224 



SUGAR-CANE. 



plant from different sides of their continent, and. the sugar-cane emigrants 

 have met nearly in the centre of it. 



The sugar-canes which have travelled from the West India islands, 

 over the Isthmus of Panama into Peru, are thought not to be of as good 

 a quality as those from the South Pacific islands. We suppose this is 

 owing to the difference of soil and climate. The best sugar-canes on 

 the plantations in South Peru come from the Society islands on a par- 

 allel of latitude due east through longitude. The plant kept in nearly 

 the same latitude on the same side of the Equator. The line of longi- 

 tude which passes through the Cuba plantation, runs due south into the 

 Peruvian field, with a great change of latitude. The Cuba plants, in 20° 

 north, were carried through 35° of north latitude, from near the Tropic 

 of Cancer towards Capricorn. Yet, from personal observation while 

 cruising among the Pacific islands, the richest sugar-cane and the most 

 beautiful white sugar was produced among the Sandwich islands. The 

 midshipmen of our mess declared they never saw such molasses as the 

 caterer purchased at Maui — it was like honey. 



As the Island of Maui is in the same latitude as the Island of Cuba — 

 both near the Tropic of Cancer — we judge that the canes of Cuba are 

 not less sweet than the canes of the Society islands, until after they are 

 transplanted into South Peru. 



The Mojos Indian never would have known there was such a plant in 

 the world, if the sugar-cane had not been carried to him. He does not 

 travel abroad himself, but remains in his own district, as the wild animals 

 do, living upon whatever may from time to time be passed over into his 

 plate. The hand that brought him sugar was the hand of the Ruler of 

 the winds — those winds, the southeast trades. 



The old Indian seems perfectly comfortable now that he has milk and 

 sugar. If he was wise enough to know anything about the advantages 

 of commerce, it is doubtful how far he would exert himself. He is 

 rather an indolent fellow. The Indians want nothing particularly; 

 clothing they get from the bark of the tree, or the produce of the cotton 

 plant. Yuca is their bread ; there are fish in the stream, and beeves on 

 the pampa ; coffee, chocolate, and sugar. 



The kind old commander said they only produced a little sugar for 

 house use ; " there was only one other Creole with him ; he had^po 

 guard, and the Indian population was but a handful." 



There was a time when this pampa was unfitted for man's habitation; 

 when the water lay deep over the land. We are led to believe that the 

 bottom of the Madeira Plate was a great lake. It appears to us like the 



