2.2.6 
The Natural Hiftory of the Book VIII. 
The beft Method of preparing it is, to {crape a Handful of the Bark 
from the Root, and make a Decoétion of it. 
- The Turx’s Heap; Lat. MelocaCtus Americana major. 
HIS is called by the Antients Melcarduus echinatus, and hath a 
great many ftrong fibrous Roots. Its main Body, which grows 
above-ground, is about agFoot long, and about two Feet in Circumfe- 
rence. The Infide is a ftringy pulpy reticulated Subftance. The Outfide 
of this is green, and chanell’d into feveral deep Furrows, whofe Eminencies 
are thickly cover’d, at certain Diftances, with Tufts of Prickles, of about 
an Inch long ; the reft of the main Stem being green and {mooth, ending, 
-as it were, in a round fomewhat flattifh Top ; from whofe Centre rifes 
another lefs Body or Stem of cylindrical Form, of about eight Inches 
long, and three in Diameter. ‘This is thickly covered with very fharp 
long fine Prickles, of a Snuff-colour. The Outfide of this Part of the 
Stem or Stalk is of a fpongy foft pappous Nature, efpecially near the 
Top, from which Place rife feveral many-leav’d Flowers, of a Maiden’s- 
blufh.- Each of thefe is fucceeded by a fmall fcarlet Berry, inclofing 
feveral {mall flat brownifh Seeds. 
Yams; Lat. Ricophera. 
Pa very ferviceable Root was formerly the peculiar Growth of 
Africa, and the moft common Food of its Inhabitants. In all 
Probability, it derives it's Name from the Verb Yam, to eat ; which is'a 
Word made ufe of, and equally underftood, by moft, if not all the feveral 
Nations upon the Coaft of Guiney, though differing otherwife in their 
Language, Cuftoms, and Manners. They are planted at about three 
Feet afunder, in {mall Hillocks, fuch as are prepar’d to plant Hop-roots 
in England; the Ground being firft hol’d about fix Inches deep. The 
Method of doing it is, by putting about three very {mall Yams in each 
Hillock, in the Months of May or une. Thefe fprout out foon after 
with the firft Rain, and grow into a long trailing angular Vine, bearing 
a very handfome heart-like Leaf. This Root or Yam much refembles, at 
firft Sight, by its blackifh ftringy Skin or Tegument, the Root of a {mall 
Tree. They are dug up of different Shape, as well as Weight ; the 
latter from twenty to half a Pound. However, the moft common Weight 
is about two or three Pounds: Thefe are fomewhat of the fame Nature 
as Potatoes, mealy and white within, but generally of a clofer Texture 
than the former. They are juftly efteem’d to be very hearty nourifhing 
Food, and are generally preferr’d to Bread by the Inhabitants of the 
Ifland. When firft dug out of the Ground, they are either put in Sand, 
or kept in a Garret, where they are well curd, by admitting the dry 
Air to them. The Method of making ufe of them is, either by roaft- 
rt : ing 
