten; their colour as their leaves,

willow-green, and just such for shape as the Cyprus tree bears. Sure,

Nature form’d this tree to some great purpose, she is so arm’d; for

neither man nor beast can touch her, without being wounded. She is

well shap’d, her body straight, her branches well proportion’d, her

top round.

[Sidenote: _Date tree._]

Next to this in colour are Date-trees, but the leaves somewhat

longer. The shape of this tree I cannot give you, having never seen

any old enough to bear the name of a tree, but sprigs rising from the

root, at least ten foot high.

[Sidenote: _Mangrave._]

The Mangrave is a tree of such note, as she must not be forgotten;

for, though she be not of the tall and lusty sort of trees, yet,

she is of great extent; for, there drops from her limbs a kinde of

Gum, which hangs together one drop after another, till it touch the

ground, and then takes root, and makes an addition to the tree. So

that if all these may be said to be one and the same tree, we may

say, that a Mangrave tree may very well hide a troop of Horse. The

bark of this tree being well ordered, will make very strong roaps,

and the Indians make it as fine as flax, and spin it into fine thred,

whereof they make Hamocks, and divers other things they wear: and I

have heard, the linnen they wear is made of this bark, as also their

chaires and stooles.

[Sidenote: _Calibash._]

The Calibash tree bears leaves of the fullest and richest green, of

any that I know, and the greatest plenty of leaves; her fruit not for

food, it is for the most part as big as that of the Coco, round as

a ball, green as the leaves of the same tree, smooth and shining,

and their manner of growing is so close to the body, and the largest

of the boughes, as to touch them so, that till it be pull’d or cut

off, we cannot perceive any stalk it has. Of this round ball, we make

dishes, bowls and cups; for, being hollow within, as the Coco-nut, we

employ them for severall uses, as they are of different sises; some

for dishes, some for cups, some for basons, and some of the largest

to carry water in, as we do Goards, with handles a top, as that of

a kettle, for they are smoother, and much stronger then they. These

look very beautifully on the tree, and to me the more beautifull, by

how much they were the more strange; for, by their firm and close

touching the trees, without any appearance of stalks, they seem to

cleave, rather then grow to the trees.

[Sidenote: _Bay tree._]

One, and but one tree in this Iland have I seen, that bears an

English name, and that is the Bay tree, whose leaves are so

aromatick, as three or four of them will amply supply the place of

Cloves, Mace, and Cinamon, in dressing any dish of meat where that

is required. It differs nothing in shape or colour from ours in

_England_.

[Sidenote: _Timber trees._]

The Cedar is without question the most usefull timber in the Iland;

for being strong, lasting, and not very heavy, ’tis good for

building; but by reason of the smoothnesse and fairnesse of the

grain, there is much of it us’d in Wainscots, Chairs, Stooles, and

other Utensils within dores; but, as they grow, I never saw any of

them beautifully shap’d, the leaves just like those of the Ash in

_England_, but somewhat bigger.

[Sidenote: _Mastick._]

The Mastick is a tree very tall, but the body slender, and therefore

Nature hath provided means to support her; for, she has spurs

or brackets above seven foot from the ground, which are fixt or

engrafted in the body; and some of the spurs reach out from the tree

to the root, so broad, as that tables have been made of a round form,

above three foot and a halfe diameter. Some trees have two, some

three of these spurrs. This tree has commonly a double top, one side

being somewhat higher then the other. The fruit is like none of the

rest, ’tis of a stammell colour, and has neither skin nor stone; but

it is more like a Cancre then a Fruit, and is accounted unwholsom,

and therefore no man tastes it: ’tis, I believe, the seed of the

tree, for we see none other. The leaves of this tree grow of such a

height, as till they fall down, we can give no judgment of them. The

timber of this tree is rank’d amongst the fourth sort, three being

better then it. I have seen the bodies of these trees neer sixty foot

high.

