50 



The Hiflory of Book I. 



CHAP. IX. 



Of other Trees growing in thefe Iflands whofe Fruits or 

 Roots contribute to the fubfijlance of the Inhabitants^ 

 or fervefor jome othernfes. 



IT hath pleafed the great Contriver of all things to divide 

 that Element, which we«all Earth, into feveral Countries^ 

 each whereof he hath endued with certain advantages and 

 conveniences not to be found in other places, that by fuch a 

 delightful variety of things he might make a more diftin& 

 and remarkable demonftration of his own all-cherifhing Pro- 

 vidence. But it muft be acknowledg'd, that in the diftributi- 

 on which the Divine Wifedome hath made of its bounties, 

 the Carzbby- Iflands have had a very large portion : For, to con- 

 fine our felvestothe defign we intend to profecute, not only 

 the greater forts of Trees, which we have defcribed in the for- 

 mer Chapters, contribute to the Shelter, Nourifhment, Cloath- 

 ing, Health, and feveral other accommodations of the Inha- 

 bitants 3 but there are alfo divers (hrubs , or leffer Trees, 

 which either Ihoot forth Roots, or bear Fruits conducing to 

 the fame purpofe , as ftiall be feeh in the perufal of this 

 Chapter. 



MANTOC. 



TNftead of Wheat the Inhabitants make ufe of the root of a 

 J fmall Tree called Manyoc^ by fome Manyot, and by others 

 Mandioqiie, of which is made a kinde of Bread delicate 

 enough, called Caffava : whence It is alfo fometimes called the 

 Cajfava-tree. This root is fo fruitful, that a fmall parcel of 

 ground planted therewith will feed more perfons then fix 

 times as much fown with the beft Wheat could do : It (hoots 

 forth crooked branches about the height of five or fix foot, 

 eafie to be broken, and full of fmall knots: the leaf is narrow 

 and fomewhat long : at nine moneths end the root comes to its 

 maturity : Nay it is reported, that in Brajil it grows to the 

 bignefs of a mans thigh in three or four moneths. If the grouhd 

 be not too moift the root may continue in it three years with- 

 out corrupting, fo that there needs no Store-houfe, or Garret 

 to put it up in for it is taken out of the ground as it is fpent. 



To propagate this Root, you muft take of the branches, and 

 cut them in pieces about a foot in length : then make trenches 

 in your Garden with a Hoe, and thruft in three of thofe flicks 

 triangle-wife into the earth which had been taken out of the 



trenches. 



