page 82.]
[Sidenote: _Pine._]
Now to close up all that can be said of fruits, I must name the Pine,
for in that single name, all that is excellent in a superlative
degree, for beauty and taste, is totally and summarily included:
and if it were here, to speak for it selfe, it would save me much
labour, and do it selfe much right. ’Tis true, that it takes up
double the time the Plantine does, in bringing forth the fruit; for
’tis a full year before it be ripe; but when it comes to be eaten,
nothing of rare taste can be thought on that is not there; nor is
it imaginable, that so full a Harmony of tastes can be raised, out
of so many parts, and all distinguishable. But before I come to say
any thing of that, I will give you some little hints of her shape,
and manner of growth, which though I must acknowledge my selfe
to be down-right lame, in the expression; yet rather then you shall
lose all, I will indeavour to represent some of her beauties, in
such faint expressions as I have. A Slip taken from the body of this
plant, and set in the ground, will not presently take root, but
the Crown that growes upon the fruit it selfe will sooner come to
perfection then it; and will have much more beauty all the time of
growing. In a quarter of a year, it will be a foot high, and then the
leaves will be about 7 or 8 inches long, which appeare to your eyes
like Semi-Circles: the middle being a little hollow, so as I have
seen a french sword, that is made for lightness and strength. The
colour for the most part, frost upon green, intermixt with Carnation,
and upon the edges of the leaves, teeth like those upon Sawes; and
these are pure incarnadine. The leaves fall over one another, as they
are plac’t higher on the stem; the poynts of the lowest, touching the
ground; in a quarter of a year more, you shall perceive on the top
of the stem a Blossome, as large as the largest Carnation, but of
different colours, very small flakes, Carnation, Crimson and Scarlet,
intermixt, some yellow, some blew leaves, and some Peach Colour,
intermixt with Purple, Sky colour, and Orange tawny, Gridaline, and
Gingeline, white and Philyamort. So that the Blossome may be said to
represent many of the varieties to the sight, which the fruit does
to the taste, these colours will continue a week or tenne dayes, and
then wither and fall away, under which there will appear, a little
bunch of the bigness of a Wallnut; which has in it, all these colours
mixt, which in the blossome were disperst; and so grows bigger for
two months more, before it shews the perfect shape; which is somewhat
of an Ovall forme; but blunt at either end; and at the upper end,
growes out a Crown of leaves, much like those below for colour, but
more beautifull; some of the leaves of this Crown, six inches long;
the out leaves, shorter by degrees. This fruit is inclos’d with a
rind, which begins with a screw at the stalk, and so goes round till
it comes to the top, or Crown, gently rising, which screw is about ¼
of an inch broad; and the figures, that are imbrodred upon that screw
neer of that dimension, and divisions between. And it falls out so,
as those divisions, are never over one another in the screw, but are
alwayes under the middle of the figures above, those figures do vary
so in the colouring as if you see an hundred Pines, they are not one
like another and every one of those figures, has a little tuft or
beard, some of green some yellow, some Ash colour, some Carnation.
There are two sorts of Pines, the King and Queen Pine: The Queen is
farre more delicate, and has her colours of all greens, with their
shadowes intermixt, with faint Carnations, but most of all frost upon
green, and Sea greens. The King Pine, has for the most part, all
sorts of yellows, with their shadowes intermixt with grass greens,
and is commonly the larger Pine. I have seen some of them 14 inches
long, and sixe inches in the diametre; they never grow to be above
four foot high, but the most of them having heavy bodies, and slender
stalks, leane down and rest upon the ground. Some there are, that
stand upright, and have comming out of the stem, below, some sprouts
of their own kind, that beare fruits which jetty out from the stem a
little, and then rise upright. I have seen a dozen of these, round
about the prime fruit, but not so high as the bottom of that, and the
whole Plant together, shewes like a Father in the middle, and a dosen
Children round about him; and all those will take their turnes to be
ripe, and all very good. When this fruit is grown to a ripenesse,
you shall perceive it by the smell, which is as far beyond the smell
of our choisest fruits of _Europe_, as the taste is beyond theirs.
When we gather them, we leave some of the stalk to take hold by;
and when we come to eat them, we first cut off the crown, and send
that out to be planted; and then with a knife, pare off the rinde,
which is so beautifull, as it grieves us to rob the fruit of such an
ornament; nor would we do it, but to enjoy the pretious substance it
contains; like a Thiefe, that breakes a beautifull Cabinet, which he
would forbear to do, but for the treasure he expects to finde within.
The rinde being taken off, we lay the fruit in a dish, and cut it in
slices, halfe an inch thick; and as the knife goes in, there issues
out of the pores of the fruit, a liquor, cleer as Rock-water, neer
about six spoonfulls, which is eaten with a spoon; and as you taste
it, you finde it in a high degree delicious, but so milde, as you can
distinguish no taste all; but when you bite a piece of the fruit, it
is so violently sharp, as you would think it would fetch all the skin
off your mouth; but, before your tongue have made a second triall
upon your palat, you shall perceive such a sweetnesse to follow,
as perfectly to cure that vigorous sharpnesse; and between these
two extreams, of sharp and sweet, lies the relish and flaver of all
fruits that are excellent; and those tastes will change and flow so
fast upon your palat, as your fancy can hardly keep way with them,
to distinguish the one from the other: and this at least to a tenth
examination, for so long the Eccho will last. This fruit within, is
neer of the colour of an Abricot not full ripe, and eates crispe and
short as that does; but it is full of pores, and those of such formes
and colours, as ’tis a very beautifull sight to look on, and invites
the appetite beyond measure. Of this fruit you may eat plentifully,
without any danger of surfeting. I have had many thoughts, which way
this fruit might be brought into _England_, but cannot satisfie my
selfe in any; preserv’d it cannot be, whole; for, the rinde is so
firm and tough, as no Sugar can enter in; and if you divide it in
pieces, (the fruit being full of pores) all the pure taste will boyle
out. ’Tis true, that the _Dutch_ preserve them at _Fernambock_, and
send them home; but they are such as are young, and their rinde soft
and tender: But those never came to their full taste, nor can we know
by the taste of them, what the others are. From the _Bermudoes_, some
have been brought hither in their full ripenesse and perfection,
where there has been a quick passage, and the fruites taken in the
nick of time; but, that happens very seldome. But, that they should
be brought from the _Barbadoes_, is impossible, by reason of the
severall Climates between. We brought in the ship seventeen of
severall grouths, but all rotten, before we came halfe the way.
[Sidenote: _Sugar Canes, with the manner of planting; of their
grouth, time of ripenesse, with the whole process of Sugar-making._]
Though I have said as much as is fit, and no more than truth, of
the beauty and taste of these formentioned Trees and Plants, beyond
which, the Sun with his masculine force cannot beget, nor the teeming
Earth bear; all which are proper and peculiar to the Iland; for they
were planted there by the great Gardiner of the World. Yet, there is
one brought thither as a stranger, from beyond the Line, which has a
property beyond them all; and that is the Sugar-Cane, which though it
has but one single taste, yet, that full sweetnesse has such a benign
faculty, as to preserve all the rest from corruption, which, without
it, would taint and become rotten; and not only the fruits of this
Iland, but of the world, which is a speciall preheminence due to this
Plant, above all others, that the earth or world can boast of. And
that I may the more fully and amply set her off, I will give you all
the observations I made, from my first arrivall on the Iland, when
planting there, was but in its infancy, and but faintly understood,
to the time I left the place, when it was grown to a high perfection.
[Illustration: (decorative banner)]
_An_ Index _to the Platforme or Superficies of an_ Ingenio, _that
grinds or squeezes the Sugar_.
[Sidenote: _A_]
The ground-plat, upon which the Posts or Pillars stand, that bear up
the house, or the Intercolumniation between those Pillars.
[Sidenote: _B_]
The Pillars or Ports themselves.
[Sidenote: _C_]
The wall between the Mill-house and Boyling-house.
[Sidenote: _D_]
The Circle or Circumference, where the Horses and Cattle go, which
draw the Rollers about.
[Sidenote: _E_]
The Sweeps to which the Horses and Cattle are fastned, that draw
about the Rollers.
[Sidenote: _F_]
The Frame of the _Ingenio_.
[Sidenote: _G_]
The Brackets or Butteresses, that support that Frame.
[Sidenote: _H_]
The Dore, that goes down stairs to the Boyling-house.
[Sidenote: _I_]
The Cistern, into which the Liquor runs from the Ingenio, immediately
after it is ground, and is carried in a Pipe under ground to this
Cistern, where it remaines not above a day at most.
[Sidenote: _K_]
The Cistern that holds the Temper, which is a Liquor made with ashes,
steept in water, and is no other than the Lye we wash withall in
_England_. This Temper, we straw in the three last Coppers, as the
Sugar boyles, without which, it would never Corn, or be any thing but
a Syrope; but the salt and tartarousnesse of this Temper, causes it
to turn, as Milk does, when any soure or sharp liquor is put into it;
and a very small quantity does the work.
[Sidenote: _L_]
The Boyling-house.
The five black Rounds are the Coppers, in which the Sugar is boyled,
of which, the largest is called the Clarifying Copper, and the least,
the Tatch.
[Sidenote: _M_]
The Cooling Cistern, which the Sugar is put into, presently after
it is taken off the fire, and there kept till it be Milk-warm; and
then it is to be put into Pots made of boards, sixteen inches square
above, and so grow taper to a point downward; the Pot is commonly
about thirty inches long, and will hold thirty or thirty five pounds
of Sugar.
[Sidenote: _N_]
The Dore of the Filling-room.
[Sidenote: _O_]
The Room it selfe, into which the Pots are set, being fild, till the
Sugar grow cold and hard, which will be in two daies and two nights,
and then they are carried away to the Cureing-house.
[Sidenote: _P_]
The tops of the Pots, of sixteen inches square, and stand between two
stantions of timber, which are girded together in severall places,
with wood or iron, and are thirteen or fourteen inches assunder; so
that the tops of the Pots being sixteen inches, cannot slip between,
but are held up four foot from the ground.
[Sidenote: _Q_]
The Frame where the Coppers stand, which is raised above the flowre
or levell of the room, about a foot and a halfe, and is made of
Dutch Bricks, which they call Klinkers, and plaister of _Paris_.
And besides the Coppers, there are made small Gutters, which convey
the skimmings of the three lesser Coppers, down to the Still-house,
whereof the strong Spirit is made, which they call _kill-devill_, and
the skimmings of the two greater Coppers are conveyed another way, as
worthlesse and good for nothing.
[Sidenote: _R_]
The Dore that goes down the stairs to the fire-room, where the
Furnaces are, which cause the Coppers to boyl; and though they cannot
be exprest here, by reason they are under the Coppers; yet, I have
made small semi-circles, to let you see where they are, behinde the
partition-wall, which divides the fire-room from the boyling-house;
which wall goes to the top of the house, and is mark’d with the
Letter (_c_) as the other walls are.
[Sidenote: _S_]
A little Gutter made in the wall, from the Cistern that holds the
first Liquor, to the clarifying Copper, and from thence is conveyed
to the other Coppers, with Ladles that hold a gallon a piece, by the
hands of Negres that attend that work day and night, shifting both
Negres and Cattle every four hours, who also convey the skimmings
of the three lesser Coppers down to the Still-house, there to be
twice distill’d; the first time it comes over the helme, it is but
small, and is called Low-wines; but the second time, it comes off the
strongest Spirit or Liquor that is potable.
[Sidenote: _T_]
All Windowes.
[Sidenote: _U_]
The Fire-room, where the Furnaces are, that make the Coppers boyl.
[Sidenote: _W_]
The Still-house.
[Sidenote: _X_]
The Cistern that holds the skimmings, till it begin to be soure, till
when, it will not come over the helme.
[Sidenote: _Y_]
The two Stills in the Still-house.
[Sidenote: _Z_]
The Semi-circles, that shew where about the Furnaces stand.
_Place this after_ Folio 84.