[Sidenote: _Bully._]

The Bully tree is lesse then the Mastick, and bears a fruit like a

Bullis in _England_; her body streight, and well shap’t; her branches

proportionable, her timber excellent and lasting.

[Sidenote: _Redwood._]

Redwood is a handsome tree, but not so loftie as the Mastick,

excellent timber to work, for it is not so hard as some others, which

is the cause they seldome break their tooles in working it, and that

is the reason the work-men commend it above others. ’Tis a midling

tree for sise, the body about two foot and a halfe diameter.

[Sidenote: _Prickled yellow-wood._]

This is accounted as good as the Red-wood in all respects, and is a

strong and lasting timber, good for building, and for all uses within

doors.

[Sidenote: _Iron wood._]

Iron wood is called so, for the extream hardnesse; and with that

hardnesse it has such a heavinesse, as they seldome use it in

building; besides, the workmen complain that it breaks all their

tools. ’Tis good for any use without doores, for neither Sun nor rain

can any waies mollifie it. ’Tis much used for Coggs to the Rollers.

[Sidenote: _Lignum vitæ._]

_Lignum vitæ_ they use now and then for the same purpose, when the

other is away; but having no bowling in that Country, little is used:

They send it commonly for _England_, where we employ it to severall

uses; as, for making Bowles, Cabinets, Tables, and Tablemen.

[Sidenote: _Locust._]

The Locust is a tree, not unfitly to be resembled to a Tuscan Pillar,

plain, massie, and rurall, like a well lim’d labourer; for, the

burden it bears being heavy and ponderous, ought to have a body

proportionably built, to bear so great a weight. That rare Architect,

_Vitruvius_, taking a pattern from Trees, to make his most exact

Pillars, rejects the wreathed, vined, and figured Columnes; and that

_Columna Atticurges_, mentioned by himselfe, to have been a squared

Pillar; and those that are swell’d in the middle, as if sick of a

Tympany or Dropsie, and chuses rather the straightest, most exact,

and best sis’d, to bear the burthen that lies on them. So, looking

on these trees, and finding them so exactly to answer in proportion

to the Tuscan Pillars, I could not but make the resemblance the

other way: For, Pillars cannot be more like Trees, then these

Trees are like Tuscan Pillars, as he describes them. I have seen a

Locust (and not one, but many) that hath been four foot diameter in

the body, neer the root, and for fifty foot high has lessened so

proportionably, as if it had taken pattern by the antient Remainders,

which _Philander_ was so precise in measuring, which is a third part

of the whole shaft upward, and is accounted as the most gracefull

diminution. The head to this body is so proportionable, as you cannot

say, ’tis too heavy or too leight; the branches large, the sprigs,

leaves, and nuts so thick, as to stop all eye sight from passing

through, and so eeven at top, as you would think you might walk upon

it, and not sink in. The Nuts are for the most part three inches and

a halfe long, and about two inches broad, and somewhat more then an

inch thick; the shell somewhat thicker then a halfe crown piece, of a

russet Umbre, or hair colour; the leaves bigger than those that grow

upon the Ash in _England_: I shall not mention the timber, having

given it in my Buildings. The Kernells are three or four in every

nut, and between those, a kinde of light pulpie substance, such as

is in a Hazle-nut, before the kernell be grown to the full bignesse:

In times of great famine there, the poor people have eaten them for

sustenance: But, of all tastes, I do not like them.

[Sidenote: _Bastard-Locust._]

Another Locust there is, which they call the bastard-Locust. This

lookes fair, but will not last.

