370 



A DISCOURSE 



BOOK IV. Jamaica, affirm there is nothing necessary for life ( si esset rehiis humanis 

 ^-^"^r^^ modus ) whicli these polychrests afford not. 



nut (as hath been said) ; the seams are caulked with oakum of cayro, after laid over (as is 

 usual) with the fat of fish, serving instead of hot pitch ; where there is any use of nails, 

 that is supplied by wooden pins, made of a certain species of the Palm-tree ; the mast 

 is provided by the same tree, and requires not much pains to fashion it : ropes of 

 all sizes are made of cayro, i. e. the rind of the Coco. Sails are woven of the leaves of 

 the Palm-tree, called cajuris, of which are also made sacks, (called mecondas,) in which 

 they carry millet, or any other thing at pleasure. Bread (before-mentioned) the same nut 

 supplies, either dry, then called copra, or green, when named puta ; which grated and . 

 put into hollow canes, is cuscus : water proceeds from the same nuts being green, before 

 the kernel arrives to a due consistency, clear as rock-water, fresher and better. Oil is 

 made of copra (i. e. the nut dried in the sun) in great quantity, used by all people in 

 India, having no other of their own growth, besides what is drawn from a seed called 

 Gergelim, of small value, used only by the poor. The wine requires more pains and 

 assiduity. When the Palm-tree puts forth her shoot or poyo (shaped like a Moorish 

 scimitar) before the cluster appears, they cut three fingers-breadth from the point, and 

 tying it near the incision with a reed to prevent slitting, put the end of the shoot into 

 a pitcher made for that purpose, called gorgo ; leaving it there, the shoot, like vines 

 pruned, but in greater abundance, weep that juice, which should have produced Cocoas. 

 This liquor is twice drawn in the natural day ; in the morning, that which was wept by 

 night, and in the evening, the distillation of the day : at these times, a man, deputed to 

 that business, and of a certfin extraction, called Bandarins, with a gourd hung at his 

 girdle, and with a pruning-hook in his hand, climbs the tallest Palm-tree ; some of which, 

 peculiarly those called cajuris, are of a prodigious height, they climb, as on a ladder, by 

 notches made in the trunk of the tree, and with as much security as seamen run up to the 

 main-top. In other less Palm-trees, (seeming to be of that class which yields dates,) ihev 

 make a hole in the trunk, there lodging a cane, through which the liquor distils, which 

 when the tree affords, she bears no Cocoas. This liquor is sweet, medicinal, clears the 

 body from humours, is drunk for a regallo, and called sura ; set to the fire in great vessels, 

 is distilled as in a limbeck, but with this caution, that they continually cast cold water upon 

 the vessel, lest, as strong water, it sJiould take fire. This is the wnie made of the Palm- 

 tree called by the natives Urraca ; it intoxicates in little quantity, flies to the head, and is 

 of a strange effect ; nmch more powerful if distilled over again, when it becomes a quint- 

 essence. Of this Urraca is made excellent vinegar, by putting into it two or three fired 

 sticks, or a great stone well heated. Sugar is made of the sweet sura coming fresh from 

 the tree, vhich boiled till it coagulates, becomes good sugar, perfect in taste and colour — 

 The merchandize afforded by the Palm-tree, and laden on vessels, are dried Cocoas, or 

 nuts, the rind, and many other commodities before mentioned : this justifies the Palm- 

 tree's building, rigging, and lading a vessel with goods, and ship-provisions for the 

 mariners, all her own product. 



" The Palm-tree being so beneficial and advantageous to human life, doubtless no tree 

 in any known part of the world may come into competition with it ; and amongst all her 