[Illustration: _The upright of the Ingenio or Mill that squeeses or
grinds the Suger Canes_
_a. the foundation or plates of the house which must be of massey
and lasting timber_
_b. the frame of the Ingenio_
_c. the planks that beare up the Rollers_
_d. the suporter or propp that beares upp those planks_
_e. the Rollers themselves_
_f. the shaft that is grafted into the midle roller which turnes
both the other_
_g. the swepes that come over all y^e worke and reach to y^e Circle
where the horses and Cattle draw._
_h. the Bracketts that keepe the frame from shakeing whereof there
must be 8._
_i. the sides of the house which are strong posts or studds which
beare up the house and are plact att ten foote distance with
Brackets above and below to strengthen them for beareing up the
plates of the house above._
_k. the out Brackets that keepe the posts from starting or buckling_
_l. the great Beame to which the Shaft of the midle Roller is let
in by a goudg in a sockett and goes cross the midle of the house_
_m. the Brackets that support the great beame and likewise all the
Roofe of the house_
_n. the Roofe or cover of the house._]
[Illustration: _The first Storie of the Cureing house where the potts
stand which hold the Suger and is 8. foote 2 inches from the ground
haveing 14. steps to rise of 7. inches to a stepp._
_In this storie is 924. potts and they use to have another storie
above this which will hold above 600. potts more_
_The Index of the Cureing house._
_a. the roome where they knock out the suger when it is cured,
or made into whites, and is called the knocking roome; when they
knock it out for muscavados, they finde the midle of the pott well
coloured, but the upper and nether parts, of a browner colour
the topp frothy and light, the bottom verie browne and full of
Molosses, both which they sett aside to be boyld againe with the
Mosses in the Cisterns of which they make Penneles, which though it
be a worse kind of suger in the spending yet you will hardly know
it from the second sort of Muscove suger_
_b. the two dores_
_c. the passages betweene the potts upon the flour above_
_d. the great passage in the midle of the rome from end to end_
_e. the topps of the potts which are .16. inches square and hang
betweene stantions of timber borne up by verie strong and Massy
studs or posts and girded or bract together with Iron plates or
wood, the length of the potts are 2.6. or 2.8. inches long made
taper downeward, and hold about .30. pound of suger._
_f. the walls of the roome which is 100. foot long and 40. foot
broade within, they have some tymes a storie of potts above this._]
[Illustration: _The ground roome of the Cureing house of the place
where the gutters ly w^{ch} convey y^e Molosses to y^e Cisterns_
_The Index to the ground roome._
_a. the knocking roome._
_b. the dores_
_c. the vacuitie betweene the gutters_
_d. the Cisterns of which there are .4. which hold the Molosses
till they boyle it which comonly they doe one day in a weeke._
_e. all the gutters that convay the Molosses downe to the Cisterns._
_f. the walls of the roome which are to be accompted two foot
thick, since there are seldome any windows in the Cureing house,
for the moyst ayer is an enemy to the cure of the suger rather
bring panns of well kindled coales into the roome espetially in
moyst and raynie wether._]
[Illustration: _The superficies or Plat forme of the Ingenio that
grinds or squeeses the canes which make the suger_]
[Illustration: _The Queene Pine._
_page 84_]
* * * * *
At the time we landed on this Iland, which was in the beginning of
_September, 1647._ we were informed, partly by those Planters we
found there, and partly by our own observations, that the great
work of Sugar-making, was but newly practised by the inhabitants
there. Some of the most industrious men, having gotten Plants from
_Fernamlock_, a place in _Brasill_, and made tryall of them at the
_Barbadoes_; and finding them to grow, they planted more and more,
as they grew and multiplyed on the place, till they had such a
considerable number, as they were worth the while to set up a very
small Ingenio, and so make tryall what Sugar could be made upon
that soyl. But, the secrets of the work being not well understood,
the Sugars they made were very inconsiderable, and little worth,
for two or three years. But they finding their errours by their
daily practice, began a little to mend; and, by new directions from
_Brasil_, sometimes by strangers, and now and then by their own
people, (who being covetous of the knowledge of a thing, which so
much concerned them in their particulars, and for the generall good
of the whole Iland) were content sometimes to make a voyage thither,
to improve their knowledge in a thing they so much desired. Being
now made much abler to make their queries, of the secrets of that
mystery, by how much their often failings, had put them to often
stops and nonplusses in the work. And so returning with more Plants,
and better Knowledge, they went on upon fresh hopes, but still short,
of what they should be more skilfull in: for, at our arrivall there,
we found them ignorant in three main points, that much conduced to
the work; _viz._ The manner of Planting, the time of Gathering, and
the right placing of their Coppers in their Furnaces; as also, the
true way of covering their Rollers, with plates or Bars of Iron: All
which being rightly done, advance much in the performance of the main
work. At the time of our arrivall there, we found many Sugar-works
set up, and at work; but yet the Sugars they made, were but bare
Muscavadoes, and few of them Merchantable commodities; so moist, and
full of molosses, and so ill cur’d, as they were hardly worth the
bringing home for _England_. But about the time I left the Iland,
which was in 1650. they were much better’d; for then they had the
skill to know when the Canes were ripe, which was not, till they
were fifteen months old; and before, they gathered them at twelve,
which was a main disadvantage to the making good Sugar; for, the
liquor wanting of the sweetnesse it ought to have, caused the Sugars
to be lean, and unfit to keep. Besides, they were grown greater
proficients, both in boyling and curing them, and had learnt the
knowledge of making them white, such as you call Lump Sugars here
in _England_; but not so excellent as those they make in _Brasill_,
nor is there any likelyhood they can ever make such: the land there
being better, and lying in a Continent, must needs have constanter
and steadier weather, and the Aire much drier and purer, than it can
be in so small an Iland, as that of _Barbadoes_. And now, seeing this
commodity, Sugar, hath gotten so much the start of all the rest of
those, that were held the staple Commodities of the Iland, and so
much over-top’t them, as they are for the most part sleighted and
neglected. And, for that few in _England_ know the trouble and care
of making it, I think it convenient, in the first place, to acquaint
you, as far as my memory will serve, with the whole processe of the
work of Sugar-making, which is now grown the soul of Trade in this
Iland. And leaving to trouble you and my self, with relating the
errours our Predecessors so long wandred in, I will in briefe set
down the right and best way they practised, when I left the Iland,
which, I think, will admit of no greater or farther improvement.
But, before I will begin with that, I will let you see, how much the
land there hath been advanc’d in the profit, since the work of Sugar
began, to the time of our landing there, which was not above five
or six years: For, before the work began, this Plantation of Major
_Hilliards_, of five hundred acres, could have been purchased for
four hundred pound sterling; and now the halfe of this Plantation,
with the halfe of the Stock upon it, was sold for seven thousand
pound sterling, and it is evident, that all the land there, which
has been imployed to that work, hath found the like improvment. And,
I believe, when the small Plantations in poor mens hands, of ten,
twenty, or thirty acres, which are too small to lay to that work, be
bought up by great men, and put together, into Plantations of five,
six, or seven hundred acres, that two thirds of the Iland will be fit
for Plantations of Sugar, which will make it one of the richest Spots
of earth under the Sun.
And now, since I have put my selfe upon this Discovery, I think
it fit to let you know the nature of the Plant, the right way of
planting it, the manner of growth, the time of growing to ripenesse,
the manner of cutting, bringing home, the place where to lay them,
being brought home, the time they may lie there, without spoile, the
manner of grinding or squeezing them, the conveyance of the liquor to
the Cisterns, how long it may stay there without harme, the manner
of boyling and skimming, with the conveyance of the skimmings into
the Cisterns, in the Still-house, the manner of distilling it, which
makes the strongest Spirits that men can drink, with the temper to be
put in; what the temper is, the time of cooling the Sugar before it
be put into the Pots; the time it staies in the Cureing house, before
it be good Muscavado Sugar. And last, the making of it into Whites,
which we call Lump-Sugar.
First then, it is fit to set down, what manner of place is to be
chosen, to set this Sugar-work, or Ingenio, upon; and it must be
the brow of a small hill, that hath within the compasse of eighty
foot, twelve foot descent, _viz._ from the grinding place, which
is the highest ground, and stands upon a flat, to the Still house,
and that by these descents: From the grinding place to the boyling
house, four foot and a halfe, from thence to the fire-room, seven
foot and a halfe; and some little descent to the Still house. And
the reason of these descents are these; the top of the Cistern, into
which the first liquor runs, is, and must be, somewhat lower than the
Pipe that convaies it, and that is a little under ground. Then, the
liquor which runs from that Cistern must vent it selfe at the bottom,
otherwise it cannot run all out; and that Cistern is two foot and a
halfe deep: and so, running upon a little descent, to the clarifying
Copper, which is a foot and a halfe above the flowre of the Boyling
house, (and so is the whole Frame, where all the Coppers stand); it
must of necessity fall out, that the flowre of the Boyling house
must be below the flowre of the Mill-house, four foot and a halfe.
Then admit the largest Copper be a foot and a halfe deep, the bottom
of the Copper will be lower then the flowre of the Boyling-house,
by a foot; the bottom of the Furnaces must be three foot below the
Coppers; and the holes under the Furnaces, into which the ashes fall,
is three foot below the bottom of the Furnaces: A little more fall
is required to the Still-house, and so the account is made up. Upon
what place the Sugar-work is to be set, I have drawn two Plots, that
expresse more than language can do, to which I refer you. And so I
have done with the Ingenio, and now to the work I promised, which I
shall be briefe in.
When I first arrived upon the Iland, it was in my purpose, to observe
their severall manners of planting and husbandry there; and because
this Plant was of greatest value and esteem, I desired first the
knowledge of it. I saw by the growth, as well as by what I had been
told, that it was a strong and lusty Plant, and so vigorous, as where
it grew, to forbid all Weeds to grow very neer it; so thirstily it
suck’t the earth for nourishment, to maintain its own health and
gallantry.
But the Planters, though they knew this to be true, yet, by their
manner of Planting, did not rightly pursue their own knowledge; for
their manner was, to dig small holes, at three foot distance, or
there about, and put in the Plants endwise, with a little stooping,
so that each Plant brought not forth above three or foure sprouts
at the most, and they being all fastned to one root, when they grew
large, tall, and heavy, and stormes of winde and rain came, (and
those raines there, fall with much violence and weight) the rootes
were loosened, and the Canes lodged, and so became rotten, and unfit
for service in making good Sugar. And besides, the roots being far
assunder, weedes grew up between, and worse then all weeds, Withs,
which are of a stronger grouth then the Canes, and do much mischiefe
where they are; for, they winde about them, and pull them down to
the ground, as disdaining to see a prouder Plant than themselves.
But experience taught us, that this way of planting was most
pernicious, and therefore were resolved to try another, which is,
without question, the best; and that is, by digging a small trench
of six inches broad, and as much deep, in a straight line, the whole
length of the land you mean to plant, laying the earth on one side
the trench as you make it; then lay two Canes along the bottom of
the trench, one by another, and so continue them the whole length of
the trench, to the lands end, and cover them with the earth you laid
by; and at two foot distance, another of the same, and so a third,
and fourth, till you have finish’d all the land you intend to plant
at that time: For, you must not plant too much at once, but have it
to grow ripe successively, that your work may come in order, to keep
you still doing; for, if it should be ripe altogether, you are not
able to work it so; and then for want of cutting, they would rot, and
grow to losse: By planting it thus along, two together, every knot
will have a sprout, and so a particular root, and by the means of
that, be the more firmer fixt in the ground, and the better able to
endure the winde and weather, and by their thick growing together, be
the stronger to support one another. By that time they have been in
the ground a month, you shall perceive them to appear, like a land
of green Wheat in _England_, that is high enough to hide a Hare; and
in a month more, two foot high at least. But upon the first months
growth, those that are carefull, and the best husbands, command
their Overseers to search, if any weeds have taken root, and destroy
them, or if any of the Plants fail, and supply them; for where the
Plants are wanting, weeds will grow; for, the ground is too vertuous
to be idle. Or, if any Withs grow in those vacant places, they will
spread very far, and do much harm, pulling down all the Canes they
can reach to. If this husbandry be not used when the Canes are young,
it will be too late to finde a remedy; for, when they are grown to
a height, the blades will become rough and sharp in the sides, and
so cut the skins of the Negres, as the blood will follow; for their
bodies, leggs, and feet, being uncloathed and bare, cannot enter the
Canes without smart and losse of blood, which they will not endure.