[Sidenote: _Palmeto the lesse._]

There is a tree called the _Palmeto_, growing neer the Sea-coast,

which being a sandy light ground, does not afford that substance of

mould, to make a large tree; nor shall you finde in that low part

of the Iland, any considerable trees fit for building, which is a

main want and hinderance to them that would build there; for, there

is no means to transport any from the high lands, by reason of the

unpassableness of the wayes; the body of this tree I have seen about

45 or 50 foot high, the Diameter seldome above 15 or 16 inches, the

rind of a pure ash colour, full of wrinkles, the leaves about two

foot and a halfe long, in bunches, just as if you took twenty large

flaggs, with their flat sides together, and tied them at the broader

ends. With these bunches they thatch houses, laying every bunch by

himselfe on the lathes, somewhat to overhang one another, as tiles

do. This is a very close kind of thatch, keeps dry and is very

lasting, and looking up to them on the inside of the room, they are

the prettiest becomming figures that I have seen of that kind, these

leaves grow out no where but at the tops of the trees.

[Sidenote: _Palmeto Royall._]

Another kind of Palmeto there is, which as it has an addition to the

name, has likewise an addition to the nature: for I beleive there

is not a more Royall or Magnificent tree growing on the earth, for

beauty and largeness, not to be paralell’d; and excels, so abundantly

in those two properties and perfections, all the rest, as if you had

ever seen her, you could not chuse but fall in love with her; I’m

sure I was extreamly much, and upon good and Antique Authority: For

if _Xerxes_ strange Lydian love the Plantane tree, was lov’d for her

age, why may not I love this for her largeness? I beleive there are

more women lov’d for their largeness then their age, if they have

beauty for an addition, as this has; and therefore I am resolv’d in

that poynt, to go along with the multitude, who run very much that

way: but how to set her out in her true shape and colour, without a

Pencill, would aske a better Pen then mine; yet I will deliver her

dimensions as neer truth as I can, and for her beauty much will arise

out of that. But first I will beg leave of you to shew her in her

Infancy, which is about tenne or twelve years old, at which time she

is about seventeen foot high, her body and her branches, and that

part which touches the ground, not unlike an Inkhorne, which I have

seen turn’d in Ivory, round at the bottome and bellied like that part

which holds the Inke; and the stem or body of the tree, growing less,

as that part which holds the Pens, but turn’d by a more skilfull

workman; and some of this body, part tawny, part purple, with rings

of white and green mixt, that go about her; and these rings at sixe

inches distance. This stem, to be about sixe foot and a halfe high,

upon which growes the bottome of the stalks, thinne as leaves of

Parchment, enwrapping one another so close as to make a continued

stem, of the same bigness, for two foot and a halfe above the other,

every one of those filmes or skins, bearing a stalk, which lessens so

insensibly, from the skinne to the poynt as none but the great former

of all beauty can make the like.

