A True and ExaB Hrflory 



Sugar 

 Canesj with 

 the manner 

 of flanting-^ 

 of their • 

 grm'h^tims 

 ofripenefsy 

 with the 

 whole prscefs 

 of Sugar- 

 making. 



have fcen a dozen of thefe roundabout the prime fruit, but not (b 

 highas the bottom of thaCjand the whole Plant together, fhews like 

 a Father in the middle, and a dozen Children round about him ; and* 

 all thofe will take their turnes to be ripe, and all very good. When 

 this fruit is grown to a ripenefs, you fhall perceive it by the fmell 

 which is asfar beyond the (hiellofourchoiceft fruits of Eitrope^ as the 

 tafte is beyond theirs. When we gather them, we leave forae of the 

 ftalk to take hold by 5 and when we come to eat them, we firft cut 

 otf the crown, and fend that out to be planted ^ and then with a knife 

 pare ofFthe rinde, which is fo beautiful, as it grieves us to rob the fruit 

 offiach an ornament 5 nor would we do it, but to enjoy the precious 

 fubftance it contains^ like a Thief, that breakes a beautiful Cabinet, 

 which we would forbear to do, but for the trcafure he expects to find 

 within. The rinde being taken ofi^vve lay the fruit in a di(h, and cut 

 it in dices, half an inch thick 5 and as the knife goes in, there ifliies 

 out of the pores ofthe fruit,a liquor, deer as fVock-vvater, neer about 

 fix fpoonfulls, which is eaten whith afpoon 5and as you tafce it, you 

 find it in a high degree delicious, but fo milde, as you can diftinguiOi 

 no tafte at all 5 but when you bite a piece ofthe fruit, it is fo violently 

 (harp,as you would think it would fetch all the skin off your mouth, 

 but, before your tongue have made a focond trial upon your palat, 

 you fhall perceive fuch a fvveetnefs to follow, as perfedly to cure that 

 vigorous fharpnefs i and between thefe two cxtream.es, of fharp and 

 fvveet, lies the relilh and flavor of all fruits that are excellent, and thofe 

 taftes will change and flow fo faft upon your palate, as your fancy can 

 hardly keep way with them, to diftinguidi the one from the o?her : 

 and this at leaft to a tenth examination, for fo long the Ecchowiil laft. 

 This fruit within, is neer of the colour of an Abricot not full ripe, and 

 eates crifpe and fhort as that does , but it is full of pores, and 

 thofo of fuch formes and colours, as 'tis a very beautiful fight to 

 look on, and in vitesthe appetite beyond meafure. Of this fruit you 

 may eat plentifully, without any danger of furfcting. I have had ma- 

 ny thoughts which way this fruit might be brought mtoEngUftd^ but 

 cannot fatisfie my (elf in any , preferv'd it cannot be, whole 5 for, the 

 rinde is is fo firm and tough^^as no Sugar can enter in f and if you divide 

 it in peices, ( the fruit being full of pores) all the pure tafte will boyl 

 out. Tis true, that the Dutch preferve them at Fernamhock^^ and fend 

 them home 3 but they are fiich as are young, and their rinde foft and 

 tender : But thofe never came to their full tafle, nor can we know by 

 the tafl:e of them, what the others are. Fromthe Bermtdoes^ fome have 

 beenbroughthitherintheir full ripenels and perfeftion, where there 

 has been a quick paflage,and the fruites taken in the nick oftime, but, 

 that happens very feldom. But, that they fhould be brought from the 

 Barbadoes^h impoffible^ by reafon of the feveral Chmates between. 

 We brought in the fhip feventeen of feveral growths, but all rotten, 

 before we came halfe the way. 



Though I have faid as much as is fit, and no more then truth, of 

 the beauty and tafte of thefe formentioned Trees and Plants, beyond 

 which, the Sun with his mafculine force cannot beget, nor the tee- 

 ming Earth bear 5 all which are proper and peculiar to the Hand 5/or 



they 



