travels in North America. 6i 



let it reft a Year or two, that it might recover its Strength* 

 But at lail, when it is worn out, it ferves to cut down, and its 

 Wood, Roots, and Knots, are fit for many Things. This Tree 

 muft be very plenty here, for they burn much of it. 



The Water of the Maple is pretty clear, though a little 

 whitilh ; it is very cooling, and leaves in the Mouth a Tafle like 

 that of Sugar, very agreeable. It is a very good Perioral ; and in 

 what Quantity foever it is drank, though you are never fo much 

 heated, it never does Harm ; for it has not that Rawnefs which 

 caufes the Pleurify ; but on the contrary, a baîfamick Virtue, 

 which fweetens the Blood, and a certain Salt, which keeps ,u|^;; 

 the Heat of it. They add that it never congeals ; but if th&f^ 

 ke(fp it a certain Time, it becomes an excellent Vinegar. I do 

 noi warrant this for Fad, and I know that a Traveller ought 

 not to take every Thing for Truth which he hears. It is very 

 probable that the Savages, who are v>^ell acquainted with the 

 Virtues of all their Plants, have at all Times made the fame Ufe 

 of this Water, which they do at this Day; but it is certain thev 

 did not know how to make a Sugar of it, which we have fince 

 taught them. They were contented to let it boil a little, to 

 thicken itfomething, and make a Sort of Syrup, which is pretty 

 enough. What is further required to make Sugar of it, is to let 

 it boil till it takes a proper Conliilence, and it purifies itfelf 

 without any foreign Mixture. There needs only Care not to 

 boil it too much, and to fcum it well. The greatefl Fault in 

 making it, is to let it harden too much in its Syrup, which makes 

 It oily, and to keep a Tafte of Honey, which renders it lefs 

 palatable, unlefs it is refined. 



This Sugar made with Care, and it requires much lefs thaa 

 ours, is natural, peroral, and does not burn the Stomach. 

 Befides, the making of it is very cheap. It is commonly thought 

 that it is impofible to refine it, like that which is made from 

 Canes ; but I do not fee the Reafon of this ; and it is certain, 

 that as it comes out of the Hands of the Savages, it is purer and 

 much better than the Sugar of the Iflands, which has undergone 

 no more Management. I gave fome to a Sugar Baker o? Or- 

 leans, who found no other Defeat in it, than that which I have 

 already mentioned, and which he attributed folely to its not being 

 fufficiently purified. He thought it alfo of a better Kind than 

 the other, and made fome Lozenges of it, which I had the 

 Honour to prefent to you. Madam, and which you found fo ex- 

 cellent. It will be objected, that if itwas of fuch a good Quality, 

 it would have become an Objed of Trade, but there is not enough 

 made for this Purpofe ; but perhaps they are in the wrong in not 

 trying what mstj^oe done. There are many other Things be- 

 fides this, that are negleded in this Country. -'-The Pfeift-Tree^ 



the 