These stalks or branches, are of severall lengths, those that are the

most inward, are the highest; and every one of those stalks adorn’d

with leaves, beginning a little from the filmes to the poynt, and all

these leaves like Cylinders, sharp at either end, and biggest in the

middle; that part of the stem which is the enwrappings of the filmes

of a pure grasse green, shining as parchment dyed green, and slickt

with a slick-stone, and all the branches with the leaves, of a full

grass green spreading every way, and the highest of them eight foot

above the green stem, the other in order to make a well shap’t Top,

to so beautifull a stem. The branches sprout forth from the middle,

or intrinsick part of the tree, one at once; and that wrapt up so

close as tis rather like a Pike then a branch with leaves, and that

Pike alwayes bends toward the East; but being opened by the Suns

heat spreads the leaves abroad, at which time the outmost or eldest

branch or sprig below withers and hangs down, and pulls with it the

filme that beares it, and so both it and the filme which holds it

up turne of a russet colour and hang down like a dead leafe, till

the wind blowes them off; by which time the Pike above is become a

branch, with all its leaves opened; then comes forth another Pike,

and then the next outmost branch and filme below, falls away as the

former, and so the tree growes so much higher, as that branch took

roome, and so a pike and a dead leafe, a pike and a dead leafe, till

she be advanc’t to her full height which will not be till 100 years

be accomplished: about thirty or forty years old, she will bear

fruit, but long before that time, changes her shape, her belly being

lessened partly by the multiplicity of roots, she shoots down into

the earth (nature foreseeing how great a weight they were to beare,

and how great a stress they were to suffer, when the winds take hold

of so large a head, as they were to be crown’d with) and partly by

thrusting out sustenance and substance, to raise and advance the

stem or body (for out of this belly which is the storehouse of all

this good it comes) so that now she becomes taper, with no more

lessning then a well shap’t arrow, and full out as straight, her body

then being of a bright Ash colour, with some dapples of green, the

filmes a top retaining their smoothness and greenness, only a little

variation in the shape, & that is a little swelling neer the place

that touches the stem or body, not much unlike an Urinall, so that

the swelling that was in the body, is now raised up to the filmes or

skinns above. But at this age, the branches stand not so upright, as

when the tree was in her minority, but has as great beauty in the

stooping and declension, as she had in the rising of her branches,

when her youth thrusts them forth with greater violence and vigour,

and yet they had then some little stooping neer the poynts. And

now there is an addition to her beauty by two green studds, or

supporters, that rise out of her sides, neer the place where the

filmes joyne to the tree, and they are about three foot long, small

at the place from whence they grow, but bigger upwards, purely green

and not unlike the Iron that Glasiers use to melt their Sawder with.

[Illustration: _The Yonge Palmeto Royall_

page. 76.]

One growes on one side of the tree, the other on the other side, and

between these two of the same height, on either side the tree, a

bush upon which the fruit growes, which are of the bigness of large

French grapes, some green, some yellow, some purple, and when they

come to be purple, they are ripe, and in a while fall down, and then

the yellow becomes purple, and the green yellow; and so take their

turnes, till the tree gives over bearing. These fruits we can hardly

come by being of so great a height, nor is it any great matter: for

the taste is not pleasant; but the Hoggs find them very agreeable to

their palats for those that eat of them grow suddenly fat. I have

seen an _Negre_ with two short ropes clyme the tree, and gather the

fruit, about this time, she is 80 foot high, and continues that

forme, without variation; only as she growes older, so taller and

larger; and has alwaies green, yellow, and purple fruit, succeeding

one another; whether there be blossomes, I know not, for I never went

so high as to look. This sort of trees I have seen of all sises, from

ten, to two hundred foot high; and I have been told by some of the

antient Planters, that when they came first upon the Iland, they have

seen some of them three hundred foot high: And some reasons I have

to perswade me to believe it; for, amongst those that I have seen

growing, which I have guest to be two hundred foot high, the bodies

of which I measured, and found to be but sixteen inches diameter. And

I once found in a wood, a tree lying, which seem’d to have been long

fallen; for, the young wood was so grown about her, as standing at

one end, I could not see the other: But, having a couple of Negres

with me, that were axe-men, I caused them to cut away the wood that

grew about the tree, that I might come to the other end, which I

thought would never be done, she was so long, and yet a great part of

her cut off, and carried away. I measured the diameter of her stem,

and found it to be 25 inches.

