1KJ 



BREAD 



Bread which very commonly occurs, the roots are to be had 

 1-ruit. for the mere labour of removal. One root sends up 

 many shoots in regular succession, and this it con- 

 tinues to do for many years. After the first planting 

 of these, the cultivator has no further trouble than 

 to cut down the shoots 0:1 which the fruit is fit for 

 use, and these are in their turn regularly replaced by 

 others. Wherever then, a sufficient number have 

 been planted, and due attention paid, in the first in- 

 stance, to every requisite circumstance, there will al- 

 ways be a regular succession of fruit for many years. 

 Besides these advantages, the fruit of the plaintain 

 tree is the favourite vegetable food of the black po- 

 pulation; and it is capable of being dressed in various 

 ways, whether it be pulled in its green or in its ripe 

 st ite. These circumstances, however, can have only 

 a local influence, as there are situations in which the 

 plantain tree either does not thrive well, or fails al- 

 logetht r. In these, the bread fruit tree is likely to 

 become a very valuable substitute ; but whether or 

 not the experiment has been fairly mad'', we do not 

 know. We are inclined to suspect, that it never has 

 been made on a great scale. There seems to be a 

 melancholy want of experimental activity in the colo- 

 nies, even on those matters that v;-ry deeply concern 

 their interests. Individuals, it is true, have had suf- 

 ficient foresight, and intellectual vigour, to make at- 

 tempts at improvement ; but as their efforts have been 

 in general unsupported) it is not to be wondered 

 that the results should be limited. This very probably 

 originates in such a complication of causes, that it 

 might be difficult to develi/pe the share which each 

 possesses in their common effect. Whatever they 

 may be, it is of importance to the colonies, that they 

 bhould be counteracted by powerful and efficient 

 means ; and these can only be called into play, by 

 the intelligent and liberal-minded part of the West 

 India community, whose means of observation may 

 be immediately directed to these causes, which being 

 once traced may be obviated. At the same time, those 

 v.'ho exert them, may not only render important ser- 

 vices to the colonial interest at large, but even benefit 

 themselves as individuals in an eminent degree. Per- 

 haps the establishment of societies, for promoting 

 colonial agriculture, on a plan similar to the various 

 agricultural societies in this country, (whose bene- 

 ficial influence hns been so decidedly experienced in 

 those parts where they have been established,) might 

 conduce to this great end. 



London might be a central point, at which a 

 chief society, composed of the colonial proprietors 

 resident in Britain, might hold its meetings. Branches 

 of this great society might be formed in each of the 

 colonies. Premiums should be awarded to those who 

 have carried any new scheme, that promises to be of 

 utility, into effect ; and a regular correspondence 

 kept open between the London society and its 

 branches. By such means, and such only, can the 

 whole of the resources of the colonies be called forth ; 

 and if once a spirit of improvement and of emulation 

 should arise, the public benefit would be incalculable. 

 And amongotheradvantages, the bread fruit tree would 

 'have all the advantages of a full and extended trial, 

 in those colonies into which the bread fruit 



FRUIT. 



has not been generally introduced as an article of 

 food, it is used as a delicacy ; and whether employ- 

 ed as bread, or in the form of pudding, it is consider- 

 ed highly palatable by the European inhabitants. 



When used instead of bread, it is roasted either 

 whole, or cut into three or four pieces. 



" Bread fruit is also cooked -in an oven, which 

 renders it soft, and something like a boiled potatoe ; 

 not quite so farinaceous as a good one, but more so 

 than those of the middling sort." 



" Of the bread fruit, the Otaheiteans also make 

 three dishes, by putting either water, or the milk 

 of the cocoa put to it, then beating it to a past? 

 with a stone pestle, and afterwaids mixing it with 

 ripe plaintains, bananas, or the sour paste which they 

 call rnahie." 



" The mahie, which has been mentioned as asucce- 

 daneum for ripe bread fruit, before the season for 

 gathering a fresh crop comes on, is thus made." 



" Tlv- fruit isgathered juat before it is perfectly ripe, 

 and being laid in heaps, is closely covered with leaves; in 

 thisstate.it undergoes a fermentation, and becomes dis- 

 agreeably sweet. The core ( says DrHawkes worth) (3 

 then taken out entire, which is done by gently pulling 

 the s'alk, and the rest of the fruit is thrown into a hole 

 which is dug for that purpose, generally in the houses, 

 and neatly lined in the bottom and sides with grass ; 

 the whole is then covered with leaves, and heavy 

 stones laid upon them : in this state, it undergoes a 

 second fermentation, and becomes sour, after which 

 it will suffer no change for many months : it is taken 

 out of the hole as it is wanted for use, and being 

 made into balls, it is wrapped up in leaves and bak- 

 ed. After it is dressed, it will keep five or six weeks. 

 It is eaten both cold and hot, and the natives seldom 

 make a meal wifhout it ; though, to us, the taste 

 was as disagreeable as that of a pickled olive gene- 

 rally is the first time it is eaten." 



" As the making of this mahie. depends, like brew- 

 ing, upon fermentation ; so, like brewing, it some- 

 times fails, without their being able to ascertain the 

 cause. It is very natural, therefore, that the making 

 it should be connected with superstitious notions 

 and ceremonies. It generally falls to the lot of old 

 women, who will suffer no creature to furnish any 

 thing belonging to it, but those whom they employ 

 as assistants, nor even to go into that part of the 

 house where the operation is carrying on." See 

 Dampier's Voyage round the World. Account of 

 Captain Coo/c'x V'ii/at*c round the World during the 

 years 1767, 1768, ar.d 1769, by lohn Hawkes- 

 worth, LLD. Account pfdiptnin ('o'ik'^ last I "oy- 

 age, performed in the years 1776, 1777, 1778, and 

 1779. The Narrative, of the latter p-irt. of thr name 

 Voyage, performed during 1780, by Captain King. 

 " A Voyage to the South Sea, undertaken by com- 

 mand of his Majesty, for the purpose of conveying 

 the Bread Fruit Tree to the West Indies, in hii Ma- 

 jesty's ship the Bounty, commanded by Lieutenant 

 William Bligh, including an Account of the Mutiny 

 on board the said Ship ; and the subsequent Voyage 

 of part of the Crew in the Ship's Boat from Tofoa, 

 one of the Friendly Islands, to Timor, a Dutch Set- 

 tlement in the East Indies, (c. M.) 



