62 



FRUITS 



close one by the other, when they are still in their huskes, 

 they are not much unlike great Beanes, and so grow more and 

 more until they be a span long and four thumbes broad like 

 a Cucumber, they are cut off before they are ripe, and are 

 in that sort hanged up in bunches, which oftentimes are as 

 much as a man can carrie. . . . having hanged three or four 

 dayes they are through ripe, the tree beares but one branch 

 at a time, whereon there is at least one hundred Figges and 



BANANA PLANT 



more, and when they cut off the bunch of Figges the tree also 

 is cut down to the ground, the root staying still in the earth, 

 which presently springeth up againe and within a moneth 

 hath his full growth, and all the yeare long, no time excepted. 

 ' The tree beareth fruit, the fruit is very delicate to eate, 

 you must pull off the husk wherein the fruit lyeth, very delight- 

 full to behold, the colour thereof is whitish and somewhat 

 yellow, when you bite it, it is soft, as if it were of Meale and 

 Butter mixed together, it is mellow in byting. . . . Some are 

 of opinion because it is so delicate a fruit, that it was the same 



