of the Ifland of Barbadoes. 8 1 



the leaves) will be of their full bignefs^and Co ( as others grow Jcon- 

 fmue that bigoefsa till the laft fprout come forth 5 which is the foul 

 ofthePlantj and will never be a ieafj but is the ftem upon wh ich the 

 fruit muft grow. About the time the leaves come to their full bignefs, 

 they rot no more, but continue in their full beauty 5 a rich green, with 

 ftripes of yellow fo intermixt, as hardly to be difcerned where they 

 are. Thefe leaves arethe moft of themabove fix foot long, and two 

 foot broad ^ fmooth, fhining, and ftiffe as a Lawrel leaf 3 and from 

 the middle of the leaf to the end, focha fall, as a father has, in a well 

 fhap't plume. But, as allthele leaves came out in a pike, Co that pike 

 ever bends a little towards the Eaft, though as foon as it becomes a 

 a leaf, choofes any point of the Compafs to lean to , and fo in a due 

 I proportion hangs round about the ftem. At the time it comes to be of 

 I the full height, the uppermoft leaves will be fifteen or fixteen foot 

 j high, and then you ihall perceive the ftcm upon which the fruit muft 

 I grow, more than afoot higher than the reft, with a green bunch at 

 I top 5 which bunch has fuch a weight, as to make it ftoop by degrees, 

 I till it be but (even foot from the ground , and then the green leaves 

 i which held the blolfome in, open, and ftiew the bloiibme it (elf^ 

 which is of a pure purple, and as big as the heart of a Stagg, and of 

 that fhape, .with the point downwards, and fo continues, without 

 opening the leaves, till it be ready to fall o^ , and when it falls, pulls 

 with it above a foot of the ftalk that held it, which is covered with 

 yellow blolTomes. This purple bloflbme, when it fell, I guefs to be a 

 pound weight, befides the ftalk it took along with it. After this is 

 fallen, the fruit grows out from that end which remained, and as it 

 growes, turnes up towards the ftalk that bears it, much like a Grap- 

 ple that holds the long-Boat of a Ship ^ 6r,as a dozen large fiOi-hooks 

 tied together, turning up foveral waies 5 each turning up of that fruit 

 being fovea or eight inches long, and as big as a large Battoon you 

 walk with. In fix months, this Plant will be grown, and this firuit 

 ripe, which is a plealant, wholfome, and nouriftiing fruit, yellow^ 

 when 'tis ripe : But the Negroes chufe to have it green, for they eat it 

 boy rd, and it is the only food they live upon. Our manner of eating 

 it, is, when it is full ripe, take off the skin, which will come off with 

 much eafo, and then the fruit looks yellow, with a froth upon it, but 

 the fruit firme. When it is gathered, we cut down the Plant, and give 

 it to the Hoggs, for it will never bear more* The body of this plant is 

 foft, skin within skin, like an Onyon, and between the skins, water 

 liflues forth as you cut it. In three months, another (prout will come 

 I to bear, and fo another, and another, for ever 5 for we never plant 

 twice. Groves we make of thefo plants, of twenty acres of ground, 

 and plant them at fuch diftances, and in foch rows, as you do Cher- 

 ry-trees in Ke/it^Cothat we walk under the leaves, as under the Arches 

 in St. Faith's Church under St. Pauls ^frce from fiin and rain. 



The wilde Plantine grows much as the others does, but the leaves 

 not fo broad, and more upright, the fruit not to be eaten 5 ofaicarlet 

 colour, and almoft three fquare. I know no ufeofthis fruit or leaves, 

 but to look on. 



The Bonano differs nothing from the Plantine in the body and 



Y leaves. 



Wild flan- 