16 ----- 200

/

/

/

25 ----- 312

200 ----- 25

/

/

/

312 ----- 39

Now if we go by the rule of Three, and say, If 16 inches diamiter

make 200 foot high, what shall 25 inches? And by this rule we shall

prove her to be 312 foot high. But the branches of this tree were all

carried away, so that I could see none of them. But I have measured a

branch of one of those trees of 200 foot high, and found it 25 foot

long. So then, by the same Rule: If 200 foot high bear a branch of 25

foot long, what shall a Tree of 312 foot high do? And I see by the

same Rule, it appears to be 39 foot long. And one of these trees,

after she comes to bear fruit, will have no lesse then 20 branches

at once, (but many more in her nonage) and halfe of them hold this

length. I have seen a branch of one of these small trees of 200 foot

high, fallen down, and blown from the tree in the falling, twenty

paces off, which has made me admire from whence it should come: For,

the tree being of so great a height, the branches lose much of their

bignesse and length by their distance: But, lying on the ground,

where we can take the just measure, we find what they are. And it is

an admirable thing, to see the form of this sprig or branch, which

is not above two inches broad where it joynes to the film, and is

lessening of the breadth from that end to the point, which is twenty

five foot long, so insensible, as it is not possible to discern where

the diminution is. So smooth, so eeven, so firme and tough, as though

it be not wood, ’tis much stronger, and abler to endure the weather,

or any kinde of bending. The leaves that grow upon this stalk, are

all of them (unlesse towards the points) two foot long; that part

which touches the stalk, small, but strong enough to bear the leafe,

and has a little short stalk, to which the leafe growes, which leafe

is as exactly form’d, as the stalk, growing by degrees, to make two

inches broad in the middle, and losing that breadth insensibly to

the point. These leaves are thin, but tough enough, to endure the

strongest winde that blowes, without being broken, and not above four

inches distant one from another; which multiplicity of leaves, makes

the beauty of the tree the fuller. About the time this tree parts

with her belly, & growes to a slender kind of shape, she drawes up

amongst her roots some of the soyle that bred her, about two foot

higher than the levell of ground that is neer it; and by reason it is

held in by an infinity of small roots, that come from the body, it

there remaines firm, and falls not down; the outside of this earth

is about a foot round about, broader than the diameter of the tree;

so that if the diameter of the tree be a foot, the diameter of this

earth is three foot at top, but somewhat more below; for the sides

are not so steep, as to hold one breadth above and below. If this

earth were beautifull, smooth, and large enough, it might be called

the Pedistan to that Corinthian Pillar, the Palmeto Royall. But what

is wanting in the Pedistall, is supplyed in the dimensions of the

Pillar; for, the Corinthian Pillar is allowed for length but nine of

her own diameters, and this will not aske leave to take 150. which

makes her the more beautifull, since the strength she hath, is able

to support the weight she bears: And for the Architrave, Frize, and

Cornise, they are not to be compar’d with the beauty of the head of

this Pillar, together with the fruit & supporters. And I believe, if

_Vitruvius_, himself had ever bin where this Pillar grew, he would

have chang’d all his deckings and garnishings of Pillars, according

to the form of this. And though the Corinthian Pillar be a Columne

laciviously deckt, like a Curtesan, and therein participating (as all

inventions do) of the place where they were first born; (_Corinth_

having been without controversy, one of the wantonnest Townes in the

world) yet, this wants nothing of her beauty, and yet is chast, which

makes her the more admirable and the more worthy to be prised. One

thing more I have to say of this tree, which is not onely the root

that brings forth all this beauty, but the root of much admiration

and wonder; that, being a tree of that height, bearing a top of so

vast an extent, as from the point of the branches of one side, to the

point of the stalk on the other side, to be 78 foot, upon which, the

winde cannot but have a main power and force; yet, I never saw any

of them blown down, nor any root of this tree bigger then a Swans

quill: but there are many of them, and they fasten themselves in the

Rocks, which hold them very firm. The wood of this tree is so extream

hard, and tough withall, as most of the axes that are employed to

fell them, are broken in the work; and they are well enough serv’d,

for cutting down such beauty. The use our Planters made of them at

first comming, before they knew how to make shingles, was, to saw

the bodies of these trees to such lengths, as might reach from the

ridge pole, to the Eves of the house; for, they were hollow, and

then sawing them long-wise, there were two concaves, which they laid

together, setting the hollow sides upward; and where they close,

one to cover them, with the hollow side downward, and so the whole

house over. And this was the use they made of the bodies of these

Trees, for which, very many of them were destroyed.

