778 JAMAICA. 



linen bags, and placed in convenient prefles. The common me- 

 thod of preffing is as efFe£lual as any. One or more large flat ftones 

 are placed to a proper height upon the ground, near the root of 

 fome old tree, in the fide of which a hole, or notch, has been cut 

 equal to the elevation of the ftones. Into this hole is fixed the ex- 

 tremity of a ftrong plank, or beam, which ftretches over the 

 flones by way of a lever, preffing with all its weight upon the caf- 

 fada-bag, which is laid upon the uppermoft flone. Several heavy 

 loads are fixed at the other end of this lever, or as many as it will 

 bear. And in this ftate the bag remains until the juice is tho- 

 roughly fqueezed out. After this operation, the meal is fpread in 

 the fun for fome time ; then pounded in a large, wooden mortar, 

 pafl'ed througli a coarfe fieve, and baked on flat, circular, iron 

 plates, fixed in a ftove. The particles of the meal are united by 

 the heat, and, when thoroughly baked in this manner, form cakes, 

 which are fold at the markets, and univerfally efteemed a whole- 

 fome kind of bread [y]. Toalled and buttered, they are very relifhing, 

 and ufed by moll: families. They are alfo made into very deli- 

 cious puddings. The juice of the root is of a poifonous nature; 

 but, when boiled, it throws up a fcum, which being taken off, 

 the remainder is found, by long experience, to be an inoffenfive and 

 agreeable drink, much refembling whey in tafle and quality. 



But, however noxious the juice may be in its crude ftate, un- 

 mixed with any corrccftive, it is well known that hogs eat the frefh 

 roots with gieat avidity, and fufi'er no inconvenience: either, there- 

 fore, their itomncbs and inteflines are formed to afiimilate it into 

 wholcibme nourifhment, or they corrc£l its bad qualities by the. 

 Jurrounding mould fvvallowed with it, or by fome antidote which 

 inftinft prompts them to eat after it. 



The Negroes boil and eat the leaves as a green. It is fuppofeJ, 

 that the aclion of the fire carries off its malignant qualities. 



What is not a little extraordinary, the meal, not yet difcharged 

 of its juice, makes an excellent falve, and feldom fails to heal the 

 word fores ; anJ, to improve its effect, it is fometimes mixed for 



[ ;'] The Sjiaiiiaidi, when tht-y fiiil difcoveied the Weft-Indies, found it in general life among; 

 the riiiiivc Indians, who called hCcixHiii, and liy whom it was prefcned to every other kind of 

 bread, on account of its eafy digcliion, the facility with which it was cultirated, and its prodi- J 

 giDus incrcafc, 



this 



