BOOK III, C 11 A P. VI. ^^^ 



ifland, as there was an hundred ycnrs ago ; and n large quantity falls 

 to the fliare of the Negroes, not only in what Is given to them, but 

 what they ftcal, which it is impuffible to prevent, as thcv are the 

 condnftors of it to the (hipping-place, as well as manufa6lurers. Tiie 

 luperflulty, or what they do not referve for their own ufe, is chiefly 

 dilpofcd of to the I'ailors, and poorer Jews ; the failors likewifc, who 

 come afliore to the wharfs, fnid many opportunities to fill their hats 

 or pockets from the packages that lie there. Befides this, they are 

 generally allowed fugar on their voyage home, to mix with their 

 tipple; and, when it is denied them, they make no ceremony in pur- 

 loining it ; and, by this means, eftablifh a pretty regular article in the 

 Britifh factor's account with the planter, which goes under the name 

 oi plunderage. From this caufe we do not hear of the crews of Weft 

 India men fwept off, or indeed hardly affli£led at all with the fcurvy, 

 or thofe malignant difcafes, which fo commonly depopulate the Eaft 

 India fliips in their paffage homewards ; although fome of the former, 

 in wet and fevere winter voyages to England, are often, by contrary 

 winds and bad weather, detained at fea for a fpace of eleven or twelve 

 weeks, and without any difference to their crews in point of diet from 

 thofe employed in other trades, except that they have the ufe of fugar 

 and melaffes ; and rum, inftead of br.uidy. ' 



Thefe fads feem to be confirmed by the confent of the ablefl of the 

 faculty, who acknowledge this change to have been adually wrought'; 

 and fome among them have thrown further light on the caufe of it, by 

 infifting, that the \txy fame prefervathes, in Weji India voyapes, an- 

 fwer as well again It malignant, remittent, and intermittent, fevers, as 

 again ft the y?«r'i;j'. Grounding our judgement therefore on the con- 

 current evidence of obfervation, and the opinions of fo many learned 

 and' intelligent phyficians, who have adopted their fentiments, upon 

 ♦certain experience, and moft accurate enquiry, we are well fiippoited 

 in recommending the plentiful ufe of the cane-liquor, and Its prepa- 

 rations, to all thofe who pafs from Europe to refide in Jamaica; and 

 may venture to alTert, that it is perfeilly inoffenfive in its princi; les, 

 and Angularly conducive to health in its effefls on the human body in 

 that climate. The Spaniards in our neighbourhood are very liberal 

 in their ufe of fugar and honey ; their fweetmeats they eat chiefly with 

 wheat bread, which they referve for thefe and chocolate only. The 



4 B 2 honey 



