324 . NARRATIVE OF AN 



CHAP, gular. The yams are cultivated by cutting them in 

 XIII 



', ^ pieces like potatoes ; they are planted a few feet diftant 

 from each other, and m about fix or eight months they 

 arrive at maturity ; they are known to be fit for ufe when 

 the top or leaves begin to lofe their verdure, till then 

 they are of a deep green colour, and creep along the 

 ground like ivy, with ligneous flioots. The yam is 

 amongft the principal food of the Haves throughout the 

 W eft Indies, and is alone fufficient to fupply the want of 

 bread ; alfo being capable of prefervation for almoft a 

 year, it is often tranfporte<l, and ufed upon long voyages, 

 and frequently brought to England. Another fmall root 

 I found here, known in Surinam by the name of naapjeSy 

 and which is eaten in the fame manner as the yams, but 

 is infinitely more delicious ; both the one and the other 

 ferve here for food, as potatoes, carrots, or parfnips do in 

 England. 



The maize or Indian corn, which I alfo faw in this gar- 

 den, grows on high perpendicular ftalks, with long pale 

 green leaves ; the grain is of a iliining yellow colour, as 

 large as marrow-peas, and clofely fet together, round ears 

 that are the fize of the largeft European carrot. This 

 grain is cultivated in great quantities in Surinam; it is not 

 only ufed for their poultry and cattle of every fpecies, but 

 is alfo ground into meal, of which the Creoles make ex- 

 cellent puddings and cakes, which are of a nourifhing 

 quality. With this they fometimes eat the young pods of 

 the ocro^ or althea plants which grows upon a very fmali 



fhrub. 