[Illustration: The Olde Palmeto Royall

This plant here exprest is of the least Magnitude being but a foot

in diametre, and the height som what less then 100 tymes his owne

diametre; But there have bin some growing upon the Iland, which have

bin two foot diametre, and have bin 150 tymes theyr owne diametre,

which is 300 foot high.

page. 78.]

But, I doubt, I have tir’d you with the naming of so many trees,

and therefore I will give over; but, with this rule; that which way

soever I have travelled, (from the place I dwelt) either East, West,

North, or South; (but four miles distant) I have still found trees,

such as I had never seen before, and not one of those I have named,

and many of them extreamly large and beautifull. And the neerer the

middle of the Iland, the larger the trees, and the leaves: so that

from trees of a hundred foot high, to diminution of twenty; and from

leaves of eighteen inches long, with a proportionable breadth to that

length, to the smal ones of halfe an inch, which most of the trees

bear that are neer the _Bridge_, and, I think, neer the Sea, every

where you shall finde many, and the most such. And the reason I have

given before; the land in the highest part of the Iland, being very

rich mould, and that neer the Sea being sandy light earth. And in the

partings or twists of the branches of those trees, (which I have not

named) such excrescences grow out, as are strange for their formes,

and no doubt medicinable in their natures; such as is our _Misleto_,

or _Polypodium_, and much larger, and more frequent; but we want

skilfull men, to find out their vertues.

[Sidenote: _Plants that bear fruit. Ginger._]

There are (besides the Bay-leaves, which, as I told you, might serve

for Cloves, Mace, and Cinamon) two sorts of spices, Ginger, and

red-Pepper: The Ginger being a root which brings forth blades, not

unlike in shape to the blades of Wheat, but broader and thicker, for

they cover the ground so, as you cannot see any part of it. They are

of a popinjay colour, the blossome a pure scarlet. When ’tis ripe,

we dig up the roots, (cutting off the blades) and put them into the

hands of an Overseer, who sets many of the young Negres to scrape

them, with little knives; or small iron spuds, ground to an edge.

They are to scrape all the outward skin off, to kill the spirit; for,

without that, it will perpetually grow. Those that have Ginger; and

not hands to dresse it thus, are compell’d to scald it, to kill the

spirit; and that Ginger is nothing so good as the other, for it will

be hard as wood, and black; whereas the scrapt Ginger is white and

soft, and has a cleaner and quicker taste.

[Sidenote: _Red Pepper._]

There is of this kinde two sorts, the one so like a childs Corall,

as not to be discerned at the distance of two paces; a crimson and

scarlet mixt, the fruit about three inches long, and shines more

then the best polisht Corall. The other, of the same colour, and

glistering as much, but shap’t like a large button of a Cloak; both

of one and the same quality; both so violently strong, as when we

break but the skin, it sends out such a vapour into our lungs; as we

fall all a coughing; which lasts a quarter of an hour after the fruit

is removed; but, as long as we are garbling it, we never give over.

This Spice the Spaniards love, and will have it in all their meat,

that they intend to have picant; for a greater _Hough goo_ is not in

the World. Garlick is faint and cool to it. It growes on a little

shrub, no bigger then a Goosbery-bush.

[Sidenote: _Cucumber._]

Having inflam’d this leafe with a burning heat, it is fit to apply a

Cooler, lest it fall on fire; and that is such a one, as is cold in

the third degree, a Cucumber; of which kind we have excellent good,

from the beginning of _November_ to the end of _February_; but after

that, the weather growes too hot. They serve as Sallets cold, with

Oyle, Vinegar, and Pepper; and hot, being stewed, or fryed, of which

we make Sawce for Mutton, Pork, Turkeyes, or Muscovia Ducks. Geese

I never saw but two in the Iland, and those were at the Governours

house.

[Sidenote: _Millons._]

Millons we have likewise for those foure months; but before or after,

the weather is too hot. They are for the most part larger than here

in _England_. I have seen them cut four inches thick; they eat

moister then here they do, which makes them the lesse wholsome. We

take no other care (after the seeds are put into the ground) but to

weed them. I have seen of them sixteen inches long.

