of the Ifthmus of America. 3 57, 



throw in 2 or 3 Grains of Maiz as we do Garden- 

 beans ; covering it up w r ith Earth. The Seed-time 

 is about April \ the Harveft about September or 

 October. They pluck off the Ears of the Maiz 

 with their Hands, as is ufual alfo elfewhere : And 

 tho' I was not there in their Plarveft-time, yet I 

 faw the Maiz in the preceeding Harveft laid up in 

 the Husk in their Houfes. Inftead of Threfhing, 

 they rub off the Grain. They make no Bread of Maiz 

 it, nor Cakes, but ufe the Flower on many OccafU Flower, 

 ons ; parching the Corn, and grinding it between 

 two Stones, as Chocolate is made. One ufe they put 

 the Flower to, is to mixt it with Water in a Cala- 

 bafh, and fo drink it off ; which they do frequently 

 when they travel, and have not leifure to get other 

 Frovifions. - This Mixture they call Chichab^ which, 

 I think, fignifies Maiz. 



They make a Drink alfo of their Maiz, which. Com 

 they call Chichah-Co-pah \ for Co-pah fignifies Drink. Drink. « 

 They fteep in a Trough of Water a Quantity of 

 Maizbruifed, about 20 or 30 Bufhels, if it be a- 

 gainft a Feaft or Wedding ; letting it lie fo long till 

 the Water is impregnated with the Corn, and be- 

 gins to turn foure. Then the Women, ufually fome- 

 old Women, who have little elfe to do, come to- 

 gether and chew Grains of Maiz in their Mouths, how fer* 

 which they fpit out into a Gourd or Calabafh : memc4 

 And when they think they have a fufficient Quan- 

 tity of this Spittle and Maiz in the Calabaihes, they 

 empty them into the Trough of Water, after ha- 

 ving firffc taken out the Maiz that was infus'd in it ; 

 and this ferves inftead of Barm or Yeaft, fetting all 

 the Trough of Liquor in a fmall Ferment. When 

 it has done working, they draw it off clean from the x 

 Sediment into another Trough, and then 'tis ready 

 for ufe. It taftes like foure fmall Beer, yet 5 tis ve- 

 ry intoxicating. They drink large Quantities of it* 

 and &re very fond of it : It makes them belch very 



A a 3 much. 



