SUGAR. f >47 



the island of Jamaica alone 127,751 hogs- 

 heads, 15,235 tierces, and 3,046 barrels. 

 making about 2,178,080 cwt. allowing 16 cwt. 

 to the hogshead. 



THE REFINING OF SUGAR 



is of considerable antiquity, as it was in use 

 previously to the discovery of the New 

 World. The art was made known to the 

 Europeans by a Venetian, who is said to have 

 received 100,000 crowns for the communica- 

 tion, although some conjecture that it was 

 known to the Chinese at a still earlier period. 

 It appears to have been refined in England 

 previously to 1596, as Gerard, in his account 

 of the sugar-cane, notices the method of 

 making sugar, which he tells us he had from 

 the mouth of an Indian, his own servant, lie 

 concludes by saying, "Sugar is like vnto sande 

 both in shewe and handling, but somewhat 

 softer ; and so afterwards it is carried into all 

 parts of Europe, where it is by the sugar- 

 bakers artificially purged and refined to that 

 whiteness as we see." 



Evelyn notices in his Diary, 27th June, 

 1654, being then at Bristol, " Here 1 first saw 

 the manner of refining sugar, and casting it 

 into loaves." 



