The Natural Hiftory of Jamaica. 103 : 
The panicled contains under them the Reeds, which are large Graffes, the 
Gramina I{chema, or dactyla, which are the moft numerous and belt feeding 
Graffes here, being that of which their Paftures are for the moft part fuii. 
Of this there are two Kinds, one whofe feveral Spikes making up the Pa- 
nicle, take their beginning from the tops of the Culm, as from their com- 
mon Centre, which is common to all of this Kind, which have been known 
hitherto; but the other Kind which I call Pasicula longa is new in all its 
Species, none of them, or at leaft very few having been in Europe, or taken 
notice of before as fuch, their Spikes taking their beginning one over ano- 
ther at the upper endfof the Ca/mus, and not juft at the top, being fome- 
what like thofe European Grafles, called Gramina panicea, {pica divifa, . 
Thofe Cyperus-Grafles which are very large,or have fparfe Panicles, 1 call 
Cyperi, and thofe remaining, with triangular Stalks, Gramina cyperoidea, and 
between them and Rufhes I have put two by the names of Fancus Cyperoides, 
becaufethey feem to partake of both Kinds, having a tuberous {weet fmelling 
Root, no Leaves, a Sheath like Ruihes inclofing the under part of the 
Ruth, and above fome foliola, a’ Panicle or Spike at top, like thofe of the 
Cyperi or Cyperus Grafles, and this is alfo a new Kind. pare 
The word Spike is here taken for a fingle Head, not branched into {e- 
veral Panicles. | 
1. Oryza, Rait biff. 1240. Cat. p. 24. Ind. Or- part. 6. p. 83. Worm. Mul. p. 
150. Nicuhof. p.86.' Mirand. Sin. oo Europ. p. 880. Muf.Swammerd. p.13. De 
Flacowrt. p.114. De Marini. p.56. De Feynes.p.107. cm 140. 
This Grain is fowed by fome of the Negro’s in their Gardens, and {mall 
Plantations in Famaica, and thrives very well in thofe that are wet, but be- 
caufe of the difficulty there is in {eparating the Grain from the Husk, ’tis 
very much neglected. feeing the ufe of it. may be {upplied by other Grains, 
more eafily cultivated and made fit for ufe with lefs Labour. 
Rice-is the commoneft of all Grains, in moft of the warm Countries and 
Iflands inthe Ea/f-/udies, from whence it has gone into fome Countries and 
Iflands of the fame temperature in the We/f-Jndies as may be more particu- 
larly gathered from the Writers mentioned in my Catalogue. But the Bay of 
Bengale-is the place where moft grows, and whence mott of that ufed in Gea, 
Malabar, the Moluccas and Sumatra comes, fo that if the Veffels mifcarry from 
thence their inhabitants fuffer Famine 9° 9 
Iris fown in Marfh Land, that is very moift or overflowed with water, 
or fteeped eight days in the River in Paniers, (according to Cauche) and the 
Earth is plowed or trodden with Oxen, that it appears Mud; if there be 
no Water in the Grounds where ‘tis fown, they water it as 4lsert tells us they 
do, every forty hours, in Egypt, Duart de Menefes about Sofala, and the 
Writers of China tell us they do there by artificial Channels. When ir is 
-reapd they put it into Stacks, and then in’ moft places beat it out of the 
Husk -by Peitles and Mortars, and Winnow it; or clear ic ia a Hand-Wood- 
oMill (Loubere tom. 1. p 51.) or tread it out by Oxen in a large hard Floor 
chy: Buffaloes drove round fo as they may tread on it all. Dampier cap. rs. 
Mandelflo fays, p. 166. that in Fapan they keep it in the Ears, and beat it out 
as uled, drying it over night in the Chimney Corner in bundles, and next 
morning beating it-outclean ina Mortar. : 
it i$ in feveral’ Countries manag'd by a feveral way, fometimes if too 
thick in coming up-‘tis planted thinner, and Le Combe fays ‘tis in China 
planted in Sheafs' or Bundles, the better to refift the Winds 
It is ufed for Food in moft Couniries where it grows, ‘tis boiled in water, 
and fo ufed as Bread) and is likewife mixed with Milk, Broath, &c. and 
made into many kinds of Mefles. 
There 
