BOOK III. CHAP. V//7. 711 



may then be made up into balls, or any other figure, with the help 

 of lye afhes, which prevent it from flicking to the fingers, after which 

 it may be kept for years, and ferve for ufe as well as Caflile foap in 

 wafhing linen ; but it has the fuperior quality of mixing and forming 

 a lather with fait water, as well as frefli. 



Hence it appears, how very ufeful this compofition muft be at fea 

 in long voyages, for example to and from the Eaft Indies ; nor is it 

 lefs convenient in thofe fituations adjoining to the fea, where the wa- 

 ter is hard or brackifli, and immifcible with the common foap. 



Another method of preparing this foap, is by cutting the leaves in 

 pieces, pounding them in a large wooden mortar, and then expref- 

 fing the juice, which is brought afterwards to a confiftence, either by 

 expofure to the heat of the fun, or by boiling over a fire. One 

 gallon of juice, thus prepared, will yield about i lb. avoirdupoife, 

 of a foft extradl. It will anfwer, prepared in either of thefe ways, 

 provided the juice, before expofure to the fun, or the fire, is very 

 carefully ftrained ; for otherwife it will be intermixed with fmall parti- 

 cles of the bruifed fibres, and outer membrane of the leaves; which, 

 being indiflbluble notwithftjnding the boiling or expofure to the fun, 

 will remain in the fame ftate after the juice becomes infpiflated, and 

 may abrade and injure any fine linen waflied with it ; for in fuch cafe, 

 thefe little particles aft like the briftles of a fcowering brufh. A cau- 

 tion muft be ufed, never to compound the extradl with tallow, or 

 any other un6tuous materials ; for fuch mixtures deftroy its effe£t. 

 This method of preparing a vegetable foap was communicated to the 

 public, firfl:, by Mr. Anthony Robinfon, a praiflitioner in furgcry in 

 the iflsnd, and very able bot^nift, who received a premium for it 

 from the affembly. It has not as yet become an article of export ; 

 but, even though it (hould happen to be difcouraged by the Britifii 

 parliament, as likely to interfere with the foap manufafture of the 

 kingdom, tlie fettlers, efpecially of the poorer clafs, may find their 

 account, in being able to furnlOi ihemfelves with fo neceflary a domeftic 

 article, for their own private ufe, by fo eafy a procefs, and at the ex- 

 pence of very little trouble in procuring a plant which abounds every 

 where, and will thrive without any care beflowed upon it, after being 

 once fet in the ground. 



The leaves are ufed likewifc in Jamaica, for fcowering pewter, and 

 other kitchen utenfils, and flocri, which work they perform to ad- 

 miration. The 



