74 A VOYAGE TO - Book I. 



The other fruits of this country are equally valu- 

 able in tiicir feveral kinds ; andfome of them alfo dif- 

 tinguiihcd for their fragrancy, as tiie guayaba, which 

 , isj befides, both pe6toral and aftringent. 



The mofl common of all are, the plátanos, the 

 name of which, if not its figure and tafte, is known 

 in allpartsof Europe*. Thele are of three kinds. 

 The firñ is the banaua, which is ib large as to want 

 but little of a foot in length. Thefe are greatly uled, 

 being not only eaten as bread, bul alfo an ingredient 

 in many made diñies. Both the flone and kernel are 

 very hard ; but the latter has no noxious quality. The 

 fecond kind are the dominicos, which are neither fo 

 long norfo large as the bananas, but of abetter tafte; 

 they are ufed asvthe former. 



The third kind are the guineos, lefs than either of 

 the former, but far more palatable, though not rec- 

 koned 1# wholefome by the natives, on account of 

 their fuppofed heat. They feldora exceed four inches 

 in length ; and their rind, when ripe, is yellower, 

 Imoother, and brighter, than that of the two other 

 kinds. The cuftom of the country is to drink water 

 after eating them ; but the European failors, who will 

 not be confined in their diet, but drink brandy with 

 every thing they eat, make no difference between this 

 fruit and any other ; and to this intemperance may, in 

 lome meafure, be attributed the many difeafes with 

 which they are attacked in this country, and not a few 

 fud'den deaths; which are, indeed, apt to raife, in the 

 lurvivors, concern for their companions for the pre- 



*■ The plantane and banana arc, I believe, little known in Europe 

 by name. The firft two iorts the Author defcribes, are better known 

 by the names of the long and fliort plmtane, and the lall by the 

 name of banana, than by thufe he has given thera. They have nei- 

 ther (tone nnr kernel, but a very fmall feed, as fmall as that of thyme, 

 which lies in the fnii: in rows like that of a cucumber, to wiiich the 

 banana bears the greateft refemblance of any thing in England; only 

 it is fmooth and not fo k;ge. A. 



fent; 



