The Natural Hiftory of YAM AIGA. a 
long Stalks, they are fpike fafhion, Papylionaceous 
in Colour and very fmall, and to them eine crooked fella 
round Pods, made like a half Moon or Hook, yellowifh when rine 
re containing feveral very {mall quadrangular Peafe, of a a es 
olour. 
Thefe Shrubs are planted in moft Places of this Ifland. 
They fill a large Fat two thirds with feveral Baskets of the Herb green 
then put Water out of the Cifterns, juft to cover it ; they put two Beams 
On it, which are kept down by two Bars, going into two Mortiffes in two 
Beams lying over them, fecur’d by two notch’d Polts above, and kept 
firm by two Pins going crofs, or athwart them; thefe Devices keep 
the Herb and Water from rifing when they ferment. In twenty four 
Hours time ’tis ready to draw off into the Beating-Fat, where ’tis beaten 
by Foot Diameter Boards with Holes in them, faften’d to the Ends 
ot nine Foot long Staves, till from a green Colour it comes to a blackifh, 
and being taken up and let ftand a little, it lets fall fome fmall Grains, or 
when mix’d with frefh Urine, it immediately lets them fall and leaves clear 
Water at Top; if it be beaten longer than enough, thefe Grains are again 
abforbed into the Water, and Sale it appear black: This Fat in beating 
is apt to have a Froth at Top, which, when it appears, is quell’d by throw- 
ing in five or fix Drops of Oy] bya Feather into the Fat ; thefeGrains 
in fome Hours fubfide the clear Water is drawn off, and the Sediment puc 
into Bags like Mamice Hippocratis ;’tis drain’d by hanging fome Hours, and 
then ’tis put into {quare Boxes and expos’d tothe Sun, and leaft it fhould 
crack, it is cut into {quare fmallerDivifions. If it be not well dry’d or cur’d, 
it breeds Worms, It has a moft unfavory Smell, and draws all Vermin to- 
wards it, whence the Fats are ufually plac’d at a pretty Diftance from 
dwelling Houfes. 
The Procefs varies very much, according to the different Seafons of the 
Year, when ’tis made. 
Land where few Rains happen are proper for this, being in fix Weeks 
ready for cutting. 
There aretwo Sorts of Indigo, Guatimala and Inde Platte, the firit is 
beft; fome of the Secds (about 20) are put into Holes at Foot’s Diftance, 
and cover’d with 2 Fingers Deepnefs of Earth, in Rainy Times ’tis up in 4 
Days, and ready tocut in 3 Months, and in fix Weeks is a fecond Crop 
‘They mix it with Water, and after Fermentation, let it out of the 
Trempoire tothe Batterie, where tis beat till it granulates, and before it 
be again mix’d with the Water, they let it out into Sacks, and mix in 
beating fome Oil to hinder the Foaming: Indigo is made with the lighteft 
and fweeteft Water; tis dried when feparated from the Cafes, No 
Indigo Works can be made of Wood becaufe of its piercing Quality. 
Some NE as and French have been kill’d by its ill Savour. Swimming 
Indigo is belt. Tertre: | 
This feems to be the Xthuiqutlitlpitxahuac, Hernandez and Xim, tho’ 
there be a very ill or improper Figure, as may appear by their fayin 
that it is Cécerts folijs, thefe Leaves being not at all like them, ’ris hot ad 
dry in the fecond Degree. The Powder heals old Sores if they be 
wafh’d with Urine before; bruis’d and put to the Head, they cure its aching, 
as does their Decofion. They thinks it would grow well in Spaiz. 
It was not formerly known in Brafile. Marcg. 
It is reckon’d vulnerary, and prepar’d feveral Ways to be good a- 
gainft Ulcers of the Head and Feet. Pio. 
It grows in Yucatam, Lact. 
Thofe 
