142 
The Natural Hiflory of JAMAICA. 
Mathiolus was out when he defcrib’d this with deciduous Leaves. 
The inward Leaves when tender and young, and the budding Flowers, 
are pickled with Pepper, Ginger, Garlick, Salt and Vinegar, and eat 
as Capers. 
The Leaves are cooling and good to lie on in hot Weather, and for 
burns, Acoffa. 
They are planted in Holes about a Foot deep, three or four Pieces 
of the Root or Suckers being put intoeach Hole, at ten Foor {quare 
Dittance. They mutt be carefully kept from Weeds, Several Acres are 
planted cogether. 
They are planted very carefully by mott Mafters of Plantations in very 
fat and low Grounds, by Gullies Sides, ec, where they bring forth Fruit al] 
the Year round. ’Tis ufed in Gusney, Ethiopia, molt hot Parts of the 
World, and all over the Eaft-Indies. 
When they fee the Bunches of Plantains large, and turning yellow 
near ripe, they cut down the Tree at the Root, and cutting off the Plan- 
tains with its Yop, carry it Home, and hang it up, where it ripens 
in fome Hours, and turns from green to yellow. 
They are thought friendly to the Lungs in their hot Difeafes, but 
hurtful to the Stomach. : 
The tender Stalk is eat, the Root bruis’d and drank in Milk is good 
for the Vertigo, and the Water of it is good for the Kidneys, and Heat 
of Urine, the Stalks beaten and eat with Honey are good for the 
Eyes, fi 7. 
Betore they are quite ripe, they are baked under the Embers and 
eaten in Lieu of Bread, and tafte very pleafantly, being very nourifh- 
ing, windy, venereal and adftringent, efpecially if not fully ripe. 
After they are ripe:they are eaten feveral ways, fliced and fry’d is 
the moft ordinary, they are likewife boil’d in the Skins, peel’d and 
beat to a Pafte,form’d like a Dumplia and call’d, Baff-Facker. 
The Jews and Grecks think it was the Fruit forbid to Adam in Pa- 
radife. J was told if one gathers the Fruit before it is ripe or good 
to cat, the Branch will turn on him and give him a Blow on the 
Nofe ; contrarywife, if ic be ripe, it will not be dangerous, Thever. 
Thofe of Brafile are twice as large as of Siria. 
_ Lery fays that there was no Leaf in Lurope, Afia or Africa like to thefe 
Leaves, p. 193. for Largenets. 
A pleafant Drink is made either of this Fruit or Bonayo’s when ripe, 
their Pulp being mafh’d with Water till it comes to the Thicknefs of 
Honey, it works and clears it felf, the thick {wimming at the To , and 
the thin Drink drawn out of a Tap at the Bottom of the Troughs it’s 
made in. This Drink isin Ufe all over thefe hot Parts of the Weft-Indies, 
but chiefly in the North Side of this Ifland. 
Johufon’s Figure of this Fruit in Gerard is good, being taken from 
one ripe in Exgland, brought from Bermudas. 
Every Tree cut down dies, and others always are coming out from 
the Roots as Suckers, and grow up ina Year’s Time to the due Big- 
nefs, have Fruit, and then die, others fucceeding. 
The Ants are fo great Deftroyers of this Tree and Fruit, that they 
have fore’d feveral People to leave planting it. 
good as Figs fo ded d y 9 t ght to be as 
The Fruit boil’d in Sugar or Honey, and then dry’d, is good: for cho-: 
leric and Phlegmatic People. The Leaves are good for Burns. The 
Branches are given to Elephants for Food, Boym, 
Some 