[Sidenote: _Water-Millon._]

The Water Millon there, is one of the goodliest fruites that growes.

I have seen of them, big as a Cloakbag, with a suit of clothes in it;

purely green, engrayl’d with straw colour; And so wanton Nature is,

in disposing those figures, as though they be upon all parts of the

fruit; yet, they vary and flow so infinitely, as no inch of square

or circle is to be found upon the rinde, that is like one another,

and the whole rinde as smooth as polisht glasse. Where they put out

upon the ground, there they lie; for the Vine they grow by, has not

strength to remove them. This fruit within is not unlike an Apple

for colour; but for taste, not like any fruit I know in _England_,

waterish, and wallowish; yet the people there eat strange quantities

of it, two or three pieces, big, as if cut round about a twelve-penny

loafe, an inch thick: They hold it rarely cooling to the body, and

excellent for the stone. The seeds are of themselves so strong a

Purple, as to dye that part of the fruit it touches, of the same

colour; and till they do so, the fruit is not full ripe: They account

the largest, best. Extreamly full of seeds they are, which in the

eating slip out with such ease, as they are not at all troublesome.

[Sidenote: _Grapes._]

Grapes we have in the Iland, and they are indifferently well tasted,

but they are never ripe together; some may be pickt out to make Wine,

but it will be so small a quantity, as it will not be worth the

while. There is alwaies some green, some ripe, some rotten grapes in

the bunch.

[Illustration: The Plantine Blossomd

page 80]

[Sidenote: _Plantine._]

Though the Plantine bear not the most delitious fruit that growes

on this Iland; yet, for that she is of great use, and beauty too,

and for many other rarities that she excells other Plants in, I

shall endeavour to do her right in my description. And first, for

the manner of planting; we put a root into the ground, six inches

deep, and in a very short time, there will come forth three or four

sprouts, whereof one has the precedence, and holds that advantage,

(as the prime Hawke does in an Ayery). And as this sprout growes,

it springs from the intrinsick part of the stem, and the out-leaves

hang down and rot; but still new ones come within, and rise up as

the Palmeto does, like a pike, which opened with the Sun, becomes

a leafe; and about the time it comes to be eight or ten foot high,

the pikes, (and consequently the leaves) will be of their full

bignesse, and so (as others grow) continue that bignesse, till the

last sprout come forth; which is the soul of the Plant, and will

never be a leafe, but is the stem upon which the fruit must grow.

About the time the leaves come to their full bignesse, they rot no

more, but continue in their full beauty; a rich green, with stripes

of yellow so intermixt, as hardly to be discerned where they are.

These leaves are the most of them above six foot long, and two foot

broad; smooth, shining, and stiffe as a Lawrell leafe; and from the

middle of the leaf to the end, such a fall, as a feather has, in a

well shap’t plume. But, as all these leaves came out in a pike, so

that pike ever bends a little towards the East, though as soon as it

becomes a a leafe, chuses any point of the Compasse to leane to; and

so in a due proportion, hangs round about the stem. At the time it

comes to be of the full height, the uppermost leaves will be fifteen

or sixteen foot high, and then you shall perceive the stem upon

which the fruit must grow, more then a foot higher than the rest,

with a green bunch at top; which bunch has such a weight, as to make

it stoop by degrees, till it be but seven foot from the ground; and

then the green leaves which held the blossome in, open, and shew

the blossome it selfe, which is of a pure purple, and as big as the

heart of a Stagg, and of that shape, with the point downwards, and so

continues, without opening the leaves, till it be ready to fall off;

