244 



NARRATIVE OF AN' 



CHAP, a mofl delicious fragrance. When ripe, it is the fize and 

 .J^"^-^' p fhape of a water-melon, and turns from green to yellow, 

 but its pulp is more firm and folid : the inner pulp is foft- 

 and llimy, filled with innumerable feeds. This fruit at 

 full maturity is cut in pieces and boiled, when it eats like 

 Englifla turnips ; but they ufe it principally for confec- 

 tionary and fweetmeats, when young, and with its blof- 

 foms being both extremely delicate and wholefome. I had 

 alfo fent me fome fine preferved ginger ; this is the root 

 of a kind of reedy ftalk, that never exceeds two feet in 

 height, with long, narrow pointed leaves. Thefe roots are 

 tuberous, fiattifli, fmall, and cluflered in many different 

 fhapes, not unlike j^ig-potatoes, and of nearly the fame 

 colour in the infide, but fibrous, acid, hot, and aromatic ;. 

 the fmell is highly fragrant : it is well known to be not 

 only an agreeable preferve, but in many cafes an excel- 

 lent medicine. But to proceed- 

 On the 24th of July, the fails being bent to the yards, 

 we at laji proceeded in corps to take leave of his Excellency 

 the Governor of the colony, who, while he ftill received us 

 with the greateft politenefs, yet gave our hero to under- 

 Hand, that were his colours now to be fent on board, they 

 fhould moft certainly be faluted with thofe honours w^hich 

 indifputably were their due. After which he fent the 

 whole corps of Society officers to the head- quarters in 

 Hate, to Willi us a profperous voyage to Holland ; and in 

 this conteft of etiquette his Excellency moft afluredly led 

 the van ; for hinting which, however, to fome of Four- 

 geoud's favourites, I had nearly engaged myfelf once more 



