CHAP, iv.] WEST INDIES. 215 



settlement of most of the north-side parishes is whol- 

 ly owing to the introduction of this excellent gra^ 

 which happened by accident about fifty years ago ; 

 the seeds having been brought from the coast of Gui- 

 nea,, as food for some birds which were presented to 

 Mr. Ellis, chief-justice of the island. Fortunately the 

 birds did not live to consume the whole stock, and 

 the remainder being carelessly throw r n into a fence, 

 grew and flourished. It was not long before the 

 eagerness displayed by the cattle to reach the grass, 

 attracted Mr. Ellis's notice, and induced him to col- 

 lect and propagate the seeds; which now thrive in 

 some of the most rocky parts of the island ; bestow- 

 ing verdure and fertility on lands which otherwise 

 would not be worth cultivation. 



The several kinds of kitchen-garden produce, as 

 edible roots and pulse, which are known in Europe, 

 thrive also in the mountains of this island; and the 

 markets of Kingston and Spanish-Town are supplied 

 with cabbages, lettuce, carrots, turnips, parsnips, 

 artichokes, kidney-beans, green-peas, asparagus, 

 and various sorts of European herbs, in the utmost 

 abundance. Some of them (as the three first) arc 1 

 think of superior flavour to the same kinds produ- 

 ced in England. To my own taste however, seve- 

 ral of the native growths, especially the chocho, 



O i < 



ochra, Lima-bean, and Indian-kale, are more agreea- 

 ble than any of the esculent vegetables of Europe. 

 The other indigenous productions of this class are 

 plantains, bananas, yams of several varieties, calalue 

 (a species of spinage), eddoes, cassavi, and sweet 



