C a p. I V. The Caribby-Iflands. 



be corrupted, or be not dry enough, for want of air.. 



This firfc cutting down of the Tobacco being over, they 

 often vifit the Plants which are hung up a drying, while the 

 reft which had been left growing comes to ripenefs 5 and when 

 they find the leave? fit to be made up into rolls, that is, when 

 they are neither too dry (for in that cafe they would not be 

 able to endure the wheel), nor yet too moift (for then they 

 would corrupt in a fliort time), they are taken off the polesp 

 they are laid in heaps at the end of the Grange, and every 

 ftalk is ftript of its leaves, after this manner. 



In the firft place, they lay afide all the longeft and all the 

 broadeft leaves, and they take away the great ftalk which 

 runs through the midft of them 5 the lefler leaves are alfo 

 laid by themfelves, to be difpos'd within the roll, and the 

 greater ferve for coverings and (hrowds for them, i Thefe 

 leaves thus difpos'd are ranked on planks or tables, clofe by 

 him who is to make them up into rolls, which he makes big- 

 ger or fmaller, as may be feen by thofe brought over into 

 thefe parts. 



There is a certain art in making up the rolls, and thofe who 

 can do it with expedition and dexterity are highly efteem'd, 

 and get much more then thofe who are employ'd about order- 

 ing the ground : They muft have their hands and arms ex- 

 tremely fupple and nimble, to make the wheel turn with fuch 

 fpeed, and (till to obferve the fame proportion, that fo the 

 roll may be equally big in all parts. 



There is a particular artifice, in the bufinefs of Tobacco, to 

 tlifpofe and lay it after the winding fo as that it may be the 

 more eafily put up on the fticks, which are all to be of a cer- 

 tain bignefi and length, to avoid deceit. 



When the Tobacco is thus made up, it is convey 'd to the 

 Store-houfe, and cover'd with Bananas or fome other leaves, 

 that it may not be prejudie'd by taking wind, and be of a good 

 fair colour. That which cuts fomewhat unctuoufly, is black- 

 iftiand (hining, and hath a pleafant and ftrongfeent, and burns 

 eafily in the Pipe, is accounted the belt. 



We told you, that the Tobacco-plant was cut almoft even 

 with the ground, and not pluckM up by the roots j and it is 

 purpofely fo cut, that it may (hoot forth new ftalks : And in- 

 deed it produces a fecond Plant, but fuch as is neither fo 

 ftrong nor fo fair 38 the former 5 nor is the Tobacco made 

 thereof fo much efteem'd, nor will keep fo well : It is call'd 

 by fome Shoot-Tobacco, or Sucker-Tobacco, or Tobacco of 

 the fecond cutting or growth : Nay fome will have three 

 ftioots from the fame ftalk j and that humour hath brought 

 the Tobacco which comes from fome Iflands into dif-efteerm 



Now fince we have exprefs'd our felves fo much at large 

 concerning the manufacture of Tobacco, we lhali not think 



it 



