(which is poiſonous) done here with Engines, and then the Negroe Women, upon a rough Stone, rub it into a granulated Flower, reſerved in their Houſes, either to boil, as we do our Wheat, and is a hearty Food for the Slaves; or make it into a Bread, fine, white, and well taſted, for themſelves. One thing worth taking Notice about Manyoco in this Iſland, is, that the Woods abound with a wild poiſonous and more mortiferous Sort, which ſometimes Men, unskilled in the Preparation of it, feed on to their Deſtruction: This the Miſſionaries aſſured me they often experimented in their Hogs, and believed we did in the Mortality of our Sailors.
Indian Corn, is likewiſe as well as the Farine de Manyoco and Rice, the common Victualling of our Slave Ships, and is afforded here at 1000 Heads for two Dollars. This Corn grows eight or nine Foot high, on a hard Reed or Stick, ſhooting forth at every ſix Inches Heighth, ſome long Leaves; it has always an Ear, or rather Head, at top, of, perhaps, 400 Fold Increaſe; and often two, three, or more, Midway.
Here are ſome Tamarind Trees; another called Cola, whoſe Fruit, or Nut (about twice the Bigneſs of a Cheſtnut, and bitter) is chewed by the Portugueze, to give a ſweet Guſt to their Water which they drink; but above all, I was ſhewn the Bark of one (whoſe Name I do not know) gravely affirm’d to have a peculiar Property of enlarging the Virile Member; I am not fond of ſuch Conceits, nor believe it in the Power of any Vegetables, but muſt acknowledge, I have ſeen Sights of this kind among the Negroes very extraordinary; yet, that there may be no Wiſhes among the Ladies for the Importation of this Bark, I muſt acquaint them, that they are found to grow leſs merry, as they encreaſe in Bulk. I had like to have forgot their Cinnamon Trees; there is only one Walk of them, and is the