Besides, if the Overseers stay too long, before they repair these
void places, by new Plants, they will never be ripe together, which
is a very great harm to the whole field, for which there is but one
remedy, and that almost as ill as the disease, which is, by burning
the whole field, by which they lose all the time they have grown: But
the roots continuing secure from the fire, there arises a new spring
altogether; so that to repair this losse of time, they have only this
recompence, which is, by burning an army of the main enemies to their
profit, Rats, which do infinite harm in the Iland, by gnawing the
Canes, which presently after will rot, and become unservicable in the
work of Sugar. And that they may do this justice the more severely,
they begin to make their fire at the out-sides of that land of Canes
they mean to burn, and so drive them to the middle, where at last
the fire comes, and burnes them all; and this great execution they
put often in practice, without Assises or Sessions; for, there are
not so great enemies to the Canes, as these Vermine; as also to the
Houses, where they lay up their stores of Corn and other provisions;
and likewise in dwelling houses for their victualls. For, when the
great down-falls of rain come, which is in _November_ and _December_,
and in the time of the _Turnado_, they leave the field, and shelter
themselves in the dwelling houses where they do much mischiefe.
The Canes with their tops or blades, doe commonly grow to be eight
foot high; the Canes themselves, are commonly five or sixe foot, (I
have seen some double that length but ’tis but seldome) the bodyes
of them, about an inch diametre, the knots about five or six inches
distant one from another, many times three or four inches, some more,
some lesse, for there is no certaine rule for that; the colour of the
blades, and tops, pure grass green; but the Canes themselves, when
they are ripe of a deep Popinjay; and then they yeeld the greater
quantity, and fuller, and sweeter juyce. The manner of cutting them
is with little hand bills, about sixe inches from the ground; at
which time they divide the tops, from the Canes, which they do with
the same bills, at one stroake; and then holding the Canes by the
upper end: they strip off all the blades that grow by the sides
of the Canes, which tops and blades, are bound up in faggots, and
put into Carts, to carry home; for without these, our Horses and
Cattle are not able to work, the pasture being so extreame harsh and
sapless, but with these they are very well nourisht, and kept in
heart. The Canes we likewise binde up in faggots, at the same time,
and those are commonly brought home upon the backs of _Assinigoes_,
and we use the fashion of _Devonshire_, in that kind of Husbandry,
(for there we learnt it) which is small pack saddles, and crookes,
which serve our purposes very fitly, laying upon each Crook a faggot
and one a top, so that each Assinigo carries his three faggots; and
being accustomed to go between the field and the place where they
are to unload, will of themselves make their returnes, without a
guide; So understanding this little beast is in performing his duty.
The place where they unload, is a little platforme of ground, which
is contiguous to the Mill-house, which they call a _Barbycu_; about
30 foot long, and 10 foot broad; done about with a double rayle, to
keep the Canes from falling out of that room; where one, or two, or
more, (who have other work to do in the Mill house,) when they see
the _Assinigoes_ comming, and make a stop there, are ready to unloade
them, and so turning them back againe, they go immediately to the
field, there to take in fresh loading; so that they may not unfitly
be compar’d to Bees; the one fetching home honey, the other sugar:
being laid on the _Barbycu_, we work them out cleane, and leave
none to grow stale, for if they should be more then two dayes old,
the juyce will grow sower, and then they will not be fit to worke,
for their soureness will infect the rest; The longest time they
stay, after they are cut, to the time of grinding, is from Saturday
evening, to Munday morning, at one or two a clock; and the necessity
of Sunday comming between, (upon which we do not work) causes us
to stay so long, which otherwise we would not doe. The manner of
grinding them, is this, the Horses and Cattle being put to their
tackle: they go about, and by their force turne (by the sweeps) the
middle roller; which being Cog’d to the other two, at both ends,
turne them about; and they all three, turning upon their Centres,
which are of Brass and Steele go very easily of themselves, and so
easie, as a mans taking hold, of one of the sweeps, with his hand
will turne all the rollers about with much ease. But when the Canes
are put in between the rollers, it is a good draught for five Oxen
or Horses; a _Negre_ puts in the Canes of one side, and the rollers
draw them through to the other side, where another _Negre_ stands,
and receives them; and returnes them back on the other side of the
middle roller, which drawes the other way. So that having past twice
through, that is forth and back, it is conceived all the juyce is
prest out; yet the Spaniards have a press, after both the former
grindings, to press out the remainder of the liquor, but they having
but small works in Spaine, make the most of it, whilst we having
far greater quantities, are loath to be at that trouble. The Canes
having past to and againe, there are young Negre girles, that carry
them away, and lay them on a heap, at the distance of six score paces
or there abouts; where they make a large hill, if the worke have
continued long: under the rollers, there is a receiver, as big as a
large Tray; into which the liquor falls, and stayes not there, but
runs under ground in a pipe or gutter of lead; cover’d over close,
which pipe or gutter, carries it into the Cistern, which is fixt neer
the staires, as you go down from the Mill-house to the boyling house.
But it must not remaine in that Cisterne above one day, lest it grow
sower; from thence it is to passe through a gutter, (fixt to the
wall) to the Clarifying Copper, as there is occasion to use it, and
as the work goes on, and as it Clarifies in the first Copper, and the
skumme rises, it is conveyed away by a passage, or gutter for that
purpose; as also of the second Copper, both which skimmings, are not
esteem’d worth the labour of stilling; because the skum is dirtie and
grosse: But the skimmings of the other three Coppers, are conveyed,
down to the Still-house, there to remaine in the Cisterns, till it be
a little sower, for till then it will not come over the helme. This
liquor is remov’d, as it is refin’d, from one Copper to another, and
the more Coppers it passeth through, the finer and purer it is, being
continually drawn up, and keel’d by ladles, and skim’d by skimmers,
in the Negres hands, till at last it comes to the tach, where it
must have much labour, in keeling and stirring, and as it boyles,
there is thrown into the four last Coppers, a liquor made of water
and Ashes which they call Temper, without which, the Sugar would
continue a Clammy substance and never kerne. The quantities, they
put in are small, but being of a tart quality it turnes the ripeness
and clamminesse of the Sugar to cruddle and separate: which you will
find, by taking out some drops of it, to Candy, and suddenly to grow
hard; and then it has inough of the fire. Upon which Essay they
presently poure two spoonfulls of Sallet Oyle into the tach, and then
immediately it gives over to bubble or rise. So after much keeling,
they take it out of the tach, by the ladles they use there, and put
it into ladles that are of greater receipt, with two handles, and by
them remove it into the cooling Cisterne, neer the stayers that goes
to the fire roome: But as they remove the last part of the liquor out
of the tach, they do it with all the celerity they can; and suddenly
cast in cold water, to coole the Copper from burning, for the fire in
the furnace, continues still in the same heat: and so when that water
is removed out againe by the Ladles, they are in the same degree
carefull, and quick, as soon as the last Ladle full is taken out, to
throw in some of the liquor of the next Copper, to keep the tach
from burning, and so fill it up out of the next, and that out of the
third, and that out of the fourth, and that out of the Clarifying
Copper, and so from the Cistern, and so from the Mill-house or
Ingenio. And so the work goes on, from Munday morning at one a clock,
till Saturday night, (at which time the fire in the Furnaces are put
out) all houres of the day and night, with fresh supplies of Men,
Horses, and Cattle. The Liquor being come to such a coolnesse, as it
is fit to be put into the Pots, they bring them neer the Cooler, and
stopping first the sharp end of the Pot (which is the bottom) with
Plantine leaves, (and the passage there no bigger, then a mans finger
will go in at) they fill the Pot, and set it between the stantions,
in the filling room, where it staies till it be thorough cold,
which will be in two daies and two nights; and then if the Sugar be
good, knock upon it with the knuckle of your finger, as you would
do upon an earthen pot, to trie whether it be whole, and it will
give a sound; but if the Sugar be very ill, it will neither be very
hard, nor give any sound. It is then to be removed into the Cureing
house, and set between stantions there: But first, the stopples
are to be pull’d out of the bottom of the pots, that the Molosses
may vent it selfe at that hole, and so drop down upon a gutter of
board, hollowed in the middle, which conveyeth the Molosses from one
to another, till it be come into the Cisterns, of which there is
commonly foure, at either corner one; and there remains, till it rise
to a good quantity, and then they boyl it again, and of that they
make Peneles, a kinde of Sugar somewhat inferiour to the Muscavado;
but yet will sweeten indifferently well, and some of it very well
coloured. The pots being thus opened at the bottoms, the Molosses
drops out, but so slowly, as hardly to vent it selfe in a month, in
which time, the sugar ought to be well cur’de; and therefore they
thought fit, to thrust a spike of wood in at the bottom, that should
reach to the top, hoping by that means, to make way for the Molosses
to have the speedier passage: But they found little amendment in the
purging, and the reason was this, the spike as it went in, prest the
Sugar so hard, as it stopt all pores of passage for the Molosses. So
finding no good to come of this, they devis’d another way, and that
was, by making an augure of Iron, which instrument cuts his way,
without pressing the Sugar, and by that means the Molosses had a free
passage, without any obstruction at all. And so the Sugar was well
cur’d in a month. As for the manner of using it, after it is cur’d,
you shall finde it set down in my Index, to the plot of the Cureing
house. And this is the whole processe of making the Muscavado-Sugar,
whereof some is better, and some worse, as the Canes are; for, ill
Canes can never make good Sugar.
I call those ill, that are gathered either before or after the time
of such ripenesse, or are eaten by Rats, and so consequently rotten,
or pull’d down by Withes, or lodg’d by foule weather, either of
which, will serve to spoil such Sugar as is made of them. At the
time they expect it should be well cur’d, they take the pots from
the stantions in the Curing-house, and bring them to the knocking
room, which you shall finde upon the plot of the cureing house; and
turning it upside down, they knock the pot hard against the ground,
and the Sugar comes whole out, as a bullet out of a mold; and when it
is out, you may perceive three sorts of colours in the pot, the tops
somewhat brownish, and of a frothy light substance; the bottom of a
much darker colour, but heavy, grosse, moist, and full of molosses;
both which they cut away, and reserve to be boyl’d again, with the
molosses for peneles: The middle part, which is more then two thirds
of the whole pot, and lookes of a bright colour, drie and sweet, they
lay by it selfe, and send it down daily upon the backs of Assinigoes
and Camells, in leather baggs, with a tarr’d cloth over, to their
Store-houses at the _Bridge_, there to be put in Caskes and Chests,
to be ship’t away for _England_, or any other parts of the World,
where the best market is. Though this care be taken, and this course
used, by the best husbands, and those that respect their credits,
as, Collonell _James Drax_, Collonell _Walrond_, Mr. _Raynes_, and
some others that I know there; yet, the greater number, when they
knock out their Sugars, let all go together, both bottom and top,
and so let the better bear our the worse. But, when they come to the
Merchant to be sold, they will not give above 3 l. 10 s. for the one;
and for the other, above 6 l. 4 s. And those that use this care, have
such credit with the Buyer, as they scarce open the Cask to make
a tryall; so well they are assured of the goodnesse of the Sugars
they make; as, of Collonell _James Drax_, Collonell _Walrond_, Mr.
_Raines_, and some others in the Iland that I know.
I have yet said nothing of making white Sugars, but that is much
quicker said than done: For, though the Muscavado Sugar, require but
a months time to make it so, after it is boyl’d; yet, the Whites
require four months, and it is only this. Take clay, and temper it
with water, to the thicknesse of Frumenty, or Pease pottage, and
poure it on the top of the Muscavado Sugar, as it stands in the pot,
in the Cureing-house, and there let it remain four months; and if the
clay crack and open, that the aire come in, close it up with some of
the same, either with your hand, or a small Trowell. And when you
knock open these pots, you shall finde a difference, both in the
colour and goodnesse, of the top and bottom, being but to such a
degree, as may be rank’d with Muscavadoes; but the middle, perfect
White, and excellent Lump-Sugar, the best of which will sell in
_London_ for 20 d. a pound.
