Part II. Of Arbor efcent Plants. 223 
both ways to a confiderable length : whereby it is fo 
matted before it is fully malted, that it cannot be opened 
without breaking the Come. To avoid which, they pare 
off a Turff about three inches thick , and laying the 
Corn all over the bare ground, cover it with the Turff, 
till the Plot looks like a green Field, at which time, the Corn 
is well malted. Then taking it up in matted pieces, they 
dry it on a Kiln, or in the Sun. 
"The SPIKE or HEAD of the EGYPTIAN MAUZR 
Given by Sig r . Boccone ( formerly Botanick. to the Great 
Duke of Tus!<any) who brought it with him from Sicily? 
where it is frequently nurfed in Gardens. The Figgs ( as 
Acofta calls them ) here grow upon it in feveral Bunches, 
nine or ten in a Bunch 5 two inches and ^ long, and as 
thick as the middle Finger of a labouring man 5 being now 
fhrunk up, and perhaps alfo dwarfed by the place of its 
growth. 
This Plant, as it grows in &gyp and the Indies, is de- 
fcribed by Thevetus, with the Title above 3 by Oviedm, un- 
der the Name of Platayim, abfurdly received by fome, as 
himfelf noteth 3 by Pifp, who, with the Natives of Brafi/e, 
calls it Pacoeira $ by Acofta, with the Name of Mufa, from 
the Arabian Mous. It grows three or four yards in height, 
and * of a yard (a) in compafs. Yet this Trunk, fo great, 00 Theve- 
is (b) but annual. It hath Leaves above a yard and ? ^ oviedus, 
long, and more than * a yard broad. The Figs grow 
toward the top of the Trunk, near the fhape and bignefs of 
a midling Cucumer, fometimes one or two (c) hundred of ( c ) Acofta. 
them. Of a foft melting fubffance, and a fweet and molt 
delicious Taft. In Br a file, either eaten by themfelves, or 
with their Mandioc a- Flower 5 boiled , or fryed (d) with 
Butyr. 
Part of a fort of MAMBU, a great Indian Cane. In 
Bauhinuss Pinax called Arundo Arbor. Defcribed by Wor- 
rnius. But whereas his was black, This is of a ftraw-colour : 
and much fmaller,/^. about feven inches in compafs. Some 
of them grow nine or ten yards high. Tis hollow, quite 
through, excepting, that at every Joynt, 'tis clofed up with 
a tranfverfe Plate or Floor. Neceffary , for the adding 
ftrength and fturdinefs proportionable to fo great a 
height, 1 
