8o2 JAMAICA. 



They are generally ufed here by the Negroes inftead of large jars, for 

 holding water, fait, rice, corn, &c. 



The Negroes prepare them in the following manner: they make a 

 hole at one end, into which they pour hot water in order to diiTblve 

 the pulp ; after this they extraft the pulp with a ftick, and rinfe the 

 whole infide thoroughly with fand and water, in order to loofen the 

 fibres that remain, and clear them away. After they are thus cleanfed, 

 they are luffered to dry, and are then fit for ufe. The pumkin and 

 fgu'^ih are no lefs generally cultivated, and the boiled fruit in uni- 

 versal efteem at every table. 



157. Chocho. — Secbium. 



This vine is cultivated in mod parts of the ifland, and grows lux- 

 uriantly. It makes good arbours. The fruit, boiled, is ferved up by 

 way of a green, and elleemed agreeable and wholefome. It is likewife 

 ufed for fattening hogs. With the addition of fugar and lemon juice, 

 it is no bad Juccedaneum for apples, when fuch a fauce is wanted for 

 pork or goofe. The root, boiled or roafted, is extremely palatable and, 

 nourifliing. 



158. Pa PAW. — Car'ica mas et fcemina. 



The male and female trees may be propagated by layers. They 

 grow wild in mofi: parts of the ifland. The flowers, buds, and tender 

 foot-ftalks of the female tree are preferved as a fweetmeat, and the long 

 mango papaw or fruit as a pickle, which is very little inferior to the Eaft 

 India mango. The rounder fruit when ripe is boiled, and eaten with 

 any kind of flcfli meat, and is looked upon as perfectly wholefome ; but 

 eaten raw, it contains an acrid juice, very injurious to the inteftines; 

 and fo penetrating is this fluid in the green unripe fruit, that, boiled 

 vvich the hardefl: fait meat, it will render it perfectly foft and tender. 

 It is faid to caufe the like cfteft on hogs, who, if fed with it for any 

 confiderable ti;nc, are fubjedl to have their guts excoriated with its 

 acrimony. The flowers of the male tree are white, and thofe of the 

 female yellowifh, and much larger; but the fex is plainly diftinguifli- 

 able to the moll common obferver, by the former nc\er producing 

 fruit. 



The 



