42 BULLETIN 14 7, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



hot utllissima) as well. Cassava griddles were also uncovered from 

 tlie upper culture stratum at the " Railroad " cave. The presence of 

 small groves of calabash trees ia the sheltered ravines along the 

 south shore has been previously referred to. Large plantations of 

 food crops were observed throughout the Greater Antilles at the 

 time of the discovery, particularly, however, in the drier areas where 

 irrigation was utilized. Planting of fruit trees and cultivation of 

 food-producing plants was possibly less extensive in Samana than 

 elsewhere in aboriginal Haiti. 



Benzoni, in his History of the New World, says that bread was 

 made both from maize and from cassava (manioc). Women wet the 

 grain in the evening with cold water. The following morning they 

 triturate it between two stones. The resulting meal is. mixed or 

 kneaded with water, which is then shaped into small round or oblong 

 loaves. The loaves are then placed on the flat earthenware griddles 

 and baked. This bread easily mildews, but is supposed to have been 

 eaten while fresh. Bread of a better quality was made from corn, 

 which was triturated between two stones, washed, and cleaned of 

 husk particles. The corn meal was ground exceedingly fine before 

 being shaped into small round cakes. The cakes were then cooked in 

 a pipkin over a slow fire. 



Benzoni writes that the Spanish also were at times compelled to 

 eat native cassava bread, which they loathed. "Whenever, through 

 the arrival of the ships being delayed, they can not get bread, they 

 are obliged to eat the cassava, for they do not cultivate much maize, 

 as they generally have the other sorts of flour.-" 



Benzoni's statements relative to maize culture in Haiti are explicit 

 and are therefore invaluable. The " caingin " system of tropical 

 agriculture prevailed. Fields were cleared by burning off the forest 

 growth and then by planting in the ashes. Benzoni says that the 

 " earth is not otherwise prepared for the planting." A small hole 

 was made in the soil, into which were inserted three or four grains, 

 which were then covered over. Planting in some of the native 

 Provinces of Haiti was repeated during the year. Benzoni naively 

 observed that on account of the great hardness of maize the grinding 

 of it was very hard work which " did not suit my arms that were 

 very weak and thin." Plantains and bananas were probably native 

 to the island at the time of the discovery, as were also yams and 

 species of sweet potato. 



Chicha, an intoxicating drink, was made from maize. Women 

 prepared the ingredients by immersing a quantity of ground meal 

 in water placed in large earthenware jars. When softened this was 

 chewed and thoroughly mixed with saliva by the women, who then 



=» History of the New World, p. 91. 



