§2 



A Trueand Exa& Hiflory 



( leaves, but only this, that the leaves are fbmcwhat lelSj and the bodie 

 has here and there fbme blackiili foots, the bloiibme no bigger then a 

 large bud of a Rofe 5 of a faint purple, and Afh-colour mixt, the ftalk 

 that bears it, adorn d withfmall bloflbmes, of feveral colours^ when 

 they fall off, there comes out the fruit, which does not turn back 

 as the Plantines do, but ftand outright like a bunch of puddings, all 

 neerof a length, and each of them between four and five inches 

 long. This fruit is of afweetertafte then the Plantine , and for that 

 reafon the Negr^jf'j- will not meddle with them, nor with any fruit that 

 has a fweettafte^ but we find them as good to ftew,or preferve, as 

 the Plantine, and will look and tafte more like Quince. This tree 

 wants little of the beauty of the Plantine, as fhe appears upon the 

 ground, in her full growth 5 and though her fruit be not fo ufcful a food 

 for the belly, as that of the Plantine, yet fhe has (bmewhat to delight 

 the eyes, which the other wants, and that is the pifture of Chrift up- 

 on the Crofs 5 fb lively exprefl, as no Limner can do it ( with one 

 colour ) more exaftly , and this is feen, when you cut the fruit jufl: 

 crofs as you do the root of Feme, to find a fpread Eagle : but this is 

 much moreperfeft,the head hanging down, the armes extended to the 

 full length, with ibme little elevation 3 and the feet crofs one upon a- 

 nother. 



This I will fpeak as an Artifl 5 let a very excellent Limher, paint a 

 Crucifix, only with one colour, in limning 3 and let his touches be as 

 (harp,andasmafterly as he pleafes, the figure no bigger then this 

 which is about an inch long, and remove thatpidure atfuch a diflance 

 from the eye, as to lofe fbme of the Curiofity, and dainty touches of 

 the workj fb as the outmofl fVels, ,or profile of the figure may be per- 

 fectly difcern d, and at fuch a diftance , the figure in the fruit of the 

 Bonano, fhali feem as perfedtasit : much may be faid upon this fubjed: 



I by better wits, and abler fouls then mine .• My contemplation being 

 only this, that fince thofe men dwelling in that place profefiing the 

 names of Chriflians, and denying to preach to thofe poor ignorant 

 harmlefs fouls the Negroes^ the doftrine of Chrift Crucified, which 

 might convert many of them to his worfhip, he himfelf has fet up his 

 I own Crofs, to reproach thefe men, who rather then they will lofe 

 j the hold they have of them as flaves, will deny them the benefit and 

 blefiing of being Chriftians. Otherwife, why is this figure fet up 

 for thefe to look on, that never heard of Chrifi", and God never made 

 any thing ufelefsjor in vain. 



Now to clofe up all that can be faid of fruits, I mufl name the Pine, 

 for in that fingle name, all that is excellent in a fuperlative deg .e, 

 1 for beauty and tafle, is totally and fiimmarily included; and if it. .vere 

 here to fpeak for it felfj it would fave me much labour, and doit felf 

 much right, ^Tis true, that it takes up double the time the Plantine 

 does, in bringing forth the fruit^fbr 'tis a full year before it be ripe, but 

 when it comes to be eaten, nothing of rare tafte can be thought on 

 that is not there, nor is it imaginable, that fb full a Harmony of tafles 

 canberaifed out of fb many parts, and alldiftinguifhable. iBut before 

 I come to fay any thing of that, I will give you fbme lici le hints of 

 her fhape and manner of growth, which though I mufl acknow- 



