GILatorE] TAXONOMIC LIST OF PLANTS 17 
very much resembling it in Shape. I take these Kinds to be th2 same with 
those, which are represented in the Herbals to be Spanish Potatoes. I am 
sure, those call’d Hnglish or Irish Potatoes are nothing like these, either in 
Shape, Colour, or Taste. The Way of progagating Potatoes there, is by cutting 
the small ones to Pieces, and planting the Cuttings in Hills of loose Earth; 
but they are so tender, that it is very difficult to preserve them in the Winter, 
for the least Frost coming at them, rots and destroys them, and therefore 
People bury ’em under Ground, near the Fire-Hearth all the Winter until the 
Time comes, that their Seedings are to be set. ‘ 
How the /ndians order’d their Tobacco I am not certain, they now depending 
chiefly upon the Hnglish for what they smoak; but I am inform’d they used 
to let it all run to Seed, only succouring the Leaves ‘to keep the Sprouts from 
growing upon, and starving them; and when it was ripe, they pull’d off the 
Leaves, cured them in the Sun, and laid them up for Use. But the Planters 
make a heavy Bustle with it now, and can’t please the Market neither.* 
CULTIVATED CROPS, INDIANS OF VIRGINIA; MELONS 
Pagatowr a kind of graine so called by the inhabitants; the same in the 
West Indies is called Mayze; Englishmen call it Guinney-wheate or Turkie 
wheate, according to the names of the countrey from whence the like hath been 
brought. The graine is about the bignesse of our ordinary English peaze and 
not much different in forme and shape: but of divers colours: some white, 
some red, some yellow and some blew. All of them yeelde a very white and 
sweete flowre being according to his kinde, at maketh a very good bread. 
Wee made of the same in the countrey some mault, whereof was brued as good 
ale as was to bee desired. So likewise by the help of hops thereof may bee 
made as good Beere. .. . 
Okindgier, called by us beanes, because in greatnesse and partly in shape 
they are like to the Beanes of England, saving that they are flatter... . 
Wickonzowr, called by us peaze, in respect of the beanes for distinction 
sake, because they are much lesse; although in forme they little differ. . . . 
Macocqwer, according to their severall formes, called by us, Pompions, 
Mellions, and Gourdes, because they are of the like formes as those kindes in 
England? 
I have also seen, once, a plant similar to the Melon of India, with fruit the 
size of a small lime.* 
He does not state at what stage of growth he saw it “the size of 
a small lime.” He mentions pumpkins in the same elation. 
They [the Illinois Indians as seen by him on his first visit] “live by game, 
which is abundant in this country, and on Indian corn [bled d’inde], of which 
they always gather a good crop, so that they have never suffered by famine. 
They also sow beans and melons, which are excellent, especially those with a 
red seed. Their squashes are not of the best; they dry them in the sun to 
eat in the winter and spring.‘ 
1 Beverley, History of Virginia, Book 11, p. 26 et seq. 
*Hariot, A Briefe and True Report, pp. 13-14. 
8 Bressani’s Relation, 1652-1653, in Jesuit Relations, vol. 38, p. 243. 
‘Narrative of Father Marquette, in French, Histortcal Collections of Louisiana, pt. Iv, 
p. 33. 
