The Natural Hifory of Jamaica. 247 
About Afexico, and other places in Nova Hifpania, there groweth a cer- 
tain Plant called Magueis, which yieldeth Wine, Vinegar, Honey, and 
black Sugar, and of the Leaves of it dried they make Hemp, Ropes, Shoes 
which they ufe, and Tiles for their Houfes, and at the end of every Leaf 
there groweth a fharp point like an Awl, wherewith they ufe to bore or 
pierce through any thing Chilton. ap. Flakl. p.3. ps 462. 
There is much Honey, both of Bees, and alfo of a kind of Tree, which 
they call Magweiz. This Honey of Magueiz is not fo {weet as the other 
Honey is, but it is better to be eaten only with Bread than che other is, and the 
Tree ferveth for many things, as the Leaves make Thread to fow any kind of 
Bags, and are good to cover and Thatch Houfes, and for divers other things. 
Frawks ap Hakl. p. 2. p.464. where he tells us it grows about Mexico, p. 465. 
The Indians are given much to drink both Wine of Spain, and alfo a certain 
Kind of Wine which they make with Honey of Magueiz, and Roots, and 
other things which they ufe to put into the fame. They call the fame Wine 
Pulco, they are foon Drunk, and when fo, are givento Sodomy, che. where» 
fore all Wines are forbiden by a Penalty on Buyerand Seller i, 
There (in the way from Pasuco to Mexico) alo groweth a ftrange Tree, 
which they call Afagueiz, it ferveth themto many ufes: below by the Root they 
make a hole whereac they do take'\outyof it twice every day a certain kind 
of Liquor, which they Seeth ina great Kettle, till che third part be con 
fumed, and that it wax thick, it is as{weet as any Honcy, and they do eat 
it. Within twenty days after thatthey have taken all the Liquor from it, it 
Withereth, and they cut it down, and ufe it as we ufc our Hemp here in Engs 
land, which done they convert it to many ules, of fome part ithey ‘make 
Mantles, Ropes, and Thread : of the ends they make Needles\to fow their 
Saddles, Pannels, and other Furniture for their Horfes, of the°rett they 
make ‘Tiles to cover their Houfes, and they put itcto many! other purpofes. 
FTLortop. ap. £Lakl. p.3. p. 492. 7 [yeapzpoizoin * & POV! 
The MacurieeTree',or .Cabuya, yields Wine,’ Vinegar, Honey, Beds, 
Threads, Needles, (out of the prickles of the Leaves) Tables, and Hafts 
of Knives, befides many-medicinable ules. Pedro. Ordonnes ap. Parchas,lib.7. 
cap. 4. p-142x. {peaking of New-Spain: 10 
Oviedo in his Coromica de las Indias, lib. 7. cap.x. tells us that they make 
of this and Henequen, or Silk-Grafs, good Ropes. The Leaves are laid in 
Rivers, and covered with Stones, as Flax in Spain, for fome days, then they 
dry them inthe Sun, after clear them of filth, with which they make many 
things, efpécially Hamacas, fome of this is white, others reddifh. . The Zp- 
dians with thefe Threads have broke Prifons, and Chains of Jron feveral 
times; nay, on the. Continent cut Anchors in pieces, rubbing it in the 
fame place with this Thread, and putting now and then fome {mall Sand; 
taking a new-firm. placevof. the Thread:as it breaks. 
Hernandez, whofe Figureis not good,: fays this Plaat alone is fufficient for 
Fields and Gardens., .. The; Leavesaregood ‘Thatch, the Stalks Beams; The 
fibrous, ot nervous part fupplies the ufes of Flax, Hemp, or Cotton, to take 
Thread or. Cloath ; \the.prickles are good: for Pins, Needlés, Nails;Bodkins; 
and Piercers to. make holes.in the Ears. The Jadiaas likewile'us'd them to 
do Pennance on their Bodies, neither were they unfit for inftruments' of War. 
If this Plant be Lopt,,or,the Trunc cut off, there iffucs out forty orfifty Ar- 
robas (each of whichis thirty two Pounds) of Liquor: from eacl Plant, oue 
of which is made Wine,. Vinegar, Honey and Sugar,” The Liquor ‘is {weet 
of its felf, and, drinkable, growing by boiling thicker, turning “firlt to Sy- 
rup, then to Sugar. . They mix Water with the Juice, and fome Orange and 
Melon Seeds, adding Jikewife fome intoxicating Ingredients, with which 
they loye to be Drunk. Vinegar is made by mixing the Sugar with eae 
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