I do not remember I have left unsaid any thing, that conduces to the
work of Sugar-making, unlesse it be, sometimes after great rains,
(which moisten the aire more then ordinary) to lay it out upon
fair daies in the Sun, upon cloaths, or in the knocking room, and
sometimes to bring in pans of coals, well kindled, into the Cureing
house. If I have omitted any thing here, you shall finde it supplyed
in the Indexes of my Plots.
As for distilling the skimmings, which run down to the Still house,
from the three lesser Coppers, it is only this: After it has remained
in the Cisterns, which my plot shewes you in the Still-house, till
it be a little soure, (for till then, the Spirits will not rise in
the Still) the first Spirit that comes off, is a small Liquor, which
we call low-Wines, which Liquor we put into the Still, and draw it
off again; and of that comes so strong a Spirit, as a candle being
brought to a neer distance, to the bung of a Hogshead or But, where
it is kept, the Spirits will flie to it, and taking hold of it, bring
the fire down to the vessell, and set all a fire, which immediately
breakes the vessell, and becomes a flame, burning all about it that
is combustible matter.
We lost an excellent Negre by such an accident, who bringing a Jar of
this Spirit, from the Still-house, to the Drink-room, in the night,
not knowing the force of the liquor he carried, brought the candle
somewhat neerer than he ought, that he might the better see how to
put it into the Funnell, which conveyed it into the Butt. But the
Spirit being stirr’d by that motion, flew out, and got hold of the
flame of the Candle, and so set all on fire, and burnt the poor Negre
to death, who was an excellent servant. And if he had in the instant
of firing, clapt his hand upon the bung, all had been saved; but he
that knew not that cure, lost the whole vessell of Spirits, and his
life to boot. So that upon this misadventure, a strict command was
given, that none of those Spirits should be brought to the Drink-room
ever after in the night, nor no fire or candle ever to come in there.
This drink, though it had the ill hap to kill one Negre, yet it has
had the vertue to cure many; for when they are ill, with taking cold,
(which often they are) and very well they may, having nothing under
them in the night but a board, upon which they lie, nor any thing
to cover them: And though the daies be hot, the nights are cold,
and that change cannot but work upon their bodies, though they be
hardy people. Besides, comming home hot and sweating in the evening,
sitting or lying down, must needs be the occasion of taking cold, and
sometimes breeds sicknesses amongst them, which when they feel, they
complain to the Apothecary of the Plantation, which we call Doctor,
and he gives them everyone a dram cup of this Spirit, and that is a
present cure. And as this drink is of great use, to cure and refresh
the poor Negres, whom we ought to have a speciall care of, by the
labour of whose hands, our profit is brought in; so is it helpfull to
our Christian Servants too; for, when their spirits are exhausted,
by their hard labour, and sweating in the Sun, ten hours every day,
they find their stomacks debilitated, and much weakned in their
vigour every way, a dram or two of this Spirit, is a great comfort
and refreshing to them. This drink is also a commodity of good value
in the Plantation; for we send it down to the _Bridge_, and there put
it off to those that retail it. Some they sell to the Ships, and is
transported into forraign parts, and drunk by the way. Some they sell
to such Planters, as have no Sugar works of their owne, yet drink
excessively of it, for they buy it at easie rates; halfe a crown a
gallon was the price, the time that I was there; but they were then
purposing to raise the price to a deerer rate. They make weekly,
as long as they work, of such a Plantation as this 30 l. sterling,
besides what is drunk by their servants and slaves.
And now for a close of this work of Sugar, I will let you see, by
way of estimate, to what a Revenue this Iland is raised; and, in my
opinion, not improbable. If you will be pleased to look back to the
extent of the Iland, you shall find, by taking a medium of the length
and breadth of it, that there is contained in the Iland 392 square
miles,
28
14
---
112
28
---
392
out of which we will substract a third part, which is the most remote
part of the Iland from the _Bridge_, where all, or the most part
of Trade is, which by many deep and steep Gullies interposing, the
passage is in a manner stop’d: besides, the Land there is not so
rich and fit to bear Canes as the other; but may be very usefull for
planting provisions of Corn, Yeams, Bonavista, Cassavie, Potatoes;
and likewise of Fruites, as, Oranges, Limons, Lymes, Plantines,
Bonanoes; as also, for breeding Hoggs, Sheep, Goats, Cattle,
and Poultry, to furnish the rest of the Iland, that want those
Commodities. For which reasons, we will substract a third part from
392. and that is 130. and so the
3̸9̸2̸(130⅔
3̸3̸ 3
392
130
---
262
remaining ⅔ is 262 square miles; the greatest part of which may be
laid to Sugar-works, and some to be allowed and set out for small
Plantations, which are not able to raise a Sugar-work or set up an
Ingenio, by reason of the paucity of acres, being not above twenty,
thirty, or forty acres in a Plantation; but these will be fit to
bear Tobacco, Ginger, Cotten-wool, Maies, Yeames, and Potatoes; as
also for breeding Hoggs. But most of these will in short time, be
bought up by great men, and laid together, into Plantations of five,
sixe, and seven hundred acres. And then we may make our computation
thus, _viz._ A mile square will contain 640 acres of land, and here
we see is 262 acres, being ⅔ of the Iland. So then, we multiply
262. by 640. and the product will amount unto 167680. Now we will
put the case, that some of those men that have small Plantations,
will not sell them, but keep them for provisions, which they may
live plentifully upon; for those provisions they raise, will sell at
good rates; for which use, we will set out thirty thousand acres.
So then we substract 30000 acres from 167680, and there will remain
137680 acres, to be for Sugar-works; out of which, ⅖ may be planted
with Canes, the other ⅗ for Wood, Pasture, and Provisions, which
must support the Plantations, according to the scale of Collonell
_Modiford_’s Plantation, as I
640
262
------
1280
3840
1280
------
167680
30000
------
137680
3̸2̸1̸3̸
1̸3̸7̸6̸8̸0̸ (27536
5̸5̸5̸5̸5̸ (27536
-----
55072
said before. Now these two fifths are, as you see 55072 acres, and an
acre of good Canes will yield 4000 pound weight of Sugar, and none
will yield lesse then 2000 weight; but we will take a _Medium_, and
rest upon 3000 weight, upon which we will make our computation, and
set our price upon the Sugar, according to the lowest rates, which
shall be 3 d. per pound, as it is Muscavado, to be sold upon the
Iland, at the _Bridge_. In fifteen months the Canes will be ripe,
and in a month more, they will be well cur’d, and ready to be cast
up, and stowed in the Ware-house. So here, we make our computation
upon the place, and say, 3000 threepences is 37 l. 10 s. ten acres
of which is 375 l. sterling. So then we say, if 10 acres of Canes
will produce 375 l. what shall 55072. which is the number of acres
contained upon the ⅖ of the land, allotted for Sugar Plantations,
upon which the Canes must grow: and by the Rule of 3. we finde, that
it amounts to 2065200. in sixteen months: Now add four months more to
the time of cureing, and
10 ---- 375 l.
/
/
/
55072 ---- 2065200 l.
55072
375
-------
275360
385504
165216
---------
2065200(0
2065200
---------
4130400
1032600
---------
3097800
3097800
---------
6195600
making it into whites, which is that we call Lump-Sugar in _England_,
and then the price will be doubled to 4130400. out of which we will
abate ¼ for waste, and what is cut off from the tops and bottoms
of the pots, which will be good Muscavadoes; but we will abate for
that, and waste ¼ which is 1032600. and that we will substract from
4130400. and there remaines 3097800. which is the totall of the
revenue of Sugars, that grow on the _Barbadoes_ for twenty months,
and accounted there, upon the Iland, at the Bridge. But if you will
run the Hazards of the Sea, as all Marchants doe, and bring it for
England, it will sell in London, for 12 d. the pound, and so ’tis
doubled againe; and then it will amount to 6195600. and in two months
time more it will be in England. Now you see what a vast Revenew
this little spot of ground can produce in 22 months time; And so I
have done with this plant, onely one touch more, to conclude with
all; as Musicians, that first play a Preludium, next a Lesson, and
then a Saraband; which is the life and spirit of all the rest. So
having played you a short Preludium, to this long and tedious lesson
of Sugar and Sugar-making, I do think fit to give you a Saraband,
with my best Touches at last; which shall be only this, that as this
plant has a faculty, to preserve all fruits, that grow in the world,
from corruption and putrifaction; So it has a vertue, being rightly
applyed, to preserve us men in our healths and fortunes too. Doctor
_Butler_ one of the most learned and famous Physitians that this
Nation, or the world ever bred, was wont to say that,
_If Sugar can preserve both Peares and Plumbs,
Why can it not preserve as well our Lungs?_
And that it might work the same effect on himselfe, he alwayes dranke
in his Claret wine, great store of the best refin’d Sugar, and also
prescribed it severall wayes to his Patients, for Colds, Coughs,
and Catarrs; which are diseases, that reign much in cold Climats,
especially in Ilands, where the Ayre is moyster then in Continents;
and so much for our Health.
Now for our fortunes, they are not only preserv’d, but made by the
powerfull operation of this plant.
Colonell _James Drax_, whose beginning upon that Iland, was founded
upon a stock not exceeding 300 l. sterling, has raised his fortune
to such a height, as I have heard him say, that he would not look
towards England, with a purpose to remaine there, the rest of his
life, till he were able to purchase an estate, of tenne thousand
pound land yearly; which he hop’d in few years to accomplish,
with what he was then owner of; and all by this plant of Sugar.
Colonell _Thomas Modiford_, has often told me, that he had taken
a Resolution to himselfe not to set his face for England, till he
made his voyage, and imployment there, worth him a hundred thousand
pounds sterling; and all by this Sugar plant. And these, were men
of as piercing sights, and profound judgments, as any I have known
in that way of management. Now if such Estates as these, may be
raised, by the well ordering this plant, by Industrious and painfull
men, why may not such estates, by carefull keeping, and orderly and
moderate expending, be preserv’d, in their posterities, to the tenth
Generation; and all by the sweet Negotiation of Sugar?
One Vegetable we have on the Iland, which will neither become the
name of a Tree, nor a Plant; and that is a Withe; which is in some
respect, the harmefullest weed that can grow; for it pulls downe all
that it can reach to, Canes, and all other small plants, it makes
nothing of; if it be suffer’d to look up in a Garden, it will wind
about all Herbs and Plants that have stalks, pull them down and
destroy them; or if it find the way into any Orchard, it will clime
up by the bodies of the trees, into the branches, and there inwrap
them so, as to draw them (as it were) into a purse, (for out of the
maine stalk, hundreds of smal sprigs will grow;) and if any other
tree be so neer as to touch it, it will find the way to it, and pull
the tops of them together, and utterly disfigure the trees, and
hinder the growth of the fruit; and if you cut the maine stalk below,
neer the root in hope to kill it, the moysture above in the branches,
will thrust down a vine into the ground, and get a new root: Nay
this is not all the mischiefe, for it will reach the highest timber,
and involve and enwrap so the branches, as to hinder their growths,
and many times fasten one tree to another, that one shall hinder the
growth of another. A couple of Colonel _Draxes_ Axemen, were felling
a tree, and about the time it began to bend, that they perceiv’d
which way it would fall, got cleare on the other side, and thought
themselves safe: But this being fastned to another, by strong withes,
pull’d a great branch of that tree after it, which fell upon the
fellers, and bruised them so, as they hardly scap’d with their lives.
Cleere a passage of tenne foot broad, that goes between a wood and a
land of Canes overnight, and come next morning, and you shall find
the way crost all over with Withs, and got neere the Canes; So that
if you had left your visit till the next day, they had gotten into
the Canes, and then it would be too late to help: for when they are
mixt with them, you cannot destroy the one without the other, for
wheresoever they touch ground they get new roots, and so creep into
every place, and as they go pull down all. These harmefull Withs,
have, with all these vices, some virtues. They serve for all uses,
where roaps or cords are required, as for binding our Wood and Canes
into faggots, or what else roapes are needfull for; and without them
we were in ill condition, for we have not any wood fit to make hoops
for hogsheads, barrels, tubbs, or what not; and we can have them, of
what length and bignesse we please, and they are for that use very
good.
Severall kinds of these Withs there are, some that beare fruit,
somewhat bigger then the Cod of a Beane, which being divided
long-wise with a sharp knife, you shall perceive the most various and
beautifullest Colours that can be, and so well matcht, as to make up
a very great beauty.
