142 \ HISTORY OF SUGAR. 



MRS. F. 



On the discovery of Madeira, in 1420, Don Henry intro- 

 duced the sugar-cane into that island, from Sicily, where, as 

 well as in the Canaries, it was cultivated with success; and 

 when Columbus discovered the New World, Pierre d'Etienne 

 took the sugar-cane to Hispaniola, where its cultivation 

 extended with such rapidity, and the revenues it brought in 

 were so considerable, that we are told the cost of the palaces of 

 Madrid and Toledo, built by Charles the Fifth, was defrayed 

 by the proceeds of the port duties on the sugar imported from 

 Hispaniola. 



ESTHER. 



The sugar-cane still exists in Sicily, and small plantations 

 of it are to be seen at the village of Avola, near Syracuse, 

 where they are kept up as objects of curiosity. The district 

 between Syracuse and Catania was celebrated for sugar-canes 

 at the time that Sicily was obliged to furnish one thousand 

 pounds weight annually for the Knights of Malta. But, was 

 it never cultivated in ferny other part of Europe except in 

 Sicily] **7-^ 



MRS. F. 



Yes; it was planted in Provence, but the climate proved 

 too cold. In Spain there exists sugar manufactories, I be- 

 lieve, even to this day. 



ESTHER. 

 How far north may it be cultivated? 



MRS. F. 



As high as the 40th degree of latitude; but the torrid zone 

 is most favorable for its production. 



FREDERICK. 



When did our West Indian Islands begin to cultivate it? 



MRS. F. 



Sugar-canes were transplanted to Barbadoes from Brazil 

 (where they had been taken by the Spanish and the Portu- 



