Theffijlory of 



Book II. 



CHAP. V. 



Of the manner how Sugar k made j and qf the prepara- 

 tion of Ginger^ Indico y and Cotton. 



WHen the great plenty of Tobacco made at S. Chrifto- 

 phers and the other Iflands had brought down the 

 price of it fo low, that it did not turn to accompt, it pleas'd 

 God to put it into the heart of the French General de Voincy^ 

 to find out fome other ways to facilitate the fubfiftence of the 

 Inhabitants, and carry on fome Trade : He thereupon em- 

 ploy'd his Servants and Slaves about the culture of Sugar- 

 Canes, Ginger, and Indico 5 and the defign met with a fuccefs 

 beyond what was expe&ed. 



Though it may be granted, that the Plant of the Sugar- 

 Cane was known to the Ancients, yet is the invention of ma- 

 king the Sugar but of late years : The Ancients knew no 

 more of it then they did of Sena } Cajfia, Ambergreece^ Musk^ 

 Civets and Benjamin : They made no other ufe of this precious 

 Reed, then in order to drink and Phyfick. And therefore 

 we may well oppofe all thefe things, with much advantage, 

 as alfo our Clocks, the Sea-Compafs, the Art of Navigation, 

 Profpe&ive-glafles, Printing, Artillery, and feveral other ex- 

 cellent Inventions of the laft Ages, againft their right way of 

 dying Purple, their malleable Glafs, the fubtle Machines of 

 their Archimedes , and fome flSfcJike, 



Having in the precedent Boolv given a defcription of the 

 Sugar-Canej our bufinefs here will only be to reprefent the 

 manner how Sugar is gotten out of it. 



That work is performed by a Machine or Mill, which (bme 

 call an Ingenio, whereby the juice within the Canes is fqueez'd 

 Out. Thefe Mills are built of very folid and lafting wood, 

 and are more convenient in thefe Iflands then thofe ufed to the 

 lame purpofe at Madera and Brafil : Nor is it to be fear'd in 

 the former, as many times in the latter, that the fire mould 

 get to the boiling Coppers, and fet all into a flame, to the de- 

 struction of thole who are employ 'd about the work s for 

 the Coppers in thefe Iflands are feen to boil, yet the fire 

 that caufes it is made and kept in on the outfide by furnaces, 

 which are fo well cemented, that neither the flame nor the 

 fmoak does any Way hinder thofe who are at work, which 

 they may follow without any fear of danger or inconvenience. 



The ordinary way of turning the Mills is by Horles or 

 Oxen} but the French Governour hath one which is turn'd 

 by water, which falling on a wheel fets the whole Machine 

 going. >~4 



When 