Fell a dosen acres of wood, going on in a straight line, and when
the ground is cleered, the side of that wood you left standing, will
be likewise in the same strait line, and in a few years these Withs
will mount, to the tops of the trees, which are for the most part,
eighty or 100. foot high, and from that top to the ground, on the
outside of the wood, all will be cover’d with leaves, and those are
broad, green, and shining, so that if you be absent from the place
two or three years, and look to find a wood, you find a faire green
Curtaine, 300 paces long, and 80 foot high, which is as pretty a
_deceptio visus_, as you can find any where and this is one of the
pleasantest Vistos in the Iland, the same things are done in the
mouths or entrances of Caves, where you shall find a Cave large
enough to hold 500 men, and the mouth of it, cover’d with a green
curtaine, 40 foot high, and 200 foot long; and so close a Curtaine it
is (the vines being wrapt and interwove one into another) as without
putting it aside, you can hardly have light to read by.
These Caves are very frequent in the Iland, and of severall
dimensions, some small, others extreamly large and Capacious: The
runaway Negres, often shelter themselves in these Coverts, for a
long time and in the night range abroad the Countrey, and steale
Pigs, Plantins, Potatoes, and Pullin, and bring it there; and feast
all day, upon what they stole the night before; and the nights being
darke, and their bodies black, they scape undiscern’d.
There is nothing in that Countrey, so usefull as Liam Hounds, to find
out these theeves. I have gone into divers of those Caves, to trye
what kind of ayre is to be found there; and have felt it so close,
and moyst with all, as my breath was neer stopt; and I doe beleive,
if I should remaine there but one night, I should never come out
againe.
I have often wondred, why such vast Caves and Rocks should not afford
some springs of water; the ayre which touches them, being so very
moyst; for we see in England, where Rocks are, Springs of water issue
out; and sometimes (when wet weather is) the moysture hangs upon the
Rocks in drops, and so runns down and finds a way to vent it selfe,
into small bibling Springs; But here it does not so, though the Ayre
be much moyster than in England; But certainly the reason is the
extraordinary drinesse, and spunginesse of the stone; which sucks up
all moysture that touches it; and yet it is never satisfied.
I had it in my thoughts, to make an Essay, what Sir _Francis Bacons_
experiment solitarie, touching the making of Artificiall Springs
would doe; but troughs of that stone, being of so dry and spungy a
quality, would never have been fit for it, besides we have no brakes
growing there, which is one of the materials us’d in that experiment.
Another sort of Withs we have, but they are made of the gum of
trees, which falls from the boughes, drop after drop, one hanging
by another, till they touch ground; from whence they receive some
nourishment, which gives them power to grow larger, and if it happen
that three or four of them, come down so nere one another as to touch
and the wind twist them together, they appeare so like ropes, as they
cannot be discern’d five paces off, whether it be a rope or a withe.
I have seen of these of severall sises, from the smallest whip cord
to the greatest Cable of the Soveraine; and the most of those timber
trees I have named, has them; some four, some five, some halfe a
dozen, hanging down like Bell ropes, from the branches to the ground,
which was a sight of much rarity to me at first comming.
[Sidenote: _Aloes._]
_Aloes_ we have growing here, very good, and ’tis a beautifull plant;
the leaves four inches broad, ¾ of an inch thick, and about a foot
and a halfe long; with prickles on each side, and the last sprout
which rises up in the middle, beares yellow flowres, one above
another, and those flowres are higher then any of the leaves, by two
foot; These thick leaves we take, and cut them through, and out of
them issue the Aloes, which we set in the Sun, and that will rarifie
it, and make it fit to keep. But it is the first comming which we
save; for, if we let it run too long, the second running will be much
worse; but, before that comes, we throw away the leafe. The leaves
of this Plant, (which we call _semper vivens_ in _England_, and
growes neer the fire in Kitchins, hung up to a beam, with an oyl’d
clout about the root) with the inner bark of Elder, and some other
ingredients, boyl’d in Sallet-oyle, is the best medicine in the world
for a burn or a scald, being presently applyed; and for that the
medicine is beyond all that ever was, for that cure, I will set it
down, and ’tis this.
Take _Semper vivens_, Plantine leaves, and the green rinde of Elder,
of each a like quantity, and boyl them in Sallet-oyle, so much as
will draw out all that tincture by boyling; then strain the Oyle well
out, and put it on the fire again, and put to it a small quantity
of spirit of Wine, and so much yellow Wax, as will bring it to the
consistance of a Liniment.
One other Plant we have, and that is the Sensible plant, which closes
the leavs upon any touch with your hand, or that end of your staff by
which you hold, and in a little time will open again.
[Sidenote: _Flowers._]
There are very few Flowers in the Iland, and none of them sweet; as,
the white Lilly, which growes in the woods, and is much a fairer
flower then ours; as also a red Lilly, of the same bignesse; but
neither of them sweet. The St. _Jago_ flower is very beautifull,
but of a nauseous savour. One more we have, and that must not be
forgotten for the rarity, because it opens, when all else close,
when the Sun goes down; and for that reason we call it, the flower
of the Moon: It growes in great tuffs, the leaves almost in the form
of a Heart, the point turning back, the flower somewhat bigger then
a Primrose, but of the purest purple that ever I beheld. When this
flower falls off, the seed appears, which is black, with an eye of
purple; shap’d, and of the sise of a small button, so finely wrought,
and tough withall, as it might serve very well to trim a suit of
apparell.
I know no herbs naturally growing in the Iland, that have not been
brought thither from other parts, but Purcelane; and that growes so
universally, as the over-much plenty makes it disesteemed; and we
destroy it as a Weed that cumbers the ground.
[Sidenote: _English Herbs and Roots._]
Rosemary, Time, Winter Savory, sweet Marjerom, pot Marjerom, Parsley,
Penniroyall, Camomile, Sage, Tansie, Lavender, Lavender-Cotten,
Garlick, Onyons, Colworts, Cabbage, Turnips, Redishes, Marigolds,
Lettice, Taragon, Southernwood. All these I carried with me in seeds,
and all grew and prospered well. Leek-Seed I had, which appeared to
me very fresh and good; but it never came up. Rose trees we have, but
they never bear flowers.
There is a Root, of which some of the Negres brought the Seeds, and
planted there, and they grew: ’Tis a very large Root, drie, and well
tasted; the manner of planting it is, to make little hills, as big as
Mole-hills, and plant the seed a-top, and as soon as it puts forth
the stalks they turn down to the ground, on either side, and then as
they touch it, they thrust up a stalk, not unlike an Asparagus, but
of a purple colour. These being gathered, and eaten as a Sallet,
with oyle, vinegar, and salt, will serve an ordinary pallet, where
no better is to be had: But the root truly is very good meat, boyl’d
with powdred pork, and eaten with butter, vinegar, and pepper. Most
of these roots are as large, as three of the biggest Turnips we have
in _England_. We carried divers of them to Sea, for our provision,
which stood us in good stead, and would have serv’d us plentifully in
our great want of victualls; but the Rats (of which we had infinite
numbers aboard) rob’d us of the most part.
[Sidenote: _Strength of the Iland by Nature to Seaward._]
[Sidenote: _Captain Burrows._]
That part of the Iland which lies to the windeward, and is part
East, part North, the stormes and stiffe windes comming from those
points, have so wash’d away all earthly substance, as there remaines
nothing but steep Rocks; and the Sea being very deep on that side,
the Anchors will hardly touch the bottom, though the Cables be long;
so that what Ship soever rides on that side, comes at her owne
perill. Contrarily, if any Ship be under Sail, on the Leeward side,
and goes but so far out, as to lose the shelter of the Iland, it is
certain to be carried away down to the leeward Ilands, and then it
will be a very hard work to beat it up again, without putting out
into the Main. So that there can hardly be any safe landing, but
where the Harbours and Baies are, which lie to the Southwest; and
those places are so defensible by Nature, as with small costs, they
may be very strongly fortified. But they have _been much neglected
by the Proprietor_, for which reason, (and some others) the Planters
refused to call him by that name. There was a Gentleman in the Iland,
who pretended to be a Souldier, and an Ingeneer, that undertook to
fortifie all the landing places, and to furnish them with such store
of Artillery, as should be sufficient to defend them; provided,
he might have the Excise paid to him for seven years, which was
promised by the Governour and Assembly. Whereupon he went to work,
and made such a Fort, as when abler Ingeneers came upon the Iland,
they found to be most pernicious; for, commanding all the Harbour,
and not of strength to defend it selfe, if it were taken by an
enemy, might do much harm to the land-ward. So that at my comming
from thence, they were pulling it down, and instead of it, to make
Trenches, and Rampiers, with Pallisadoes, Horn-works, Curtains,
and Counter-scarfes; and having left a very good Fortification of
standing wood, round about the Iland, near the Sea, these were
thought as much as needed for their defence, against the landing of
any forraign Forces, and for their strength within.
[Sidenote: _Strength of the Iland within land._]
They built three Forts, one for a Magazine, to lay their Amonition,
and Powder in; the other two, to make their retreats upon all
occasions. At my comming from thence, they were able to muster ten
thousand Foot, as good men, and as resolute, as any in the world, and
a thousand good Horse; and this was the strength of the Iland about
the time I came away.
[Sidenote: _How Governed, & how Divided._]
They Govern there by the Lawes of _England_, for all Criminall,
Civill, Martiall, Ecclesiasticall, and Maritime affairs.
This Law is administred by a Governour, and ten of his Councill,
four Courts of ordinary Justice, in Civill causes, which divide the
land in four Circuits; Justices of Peace, Constables, Churchwardens,
and Tithing-men: five Sessions in the year, for tryall of Criminall
causes, and all Appeals from inferiour Courts, in Civill causes. And
when the Governour pleases to call an Assembly, for the supream Court
of all, for the last Appeales, for making new Lawes, and abolishing
old, according to occasion, in nature of the Parliament of _England_,
and accordingly consists of the Governour, as Supream, his Councill,
in nature of the Peers, and two Burgesses chosen by every Parish
for the rest. The Iland is divided into eleven Parishes. No Tithes
paid to the Minister, but a yearly allowance of a pound of Tobacco,
upon an acre of every mans land, besides certain Church-duties, of
Mariages, Christenings, and Burialls.
A standing Commission there was also, for punishing Adultery and
Fornication, though rarely put in execution.
Something would be said concerning the seasons of the year; but it
is little, & therfore wil be the least troublesome. Four months in
the year, the weather is colder then the other eight, & those are
_November_, _December_, _January_, & _February_; yet they are hotter
than with us in _May_. There is no generall Fall of the leafe, every
Tree having a particular fall to himself; as if two Locusts stands
at the distance of a stones cast, they have not their falls at one
time; one Locust will let fall the leaves in _January_, another in
_March_, a third in _July_, a fourth in _September_; and so all
months one kinde of Trees, having their severall times of falling:
But if any month falls more leaves then other, ’tis _February_; for
so in my nicest observation I found it. The leaves we finde fallen
under the trees, being the most of them large and stiffe, when they
were growing, and having many veines, which go from the middle stalk,
to the uppermost extent of the leafe, when the thin part of the leafe
is rotten and consum’d, those veines appear like Anatomies, with the
strangest works and beautifullest formes that I have seen, fit to be
kept as a rarity, in the Cabinets of the greatest Princes. As also
the Negres heads, which we finde in the sands, and they are about
two inches long, with a forehead, eyes, nose, mouth, chin, and part
of the neck; I cannot perceive any root by which they grow, but find
them alwaies loose in the sand; nor is it a fruit that falls from any
tree, for then we should finde it growing; black it is as jet, but
from whence it comes, no man knowes.
[Sidenote: _Mines._]
Mines there are none in this Iland, not so much as of Coal, for which
reason, we preserve our Woods as much as we can.
We finde flowing out of a Rock, in one part of the Iland, an unctuous
substance, somewhat like Tarre, which is thought to have many vertues
yet unknown; But is already discovered, to be excellent good to
stop a flux, by drinking it; but, by annointing, for all aches and
bruises; and so subtle it is, as being put into the palm of the hand,
and rub’d there, it will work through the back.
