of the Inland of Barbadoes. 5>5 



low-vvines, which Liquor we put into the Still, and draw it off' a- 

 gain and of that comes foftrong a Spirit, as a candle being brought; 

 to a near diftance, to the bung of a HogQiead or But, where it is kept, ! 

 the Spirits will flie to it, and taking hold of it, bring the fire I 

 down to the veffell, and fet all a fire, which immediately breakes the \ 

 veiTelI,and becomes a flame, burning all about it that is combuftible i 

 matter. ! 



We loft an excellent Negro by fuch an accident, who bringing a 

 Jar of this Spirit, from the Still-houfe, to the Drink-room, in the I 

 night, not knowing the force of the liquor he carried, brought the | 

 candle fbmewhat necrer than he ought, that he might the better fee 

 how to put it into the Funnel, which convet'ed it into the Butt. But ; 

 the Spirit being ftirr'd by thatraoiion, flew out, and got hold of the; 

 flame of the Candle, and Co fet all on fire, and burnt the poor Negro 

 to death, who was an excellent fervant. And if he had in the inftantof 

 firing, clapt his hand on the bung, all had been faved 5 but he that ; 

 knew not that cure, lo't the whole vefi'el of Spirits, and his life to 

 boot. So that upon thatmifadventure, a ftrid command was given, i 

 that none of thofe Spirits fhould be brought to the Drink-room i 

 ever after m the night, nor no fire or Candle ever to come in 1 

 there. ^ | 



This drink, though it had the ill hap to kill one Negro, yet it has ^ 

 had the vertue to cure many 5 for when they are ill, with taking coldj ! 

 C which often they are )and very well they may, having nothing un- 

 der them in the night but a board, upon which they lie, nor any thing 

 to cover them : And though the daies be hot, the nights are cold, and 

 that change cannot but work upon their bodies, though they be hardy 

 people. Befides, coming home hot and fweating in the evening,fit- 

 ting or lying down, mufl needs be the occafion of taking cold, and 

 fometimes breeds ficknefles amongft them, which when they feel, they 

 complain to the Apothecary of the Plantation, which we call Doftor 

 and he gives to every, one a dram, cup of this Spirit, and that is a 

 prefent cure. And as this drink is of great ufe, to cure and refrefh the 

 poor Negroes , whom we ought to have a fpecial care of. by the la- ' 

 bour of whofe hands, our profitis brought in 5 fo is it helpful to our 

 Chriftian Servants too 5 for, when their fpirits are exhauffed, by their ' 

 hard labour, and fweating in the Sun, ten hours e*i^ery day, they find 

 their ftomacks debilitated, and much weakned in their vigour every | 

 way, a dram or two of this Spirit, is a great comfort and refrefhing 

 to them. This drink is alfo a commodity of good value in the Planta- 

 tion for we fend itdow^n to the Bridge^ and there put it off to thofd 

 that retail it. Some they fell to the Ships, and "is tranfported intofor- 

 raign parts, and drunk by the way. Some they fell to fuch Planters I 

 as have no Sugar-works of their own, yet drink exxeffively of it, for 

 they buy it at eafie rates; half a crown a gallon was the price, the' 

 time that I was there 5 but they were then purpofing to raife the price ' 

 to a deerer rate. They make weekly, as long as they work, of 

 fuch a Plantation as this 30 1 fterling^befides what is drunk by their 

 (ervants and flaves. | 



And now for a clofe of this work of Sugar, I will let you fee, by way ' 



Bb of 



