722 • JAMAICA. 



prepare it for their culinary ufes ; inftead of which, they fend to 

 Britain for the Eaft-Iiidia pepper, becaufe it is far-fetched ; and be- 

 caufe it is thought too much trouble, to gather what the too boun- 

 teous hand of nature has planted in fuch abundance at their very 

 doors. Yet I conceive fome hopes that it may, one day or other, 

 form a commodity for exportation ; at leafl. it is fome fatisfaction to 

 fettlers to know, that they can eafily fupply themfelves with an ar- 

 ticle in fuch efteem for domeftic ufe, in every refpecl analogous to 

 the Eaft-Indian commodity, except in fize of the grain, which 

 furely is of no confequence ; though it is probable, that even the 

 fize is capable of improvement, like other fruits, by taking the 

 plants out of their wild flate, and giving them place in a rich and 

 well-chofen foil, pruning off tl>e too luxuriant branches, leflening 

 the quantity of fruit when the bearing is too great, and fuch other 

 means as are praftifed by gardeners for the like purpofe. This plant 

 feeds in the month of July, and may be propagated from the ripe 

 feeds. There are three or four other fpecies of this pepper in the 

 ifland, but not of equal value. 



19. Indian-Pepper. — Capficum, 



There are about fifteen varieties of the capjicum in this ifland, 

 which are found in moll parts of it. Thofe, which are more com- 

 monly noticed, are the bell-pepper, goat, bonnet, bird, olive, hen, 

 Barbary, finger, cherry, &c. Of thefe the bell is efteemed mofl 

 proper for pickling. The pods, for this purpofe, are gathered be- 

 fore they arrive at their full fize, while their fkin is tender. They 

 are flit down on one fide, to get out the feeds ; after which, they 

 are foaked two or three days in fait and water. When they are 

 taken out of this, and drained, boiling vinegar is poured upon- 

 them, in a fufficient quantity to cover them ; and they are clofely 

 flopped for two months. Then they fhould be boiled in vinegar, 

 to make them green ; but they require no addition of any Ipice ;. 

 and are efteemed the wholefbmeft pickle in the world. 



The bird-pepper is gathered when ripe, dried in the fun, pounded, 

 and mixed with fait, and kept, clofc- flopped in bottles, for ufe. 

 This is commonly known 4)y the name of cayan-hiitter, and in ge- 



5 ueral 