and when it falls, pulls with it above a foot of the stalk that held

it, which is covered with yellow blossomes. This purple blossome,

when it fell, I guesse to be a pound weight, besides the stalk it

took along with it. After this is fallen, the fruit growes out from

that end which remained; and as it growes, turnes up towards the

stalk that bears it, much like a Grapple, that holds the long-Boat

of a Ship; or, as a dozen large fish-hooks tied together, turning up

severall waies; each turning up of that fruit being seven or eight

inches long, and as bigg as a large Battoon you walk with. In six

months, this Plant will be grown, and this fruit ripe, which is a

pleasant, wholsome, and nourishing fruit, yellow, when ’tis ripe: But

the Negres chuse to have it green, for they eat it boyl’d, and it is

the only food they live upon. Our manner of eating it, is, when it

is full ripe, take off the skin, which will come off with much ease,

and then the fruit looks yellow, with a froath upon it, but the fruit

firme. When it is gathered, we cut down the Plant, and give it to

the Hoggs, for it will never bear more. The body of this plant is

soft, skin within skin, like an Onyon, and between the skins, water

issues forth as you cut it. In three months, another sprout will

come to bear, and so another, and another, for ever; for, we never

plant twice. Groaves we make of these plants, of twenty acres of

ground, and plant them at such distances, and in such rowes, as you

do Cherry-trees in _Kent_, so that we walk under the leaves, as under

the Arches in St. _Faith’s_ Church under _Pauls_, free from sun and

rain.

[Sidenote: _Wild Plantine._]

The wilde Plantine growes much as the other does, but the leaves not

so broad, and more upright, the fruit not to be eaten; of a scarlet

colour, and almost three square. I know no use of this fruit or

leaves, but to look on.

[Sidenote: _Bonano._]

The Bonano differs nothing from the Plantine, in the body and

leaves but only this, that the leaves are somewhat lesse, and the

bodie has here and there some blackish spots, the blossome no bigger

then a large bud of a Rose; of a faint purple, and Ash colour mixt,

the stalk that bears it, adorn’d with small blossomes, of severall

colours; when they fall off, there comes out the fruit, which does

not turne back as the Plantines do, but stand outright like a bunch

of puddings, all neere of a length, and each of them between four and

five inches long. This fruit is of a sweeter taste then the Plantine;

and for that reason the _Negroes_ will not meddle with them, nor

with any fruit that has a sweet taste; but we find them as good to

stew, or preserve as the Plantine, and will looke and taste more like

Quince. This tree wants little of the beauty of the Plantine, as she

appears upon the ground, in her ful growth; and though her fruit be

not so usefull a food for the belly, as that of the Plantine, yet

she has somewhat to delight the eyes, which the other wants, and

that is the picture of Christ upon the Crosse; so lively exprest,

as no Limner can do it (with one colour) more exactly; and this is

seen, when you cut the fruit just crosse as you do the root of Ferne,

to find a spread Eagle; but this is much more perfect, the head

hanging down, the armes extended to the full length, with some little

elevation; and the feet cross one upon another.

This I will speak as an Artist; let a very excellent Limner, paint

a Crucifix, only with one colour, in limning; and let his touches

be as sharp, and as masterly as he pleases, the figure no bigger

then this, which is about an inch long, and remove that picture at

such a distance from the eye, as to loose some of the Curiosity, and

dainty touches of the work, so as the outmost stels, or profile of

the figure, may be perfectly discern’d, and at such a distance; the

figure in the fruit of the Bonano, shall seem as perfect as it: much

may be said upon this subject by better wits, and abler souls then

mine: My contemplation being only this, that since those men dwelling

in that place professing the names of Christians, and denying to

preach to those poor ignorant harmless souls the _Negroes_, the

doctrine of Christ Crucified, which might convert many of them to his

worship, he himselfe has set up his own Crosse, to reproach these

men, who rather then they will loose the hold they have of them as

slaves, will deny them the benefit and blessing of being Christians.

Otherwise why is this figure set up, for these to look on, that never

heard of Christ, and God never made any thing useless or in vaine.

[Illustration: The Blossom