

5»+ . 



*jf M E *KI C A. 



Chap. VII. 







The manner wherefore the Ground is to be weeded four times a year, till fuch time as the Canes 

 slgaHnthe **e ftrong enough to bear againft the Weeds : they cut off the ripe Canes at the 

 sugars*. i owcrmo ft Joynt, and, all the Leaves being firft pull'd off, tie them up in Bundles 

 and bring them to the Mills, which confift of three great Iron Bars, between 

 which the Canes are fqueez'd. The Wacer-Mills are turn'd by the force of the Wa- 

 ter, which in great Gutters led from high Mountains falls with exceeding force in* 

 to Pools made for that purpofe ; after which manner, though they wind the Canes 

 muchfafter, yet they get not fo much Sugar as when they grind them in the Mills 

 turn'd by Cattel : The places through which the Juice runs muft be cleans'd twice 

 in twenty four hours ; the Canes put in behind between the firft Bar, are turn'd 

 into the fecond, and thence into the third, which fucceffively fqueezes out all the 

 remaining Juice : The Canes thus prefs'd, ferve for Fewel to burn ; but they con- 

 ftantly keep fuch a great Fire both Night and Day, thatbefidesthofe prefs'd Canes ' 

 they burn forty Fathom of Wood in twenty four hours, infomuch that whole 

 Woods are confum'd in a fliort time : The Liquor, nam'd Caldo, runs along wood- 

 den Gutters into great Kettles, in which it is boyl'd, but if it happen to be over- 

 boyl'd they put W 7 ater amongft it, whereby it becomes excellent Food for Horfes ? 

 then they put the Liquor into a fecond Kettle, where it is boyl'd afrefh, and alfo 

 fcumm'd ; and for the better cleanfing of it, Lime-Juyce and other things are put 

 amongft it • then they ftrein it through Clothes, and give the Drofs which remains 

 in the fame to the Slaves, which work for half a year together Night and Day like 

 Horfes. The Drofs mix'd with Water makes alfo good Wine. Out of the great 

 Kettles, by the Tortuguefc call'd Caldero de Mellar, the Caldo runs into the leffer nam'd 

 Tachas, where it is boyl'd a third time, and continually ftirr'd till it comes to be 

 thick like a Syrrup, and at laft to the confiftence of Sugar : It may be accounted 

 amongft the Myfteries of Nature, that while the Sugar boyls in the Tachas, which 

 are the little Kettles, they muft drop Oyl amongft the Liquor, which if they fliould, 

 do whileft it is in the great Kettel, the Liquor would not turn to the confiftence of 

 Sugar } as on the contrary, if they fliould put their Lye into the little Kettles as they 



^ " do 