Another gummy substance there is, black, and hard as pitch, and is
used as pitch; ’tis called Mountjack.
Having given you in my Bills of Fare, a particular of such Viands,
as this Iland afforded, for supportation of life, and somewhat for
delight too, as far as concernes the Table; yet, what are you the
better for all this, when you must be scorch’t up from morning
till night, with the torrid heat of the sunne; So as in that twelve
hours, you hardly can finde two, in which you can enjoy your selfe
with contentment. Or how can you expect to find heat, or warmth in
your stomack, to digest that meat, when the sunne hath exhausted
your heat and spirits so, to your outer parts, as you are chill’d
and numb’d within? For which reason, you are compell’d to take such
remedies, as are almost as ill as the disease; liquors so strong, as
to take away the breath as it goes down, and red pepper for spice,
which wants little of the heat of a fire-coale; and all these will
hardly draw in the heat, which the sun draws out; and part of this
deficiency is occasioned by the improvidence, or inconsideration of
the Inhabitants, who build their dwellings, rather like stoves, then
houses; for the most of them, are made of timber, low rooft keeping
our the wind, letting in the sun, when they have means to have it
otherwise; for I will undertake to contrive a house so, as no one
shall have just cause to complaine of any excessive heat; and that
which gives this great remedy, shall bring with it the greatest
beauty that can be look’t on. The Palmetoes, which being plac’t (as
I will give you directions in my plot) in convenient order, shall
interpose so between the sun and house, as to keep it continually in
the shade; and to have that shade at such a distance, as very little
heat shall be felt, in any time of the day: For shades that are made
by the highest trees, are undoubtedly the coolest, and freshest, by
reason it keeps the heat farthest off. Besides this, there are many
advantages to be made, in the contrivance of the house; for I see the
Planters there, never consider which way they build their houses,
so they get them up; which is the cause that many of them, are so
insufferably hot, as neither themselves, nor any other, can remaine
in them without sweltring.
First then, we will consider what the errours are in their
contrivances, that we may be the better able to shew the best way
to mend them; A single house that is built long-wise, and upon a
North and South line, has these disadvantages: the sun shines upon
the East side-walls from six a clock till eight, so as the beams
rest flat upon that side, for two hours. And the beames resting
upon a flat or oblique line (as that is,) gives a greater heate,
then upon a diagonall, which glaunces the beams aside. As a tennis
ball, strook against the side walls of the Court, glauncing, hits
with lesse force, then when it feels the full resistance of the end
wall, where ’tis met with a flat oblique line: So the Sun beames, the
more directly they are oppos’d by any flat body, the more violently
they burne. This side-wall being warm’d; the sun gets higher, and
shines hotter; and then the rafters become the oblique line, which
is thinner, and lesse able to resist the beames; and the covering
being shingles, receives the heat quicker, and retaines it longer,
than tiles would do, so that for the whole forenoon, that side of the
roofe, receives as much heat, as the sun can give, and so passes over
to the other side, giving it so much the more in the afternoon, as is
increast by warming the house and Aire all the morning before, and
so the Oven being heat on both sides, What can you expect, but that
those within, should be sufficiently bakt: and so much the more, for
that the wind is kept out, that should come to cool it, by shutting
up all passages, that may let it in, which they alwayes doe, for
feare the raine come with it; and letting in the sun at the West end,
where and when it shines hottest. Therefore this kind of building
is most pernitious to those that love their health, which is the
comfort of their lives: but you will say, that a double house will
lessen much of this heat, by reason that the West side is not visited
by the sun in the morning, nor, the East in the afternoon; I doe
confesse that to be some little remedy, but not much, for the double
roofes being open to the sun, in oblique lines, a great part of the
forenoon; and being reflected from one side to another, when it comes
to the Meridian (and before and after, at least two hours,) with the
scorching heat it gives to the gutter, which is between them, and is
in the middle of the house from end to end, will so warme the East
side of the house, as all the shade it has in the afternoon will not
cool it, nor make it habitable; and then you may guesse in what a
temper the West side is.
Whereas, if you build your house upon an East and West line, you
have these advantages, that in the morning, the sun never shines
in or neere an oblique line, (which is upon the East end of your
house,) above two hours, and that is from six to eight a clock, and
as much in the afternoon, and not all that time neither; and upon
the roofe it can never shine in an oblique line, but glancing on
both sides, cast off the heat very much; I do confesse that I love
a double house, much better then a single, but if it have a double
cover, that is, two gable ends, and a gutter between, though it be
built up an East and West line: yet the sun (which must lye upon it
all the heat of the day) will so multiply the heat, by reflecting
the beames from inside to inside, and so violently upon the gutter,
from both, which you know must be in the middle of the house, from
end to end, as you shall feele that heat above, too sensibly in the
ground stories below, though your sieling be a foot thick, and your
stories sixteen foot high. Therefore if I build a double house, I
must order it so, as to have the division between either room of a
strong wall, or of Dorique Pillers Archt from one to another; and,
in each intercolumniation, a square stud of stone, for the better
strengthening and supporting of the Arches above; for I would have
the roomes Archt over with stone, and the innermost poynts of the
Arches, to rest upon the Pillars, and the whole house to be cover’d
with Couples and Rafters, and upon that shingles, the Ridge Pole of
the house: running along over the Pillars so that the covering is to
serve both Arches, that covers your rooms: by which meanes there is
but one Gable end, which will glaunce off the scorching beames of
the sun of either side, as, with the help of the Arches underneath,
there will be little heat felt in the roomes below. But then a maine
care must be had, to the side walls, that the girders be strong, and
very well Dove-tayld, one into another, upon the Dorique pillars,
or partition walls; and well crampt with Iron, or else the rafters
being of that length, will thrust out the side walls by reason the
Arches will hinder the Couplets, from comming so low as to keep the
rafters steady, from opening at the bottom. For prevention of this
great mischiefe, it will be very needfull, to have strong Butteresses
without, and those being plac’t just against the Couples, will be
of main concern to the side-walls. If you make the breadth of your
house fifty foot, allowing two foot to the partition, and two foot to
either of the side-walls above, (but more below) which is six foot
in all, you will have remaining forty four foot, which being equally
divided, will afford twenty two foot for the breadth of either room;
you may for the length allow what you please. But this I speak by
permission, and not by direction. But, I will send you a Plot with
this, and an Index annexed to it, of such a house as I would build
for pleasure and convenience, if I were to live there, and had
mony enough to bestow; and I believe, with such conveniences and
advantages, for shade and coolnesse, as few people in those Western
parts, have studied, or ever thought on.
And now I have as neer as I can, delivered the sum of all I know of
the Iland of _Barbadoes_, both for Pleasures and Profits, Commodities
and Incommodities, Sicknesses and Healthfulnesse. So that it may be
expected what I can say, to perswade or disswade any, that have a
desire to go and live there. But before I give a full answer to that,
I must enquire and be enformed, of what disposition the party is that
hath this designe; If it be such a one as loves the pleasures of
_Europe_, (or particularly of _England_) and the great varieties of
those, let him never come there; for they are things he shall be sure
to misse. But, if he can finde in himselfe a willingnesse, to change
the pleasures which he enjoyed in a Temperate, for such as he shall
finde in a Torrid Zone, he may light upon some that will give him an
exchange, with some advantage.
And for the pleasures of _England_, let us consider what they are,
that we may be the better able to judge, how far they are consistent
with the Climate of _Barbadoes_, and what gainers or losers they will
be by the exchange, that make the adventure; and by the knowledge
and well weighing of that, invite or deter those, that are the great
lovers and admirers of those delights, to come there, or stay away.
And amongst the sports and recreations that the people of _England_
exercise most for their healths, without dores, they are Coursing,
Hunting, and Hawking.
And for the Greyhound, though he be compleat in all his shapes
that are accounted excellent, headed like a Snake, neckt like a
Drake, back’t like a Beam, sided like a Breme, tail’d like a Rat,
footed like a Cat, deep breasted, with large phillets and gaskins,
excellently winded, with all else may style him perfect, and of a
right race: Yet, what of all this, if the Country afford no Game to
course at; or if there were, that would amount to nothing; for, in
the running of twelve score yards, they will either bruise their
bodies against stumps of trees, or break their necks down the steep
falls of Gullies, which are there too common.
And for the Huntsman and his Hounds, they will finde themselves at a
dead fault, before they begin; for, upon this soyle, no Stag, with
his lofty well shap’t head, and active body, has ever set his nimble
feet; and Herds of Vallow Deer, were never put to make a stand upon
this ground; the nimble Roe-Buck, nor the subtle Fox, the Badger,
Otter, or the fearfull Hare, have ever run their Mases in these
Woods. And then, what use of Hounds?
Onely one kinde are usefull here, and those are Liam Hounds, to guide
us to the runaway Negres, who, as I told you, harbour themselves in
Woods and Caves, living upon pillage for many months together.
And for the Faulconer, though his Hawk have reach’d such
excellencies, as may exalt her praise as high, as her wings can
raise her body; yet, she must be taken down to a bare Lure. And the
painfull and skilfull Faulconer, who has applyed himselfe solely to
the humour of the brave Bird he carries, who must be courted as a
Mistresse, be she never so froward, and like a coy Mistresse, will
take check at any thing, when her liberty gives her license; and
though by a painfull and studied diligence, he have reclaimed her so,
as to flie at what, and when, and where, and how she is directed;
and she, by her own practice and observation, has learnt to know,
which Spaniell lies, and which tells truth, that accordingly she
may sleight the one, and regard the other; and with this, has all
other qualities that are excellent, in so noble and heroick a Bird:
Yet, this painfull diligence in the Faulconer, this rare perfection
in the Hawk, will be of little use, where there is neither Champion
to flie in, Brookes to flie over, nor Game to flie at. No mountie
at a Hieron, to cause the lusty Jerfaulcon to raise her to a losse
of her self, from the eyes of her Keeper, till by many dangerous
thorows, she binde with her Quarrie, and both come tumbling down
together. No teem of Ducks, or bunch of Teales, to cause the high
flying Haggard make her stooping, and strike her Quarrie dead. And
for the Ostringer, though his well-man’d Goshauk, or her bold mate
the Tarcell, draw a Covert nere so well; yet, no Eye of Phesants will
spring, or perch in these woods.
_The Eagle and the Sacre sure, here ever misse their prey.
Since Bustard and the Barnacle, are never in the way.
No Tarcel drawes a Covert here, no Lanner sits at mark;
No Merline flies a Partridge neer, no Hobbie dares a Lark._
Another pleasure, the better sort of the people of _England_ take
delight in, which, in my opinion, may be rather call’d a toyle then a
pleasure, and that is Race-Horses, forcing poor beasts beyond their
power, who were given us for our moderate use. These exercises are
too violent for hot Countries, and therefore we will forget them.
Shooting and Bowling may very well be used here; but at Butts onely,
and in Bares, or close Allies, for the turfe here will never be fine
enough for a Green, nor the ground soft enough, for an Arrow to fall
on. Amongst all the sports without dores, that are used in _England_,
these two are onely sufferable in the _Barbadoes_. But for the sports
within the house, they may all be used there, as, all sorts of
Gaming, _viz._ Chesse, Tables, Cards, Dice, Shovel-abord, Billiards;
and some kinds of Dances, but none of those that are laborious, as
high and loftie Capers, with Turnes above ground; these are too
violent for hot Countries.
Some other kindes of pleasures they have in _England_, which are not
so fully enjoyed in the _Barbadoes_, as, smooth Champion to walk
or ride on, with variety of Landscapes, at severall distances; all
there being hem’d in with Wood, and those trees so tall and lofty,
as to hinder and bar the view so much, as (upon a levell or plain)
no Horison can be seen. But upon the sides of Hills, which look
toward the Sea, your eye may range as far that way, as the globicall
roundnesse of that watry Element will give way to; but that once
seen, the eye is satisfied, and variety in that object there is none;
for no shipping passe that way, but such as arive at the Iland. ’Tis
true, that Woods made up of such beautifull Trees as grow there, are
pleasant things to look on, and afford a very plentifull delight to
the eyes; but when you are so enclos’d, as hardly to look out, you
will finde too quick and too full a satiety in that pleasure. But
as the Woods are cut down, the Landscapes will appear at farther
distances.
