The Natural Ehiftory of Jamaica. 15 — 
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They are boild or roafted under the Afhes, and thought extraordinary 
good and nourithing Food, and becaufe of their fpeedy attaining their due 
growth and perfection, they are believed to be the moft profitable fort of 
Root for ordinary Provifion. 
They are ufed in great quantities to make the Drink called Mobby. 
In dry times when Grafs is {carce, or at any other, the tops are given to 
feed Rabbets. 
They are windy. Pifo. 
Peter Martyr reckons up many forts, only differing in the colour of the 
Skin, and Benzo {peaks of Aaias Icfs, and more favoury, which I believe 
is only a variety of this. 
They are very nourifhing and provoke to venery. 
Many conferves, like to Marmelade of Quinces, are made of them. 
Linfchot. They are common at Velez-Malaga, whence ten or twelve Cara- 
vels are loaded with them every year to Sevi/, They are temperate and 
loofning. Mon. 
People feed on them in Trinidado. Thevet. 
They are ripe in fix months, and Breed Wind. Benzo. 
Thefe Roots were by Colon brought from the Weff-Zndies into Exrope, in 
his firft Voyage, to fhew the different Produtions of the one and the other, 
Lopez de Gom. 
They are planted by the Slip, the Root being neceflary for Bread, which 
is a great Providence. Lunde. 
They are beft about AMalaca. Cluf. From whence they were brought to 
Cadiz and Spain. 
IV. Convolvulus radice tuberofa, efculenta, minore, purpurea, Cat.p.54. Batates 
Ind. Or. part. 6. p.85. Red Spanifh Batatas. 
This has a Root four or five Inches long, as big as ones Finger, biggeft in 
the middle, having a {mall lower end, and feveral fibrils drawing its Nourih- 
ment from the Earth. It isof a very deep red, or purple colour, and be- 
ing broken, yields Milk very plentifully, which dyes of a purple colour, 
The Stalks were two or three Foot long, round, and green, putting forth at 
every Inch, or more, Leaves very like thofe of the precedent, only not fo 
large, nor cornered, of a deep grafS green colour, and thin, almoft like 
thofe of a Violet, ftanding on an Inch, or a two Inches long Foot-Stalk. 
This here defcribed was avery young Plant. 
It grew at Colonel Bourdens Plantation, beyond Gwanabos, where it was 
lanted. 
: It is ufed only to give Mobby a fine reddith colour. 
V. Convolvulus maximus, caule [pinnlis obtufts obfito, flore albo, folio hederaceo, 
angulofo. Cat.p.55. Tab. 96. Fig. 1 
This grows toa very great length, covering fometimes many Trees, or the 
Banks of Rivers for many Paces, having a roundand reddith Stalk, arm’d 
with blunt, herbaceous, and thort, yarioufly fhap’d Prickles, winding its 
felf about any thing ic comes near, or creeping along the furface of the 
ground. At unequal diftances come out {mooth Leaves, ftanding on fix 
Inches long Foot-Stalks, they are three pointed, being four Inches long froma 
the Foot-Stalks end to their points, andas broad from Ear to Ear at the bate, 
there being a defect or Siaus from the Ears tothe Point. The Flowers come 
out ex alis folioram, ftanding upon an Inch long Foot-Stalks, having a four 
Inches long, green tiiv/us, from whence, by degrees, it opens its {elf into a 
white monopetalous: Bell-Flower, of five Inches Diameter, a little finuated, 
and having five green difcernible ftrcaks on its our fide, The cea 
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