3^4^ * Novemher 174S. 



Sc>ti ASHES are a kind of gourds, which the 

 Europeans got from the Indians, and I have 

 already mentioned them before. They are 

 eaten boiled, either with flefh or by them- 

 felves. In the firft cafe, they are put on 

 the edge of the difh round the meat ; they 

 require little care, for into whatever ground 

 they are fown, they grow in it and fucceed 

 well. If the feed is put into the fields in 

 autumn, it brings fquafhes next fpring, 

 though during winter it has fufFered from 

 froft, fnow and wet. 



The C^/tf/^^/?>^j are likewife gourds, which 

 are planted in quantities hy the Swedes and 

 other inhabitants, but they are not fit for 

 eating, and are made ufe of for making all 

 forts of vefTels ; they are more tender than 

 the fquafhes, for they do not always ripen 

 here, and only when the weather is very 

 warm. In order to make vefTels of them, 

 they are firfl dried well : the feeds, toge- 

 ther with the pulpy and fpungy matter in 

 which they lie, are afterwards taken out 

 and thrown away. The fhells are fcraped 

 very clean within, and then great fpoons or 

 ladles, funnels, bowls, difhes and the like 

 may be made of them ; they are particular- 

 ly fit for keeping feeds of plants in, which 

 are to be fent over fea, for they keep their 

 power of vegetating much longer, if they 



be 