Now for the beauty of the Heavens, they are as far transcending all
we ever saw in _England_, or elsewhere 40 Degrees without the Line,
on either side, as the land-objects of the _Barbadoes_ are short of
ours in _Europe_. So he that can content himselfe with the beauties
of the Heavens, may there be sufficiently satisfied. But we Mortalls,
that till and love the earth, because our selves are made up of the
same mold, take pleasure sometimes to look downward, upon the fruites
and effects of our own labours; and when we finde them thrive by the
blessings of the great Creator, we look up to give thanks, where we
finde so great a glory, as to put us into astonishment and admiration.
Now for the smelling sense, though we have the blossomes of the
Orange, Limon, Lyme, Cittron, Pomgranate, with the smell of that
admirable fruit the Pine, and others: yet, when we consider the
infinite variety of the Flowers of _England_, both for beauty
and savour, there is no comparison between them; and the flowers
there, are very few in number, and in smell, not to be allowed in
competition with ours of _England_: For, since the differences
between the Houses of _York_ and _Lancaster_ have been laid aside,
no red nor white Rose have grown there; but the Lillies have taken
up the quarrell, and strive in as high a contest there, as the Roses
have done in _England_; for, they are the fairest and purest, that I
have ever seen, both red and white, but no sweet smell. He that could
transplant the flowers of _England_ to the _Barbadoes_, would do a
rare work, but I fear to little purpose: For, though the virtuall
beams of the Sun, give growth and life to all the Plants and Flowers
it shines on; yet, the influence is at severall distances, and so the
productions varie; some flowers must be warmed, some toasted, and
some almost scalded; and to transpose these, and set them in contrary
places, were to strive against nature. ’Tis true, that the Herbs of
_England_ grow and thrive there, by reason they are stronger, and
better able to endure that change; but Flowers, that are of a more
tender nature, will not endure so great heat as they finde there.
But to repair this sense, some will say, that Perfumes brought out
of _Europe_, will plentifully supply us: But that will not at all
avail us, for what with the heat and moisture of the aire, it is
all drawn out, as by my own experience I found it to be most true,
though I lapp’d them close up in papers, and put them in drawers of a
Cabinet, where no aire could finde passage, they were so close; and
for Pastills, they lost both their smell and taste.
As for Musick, and such sounds as please the ear, they wish some
supplies may come from _England_, both for Instruments and voyces,
to delight that sense, that sometimes when they are tir’d out with
their labour, they may have some refreshment by their ears; and to
that end, they had a purpose to send for the Musick, that were wont
to play at the _Black Fryars_, and to allow them a competent salary,
to make them live as happily there, as they had done in _England_:
And had not extream weaknesse, by a miserable long sicknesse,
made me uncapable of any undertaking, they had employed me in the
businesse, as the likeliest to prevail with those men, whose persons
and qualities were well known to me in _England_. And though I found
at _Barbadoes_ some, who had musicall mindes; yet, I found others,
whose souls were so fixt upon, and so rivetted to the earth, and
the profits that arise out of it, as their souls were lifted no
higher; and those men think, and have been heard to say, that three
whip-Sawes, going all at once in a Frame or Pit, is the best and
sweetest musick that can enter their ears; and to hear a Cow of their
own low, or an Assinigo bray, no sound can please them better. But
these mens souls were never lifted up so high, as to hear the musick
of the Sphears, nor to be judges of that Science, as ’tis practised
here on earth; and therefore we will leave them to their own earthly
delights.
For the sense of feeling, it can be applyed but two waies, either in
doing or suffering; the poor Negres and Christian servants, finde
it perfectly upon their heads and shoulders, by the hands of their
severe Overseers; so that little pleasure is given the sense, by
this coercive kind of feeling, more then a plaister for a broken
Pate; but, this is but a passive kinde of feeling: But take it in the
highest, and most active way it can be applyed, which is upon the
skins of women, and they are so sweaty and clammy, as the hand cannot
passe over, without being glued & cimented in the passage or motion;
and by that means, little pleasure is given to, or received by the
agent or the patient: and therefore if this sense be neither pleased
in doing nor suffering, we may decline it as uselesse in a Country,
where down of Swans, or wool of Beaver is wanting.
Now for the sense of Tasting, I do confesse, it receives a more home
satisfaction, then all the rest, by reason of the fruites that grow
there; so that the Epicure cannot be deceived, if he take a long
journy to please his palate, finding all excellent tastes the world
has, comprehended in one single fruit, the Pine. And would not any
Prince be content to reduce his base coyne, into Ingots of pure gold.
And so much shall serve touching the _Barbadoes_.
Some men I have known in _England_, whose bodies are so strong and
able to endure cold, as no weather fits them so well as frost and
snow; such Iron bodies would be fit for a Plantation in Russia:
For, there is no traceing Hares under the Line, nor sliding on the
Ice under either Tropick. Others there are that have heard of the
pleasures of _Barbadoes_, but are loath to leave the pleasures
of England behind them. These are of a sluggish humour, and are
altogether unfit for so noble an undertaking; but if any such shall
happen to come there, he shall be transmitted to the innumerable
Armie of Pismires, and Ants, to sting him with such a reproof, as he
shall wish himselfe any where rather then amongst them. So much is
a sluggard detested in a Countrey, where Industry and Activity is
to be exercised. The Dwarfe may come there, and twice a year vie in
competition with the Giant: for set them both together upon a levell
superficies, and at noone, you shall not know by their shadowes who
is the tallest man.
The Voluptuous man, who thinks the day not long enough for him
to take his pleasure. Nor the sleepie man who thinks the longest
night too short for him to dreame out his delights, are not fit
to repose and solace themselves upon this Iland; for in the whole
compasse of the Zodiacke, they shall neither find St. Barnabies day,
or St. Lucies night, the Sun running an eeven course, is there an
indifferent Arbiter of the differences which are between those two
Saints, and like a just and cleere sighted Judge, reconciles those
extreams to a Medium, of 12 and 12 houres, which equality of time is
utterly inconsistent to the humours and dispositions of these men.
But I speak this, to such as have their fancies so Aereall, and
refin’d as not to be pleased with ordinary delight; but think to
build and settle a felicity here: above the ordinary levell of
mankind. Such spirits, are too volatile to fixe on businesse; and
therefore I will leave them out, as useless in this Common-wealth.
But such as are made of middle earth: and can be content to wave
those pleasures, which stand as Blocks, and Portcullisses, in their
way; and are indeed, the main Remoras in their passage to their
profits. Such may here find moderate delights, with moderate labour,
and those taken moderately will conduce much to their healths, and
they that have industry, to imploy that well, may make it the Ladder
to clyme to a high degree, of Wealth and opulencie, in this sweet
Negotiation of Sugar, provided they have a competent stock to begin
with; such I mean as may settle them in a Sugar-work, and lesse then
14000 l. sterling, will not do that: in a Plantation of 500 acres
of land, with a proportionable stock of Servants, Slaves, Horses,
Camels, Cattle, Assinigoes, with an Ingenio, and all other houseing,
thereunto belonging; such as I have formerly nam’d.
But one wil say, why should any man that has 14000 l. in his purse,
need to runne so long a Risco, as from hence to the Barbadoes: when
he may live with ease and plenty at home; to such a one I answer,
that every drone can sit and eate the Honey of his own Hive: But
he that can by his own Industry, and activity, (having youth and
strength to friends,) raise his fortune, from a small beginning to a
very great one, and in his passage to that, doe good to the publique,
and be charitable to the poor, and this to be accomplished in a few
years, deserves much more commendation and applause. And shall find
his bread, gotten by his painfull and honest labour and industry,
eate sweeter by much, than his that onely minds his ease, and his
belly.
Now having said this much, I hold it my duty, to give what directions
I can, to further any one that shall go about to improve his
stock, in this way of Adventure; and if he please to hearken to my
directions, he shall find they are no Impossibilities, upon which I
ground my Computations: the greatest will be, to find a friend for a
Correspondent, that can be really honest, faithful and Industrious,
and having arriv’d at that happinesse, (which is the chiefest,) all
the rest will be easie; and I shall let you see that without the help
of Magick or Inchantment, this great Purchase of 14000 l. will be
made with 3000 l. stock, and thus to be ordered.
One thousand pound, is enough to venture at first, because we that
are here in England, know not what commodities they want most in
the _Barbadoes_, and to send a great Cargo of unnecessary things,
were to have them lye upon our hands to losse. This 1000 l. I would
have thus laid out: 100 l. in Linnen Cloth, as Canvas and Kentings,
which you may buy here in London, of French Marchants, at reasonable
rates; and you may hire poor Journy-men Taylers, here in the Citty,
that will for very small wages, make that Canvas into Drawers, and
Petticoats, for men and women Negres. And part of the Canvas, and
the whole of the Kentings, for shirts and drawers for the Christian
men Servants, and smocks and peticoates for the women. Some other
sorts of Linnen, as Holland or Dowlace, will be there very usefull,
for shirts and smocks for the Planters themselves, with their Wives
and Children. One hundred pounds more, I would have bestow’d, part
on wollen cloath, both fine and coorse, part on Devonshire Carsies,
and other fashionable stuffes, such as will well endure wearing. Upon
Monmoth Capps I would have bestowed 25 l. you may bespeak them there
in Wales, and have them sent up to London, by the waynes at easie
rates. Forty pound I think fit to bestow on Irish Ruggs such as are
made at Killkennie, and Irish stockings, and these are to be had at
St. _James_’s faire at _Bristow_; the stockings are to be worne in
the day, by the Christian servants, the Ruggs to cast about them when
they come home at night, sweating and wearied, with their labour; to
lap about them, when they rest themselves on their Hamacks at night,
than which nothing is more needfull, for the reasons I have formerly
given. And these may either be shipt at Bristow, if a ship be ready
bound for Barbadoes, or sent to London by waynes which is a cheap
way of conveyance. Fifty pound I wish may be bestowed on shooes, and
some bootes, to be made at Northampton, and sent to London in dry
fates, by Carts; but a speciall care must be taken, that they may be
made large, for they will shrink very much when they come into hot
Climats. They are to be made of severall sises, for men women and
children; they must be kept dry and close, or else the moistnesse of
the Ayre will cause them to mould. Gloves will sell well there, and
I would have of all kinds, and all sises, that are thinne; but the
most usefull, are those of tann’d leather, for they will wash and
not shrinke in the wetting, and weare very long and soople; you may
provide your selfe of these, at Evill, Ilemister and Ilchester, in
Somerset shire; at reasonable rates. Fifteen pound I would bestow
in these Commodities. In fashionable Hats and Bands, both black and
coloured, of severall sises and qualities, I would have thirty pounds
bestowed. Black Ribbon for mourning, is much worn there, by reason
their mortality is greater; and therefore upon that commodity I would
bestow twenty pound; and as much in Coloured, of severall sises and
colours. For Silkes and Sattins, with gold and silver-Lace, we will
leave that alone, till we have better advice; for they are casuall
Commodities.
Having now made provision for the back, it is fit to consider the
belly, which having no ears, is fitter to be done for, then talkt
to; and therefore we will do the best we can, to fill it with such
provisions, as will best brook the Sea, and hot Climates: Such are
Beefe, well pickled, and well conditioned, in which I would bestow
100 l. In Pork 50 l. in Pease for the voyage, 10 l. In Fish, as
Ling, Haberdine, Green-fish, and Stock-fish, 40 l. In Bisket for
the voyage, 10 l. Cases of Spirits 40 l. Wine 150 l. Strong Beer 50
l. Oyle Olive 30 l. Butter 30 l. And Candles must not be forgotten,
because they light us to our suppers, and our beds.
The next thing to be thought on, is Utensills, and working Tooles,
such are whip-Sawes, two-handed Sawes, hand-Sawes, Files of severall
sises and shapes; Axes, for felling and for hewing; Hatchets, that
will fit Carpenters, Joyners, and Coopers; Chisells, but no Mallets,
for the wood is harder there to make them: Adzes, of severall sises,
Pick-axes, and Mat-hooks; Howes of all sises, but chiefly small ones,
to be used with one hand, for with them, the small Negres weed the
ground: Plains, Gouges, and Augurs of all sises; hand-Bills, for the
Negres to cut the Canes; drawing-Knives, for Joyners. Upon these
Utensills I would bestow 60 l. Upon Iron, Steel, and small Iron pots,
for the Negres to boyl their meat, I would bestow 40 l. And those are
to be had in _Southsex_ very cheap, and sent to _London_ in Carts,
at time of year, when the waies are drie and hard. Nailes of all
sorts, with Hooks, Hinges, and Cramps of Iron; and they are to be had
at _Bromigham_ in _Staffordshire_, much cheaper then in _London_:
And upon that Commodity I would bestow 30 l. In Sowes of Lead 20 l,
in Powder and Shot 20 l. If you can get Servants to go with you,
they will turn to good accompt, but chiefly if they be Trades-men,
as, Carpenters, Joyners, Masons, Smiths, Paviers, and Coopers. The
Ballast of the Ship, as also of all Ships that trade there, I would
have of Sea-coales, well chosen, for it is a commodity was much
wanting when I was there, and will be every day more and more, as
the Wood decayes: The value I would have bestowed on that, is 50 l.
which will buy 45 Chauldron, or more, according to the burthen of the
Ship. And now upon the whole, I have outstript my computation 145 l.
but there will be no losse in that; for, I doubt not, (if it please
God to give a blessing to our endeavours) but in twelve or fourteen
months, to sell the goods, and double the Cargo; and, if you can stay
to make the best of your Market, you may make three for one.
This Cargo, well got together, I could wish to be ship’t in good
order, about the beginning of _November_, and then by the grace of
God, the Ship may arrive at the _Barbadoes_ (if she make no stay by
the way) about the middle of _December_; and it is an ordinary course
to sail thither in six weeks: Comming thither in that cool time of
the year, your Victualls will be in good condition to be removed into
a Store-house, which your Correspondent (who, I account, goes along
with it) must provide as speedily as he can, before the Sun makes
his return from the Southern Tropick; for then the weather will grow
hot, and some of your Goods, as, Butter, Oyle, Candles, and all your
Liquors, will take harme in the remove.
The Goods being stowed in a Ware house, or Ware houses, your
Correspondent must reserve a handsome room for a Shop, where his
servants must attend; for then his Customers will come about him,
and he must be carefull whom he trusts; for, as there are some good,
so there are many bad pay-masters; for which reason, he must provide
himselfe of a Horse, and ride into the Country to get acquaintance;
and halfe a dosen good acquaintance, will be able to enform him, how
the pulse beats of all the rest: As also by enquiries, he will finde,
what prices the Goods bear, which he carries with him, and sell them
accordingly; and what valews Sugars bear, that he be not deceived
in that Commodity, wherein there is very great care to be had, in
taking none but what is very good and Merchantable, and in keeping
it drie in good Casks, that no wet or moist aire come to it; and so
as he makes his exchanges, and receives in his Sugars, or what other
commodities he trades for, they lie ready to send away for _England_,
as he findes occasion, the delivering of the one, making room for
the other; for Ships will be every month, some or other, comming for
_England_. If he can transport all his goods, raised upon the Cargo,
in eighteen months, it will be very well. This Cargo being doubled at
the _Barbadoes_, that returned back, will produce at least 50 _per
cent._ And then your Cargo, which was 1145 l. at setting out, and
being doubled there to 2290 l. will be at your return for _England_
3435 l. of which I will allow for freight, and all other charges 335
l. so there remaines to account 3100 l. clear. By which time, I will
take for granted, that your Correspondent has bargained, and gone
through for a Plantation, which we will presuppose to be of five
hundred acres, Stock’t as I have formerly laid down; (for we must fix
upon one, that our computations may be accordingly) if it be more or
lesse, the price must be answerable, and the Produce accordingly.
And therfore as we began, we will make this our scale, that 14000 l.
is to be paid, for a Plantation of 500 acres Stock’t. Before this
time, I doubt not, but he is also grown so well verst in the traffick
of the Iland, as to give you advice, what Commodities are fittest
for your next Cargo; and according to that instruction, you are to
provide, and to come your selfe along with it.
By this time, I hope, your remaining 1855 l. by good employment in
_England_, is raised to 2000 l. So then you have 5100 l. to put
into a new Cargo, which I would not have you venture in one Bottom.
But if it please God, that no ill chance happen, that Cargo of 5100
l. having then time enough to make your best Market, may very wel
double, and 1000 l. over; which 1000 l. I will allow to go out for
fraight, and all other charges. So then, your Cargo of 5100 l.
being but doubled, will amount unto 10200 l. But this Cargo being
large, will require three years time to sell; so that if you make
your bargain for 14000 l. to be paid for this Plantation, you will be
allowed three daies of payment; the first shall be of 4000 l. to be
paid in a year after you are setled in your Plantation; 5000 l. more
at the end of the year following, and 5000 l. at the end of the year
then next following. And no man will doubt such payment, that sees
a visible Cargo upon the Iland of 10200 l. and the produce of the
Plantation to boot. Now you see which way this purchase is made up,
_viz._ 4000 l. the first payment, 5000 l. the second, and so there
remains upon your Cargo 1200 l. towards payment of the last 5000
l. and by that time, the profit of your Plantation will raise that
with advantage; and then you have your Plantation clear, and freed
of all debts. And we will account at the lowest rate, that if two
hundred acres of your five hundred, be planted with Canes, and every
Acre bear but three thousand weight of Sugar, valuing the Sugar but
at three pence per pound, which is thirty seven pound ten shillings
every acre, then two hundred acres will produce 7500 l. in sixteen
months; that is, fifteen months for the Canes to grow and be ripe,
and a month to Cure the Sugar that is made.
But if you stay four months longer, your Muscavado Sugar, which I
valued at three pence per pound, will be Whites, and then the price
will be doubled, and that you see is 15000 l. Out of which we will
abate ¼ part for waste, and for the tops and bottomes of the Pots,
3̸2̸
1̸5̸0̸0̸0̸ (3750
4̸4̸4̸4̸
15000
3750
-----
11250
2400
-----
13650
which may be rank’d with the Muscavadoes, and that is 3750 l. and
then there remains 11250 l. to which we will add the value of the
Drink, that is made of the skimmings, at 120 l. per month, which
in twenty months comes to 2400 l. and then the whole revenue will
amount unto 13650 l. in twenty months. But this profit must come
successively in, as the Sugars are made, and they work all the year,
except in _November_ and _December_, when the great downfalls of rain
come: and if they pave the waies, between the Canes, for the Slids
and Assinigoes to passe, they may work then too; for, little else
hinders them, but the unpassablenesse of the waies.
So then you see, that upon the venturing, and well husbanding of 3000
l. stock, you are setled in a revenue of 682 l. a month, of which
months we will account 13 in a year, so that after your work is set
in order, and that you will account the yearly revenue, you will
finde it 8866 l. per Annum.
Now let us confider, what the certain charge will be yearly, to keep
the Plantation in the condition we receive it, which we will suppose
to be compleatly furnished, with all that is necessary thereunto:
And first, of all manner of houseing, as convenient dwelling houses,
the Mill-house, or Grinding-house where the sugar is prest out; the
boyling-house, with five sufficient Coppers for boyling, and one or
two for cooling, with all Utensills, that belong to the Mill, and
boyling-house; the filling room, with stantions; the Still-house
with two sufficient Stills, and receivers to hold the drinke, with
Cisterns to all these rooms, for holding liquor, and temper; the
Cureing house fill’d with stantions, two stories high, and commonly
in it seventeen or eighteen hundred pots for cureing; the Smiths
forge, with room to lay coales, Iron, and steele; the Carpenter, and
Joyners houses, where they lodge and lay their tools, and much of
their fine worke, with sufficient store-houses, to lay such provision
as we receive from forraine parts, as Beefe, Pork, Fish, Turtle; and
also to keep our drink which is made of the sugar, to the repairing
of all which, the premises with the Appurtenances, we will allow no
lesse then 500 l. Per Annum.
To this, there is yet more to be added: for though we breed both
Negres, Horses, and Cattle; yet that increase, will not supply the
moderate decayes which we finde in all those; especially in our
Horses and Cattell, therefore we will allow for that 500 l. Per Annum.
The next thing we are to consider is, the feeding of our servants and
slaves, over and above the provisions which the Plantations beare,
and that will be no great matter, for they are nor often fed with
bone-meat; But we will allow to the Christian servants, (which are
not above thirty in number,) foure barrels of Beefe, and as much of
Porke yearely, with two barrels of salt Fish, and 500 poore-Johns,
which we have from New England, foure barrels of Turtle, and as many
of pickled Makerels, and two of Herrings, for the Negres; all which I
have computed, and finde they will amount unto 100 l, or thereabouts;
besides the fraight which will be no great matter; for you must be
sure to have a Factor, both at New England and Virginia, to provide
you of all Commodities those places afford, that are usefull to your
plantation; or else your charge will be treble. As from New England,
Beefe, Porke, Fish, of all sorts, dried and pickled; from Virginia
live-Cattle, Beefe and Tobacco; for theirs at _Barbadoes_ is the
worst I think that growes in the world; And for Cattle, no place lyes
neerer to provide themselves, and the Virginians cannot have a better
market to sell them; for an Oxe of 5 l. pound price at Virginie, will
yield 25 l. there.
But to go on with our computation: for as we have given order for
feeding our people, so we must for their cloathing; and first for the
Christians, which we will account to be thirty in number whereof ⅔
shall be men, and ⅓ women, that we may make our computation the more
exact; and for the men, (which are twenty in number,) we will allow
one for the supreame Overseer, who is to receive and give directions,
to all the subordinate Overseers, which we allow to be five more;
and those he appoynts to go out with severall Gangs, some tenne,
some twenty, more or lesse, according to the ability of the overseer
hee so imployes; and these are to go out upon severall Imployments,
as he gives them directions, some to weed, some to plant, some to
fall wood, some to cleave it, some to saw it into boards, some
to fetch home, some to cut Canes, others to attend the Ingenio,
Boyling-house, Still-house, and Cureing-house; some for Harvest, to
cut the Maies, (of which we have three Crops every yeare,) others to
gather Provisions, of Bonavist, Maies, Yeames, Potatoes, Cassavie,
and dresse it at fit times for their dinners and suppers, for the
Christian servants; the Negres alwayes dressing their own meat
themselves, in their little Pots, which is only Plantines, boyl’d or
roasted, and some eares of Maies toasted, at the fire; and now and
then a Makerell a piece, or two Herrings.
The Prime Overseer may very well deserve Fifty pounds Per Annum, or
the value in such Commodities as he likes, that are growing upon
the Plantation; for he is a man that the master may allow sometimes
to sit at his own Table, and therefore must be clad accordingly.
The other five of the Overseers, are to be accounted in the ranke
of Servants, whose freedome is not yet purchased, by their five
years service, according to the custome of the Iland. And for their
cloathing, they shall be allowed three shirts together, to every man
for shifts, which will very well last halfe a year, and then as many
more. And the like proportion for drawers, and for shooes, every
month a paire, that is twelve paire a year; six paire of stockings
yeerly, and three Monmouth Capps, and for Sundayes, a doublet of
Canvas, and a plaine band of Holland.
* * * * *
_An Account of Expences issuing out yearly for Cloathing, for the
Christian Servants, both Men and Women, with the Wages of the
principall Overseer, which shall be_ 50 l. _sterling, or the value in
such Goods as grow upon the Plantation_.
To the five subordinate Overseers, for each mans cloathing.
l. s. d.
Six shirts, at 4 s. a piece 1 04 0
Six pair of Drawers, at 2 s. 0 12 0
Twelve pair of shoes, at 3 s. 1 16 0
Six pair of Linnen or Irish stockings, }
at 20 d. } 0 10 0
Three _Monmouth_ Caps, at 4 s. 0 12 0
Two doublets of Canvas, and }
six Holland bands } 0 15 0
Sum totall for each man 5 9 0
Sum totall for the five Overseers 27 5 0
To the fourteen common servants.
l. s. d.
Six shirts to each man 1 04 0
Six pair of drawers to each man 0 12 0
Twelve pair of shoes, at 3 s. 1 16 0
Three _Monmouth_ caps, at 4 s. 0 12 0