decorative banner
AnIndexto the Platforme or Superficies of anIngenio,that grinds or squeezes the Sugar.
AThe ground-plat, upon which the Posts or Pillars stand, that bear up the house, or the Intercolumniation between those Pillars.BThe Pillars or Ports themselves.CThe wall between the Mill-house and Boyling-house.DThe Circle or Circumference, where the Horses and Cattle go, which draw the Rollers about.EThe Sweeps to which the Horses and Cattle are fastned, that draw about the Rollers.FThe Frame of theIngenio.GThe Brackets or Butteresses, that support that Frame.HThe Dore, that goes down stairs to the Boyling-house.IThe Cistern, into which the Liquor runs from the Ingenio, immediately after it is ground, and is carried in a Pipe under ground to this Cistern, where it remaines not above a day at most.KThe Cistern that holds the Temper, which is a Liquor made with ashes, steept in water, and is no other than the Lye we wash withall inEngland. This Temper, we straw in the three last Coppers, as the Sugar boyles, without which, it would never Corn, or be any thing but a Syrope; but the salt and tartarousnesse of this Temper, causes it to turn, as Milk does, when any soure or sharp liquor is put into it; and a very small quantity does the work.LThe Boyling-house.The five black Rounds are the Coppers, in which the Sugar is boyled, of which, the largest is called the Clarifying Copper, and the least, the Tatch.MThe Cooling Cistern, which the Sugar is put into, presently after it is taken off the fire, and there kept till it be Milk-warm; and then it is to be put into Pots made of boards, sixteen inches square above, and so grow taper to a point downward; the Pot is commonly about thirty inches long, and will hold thirty or thirty five pounds of Sugar.NThe Dore of the Filling-room.OThe Room it selfe, into which the Pots are set, being fild, till the Sugar grow cold and hard, which will be in two daies and two nights, and then they are carried away to the Cureing-house.PThe tops of the Pots, of sixteen inches square, and stand between two stantions of timber, which are girded together in severall places, with wood or iron, and are thirteen or fourteen inches assunder; so that the tops of the Pots being sixteen inches, cannot slip between, but are held up four foot from the ground.QThe Frame where the Coppers stand, which is raised above the flowre or levell of the room, about a foot and a halfe, and is made of Dutch Bricks, which they call Klinkers, and plaister ofParis. And besides the Coppers, there are made small Gutters, which convey the skimmings of the three lesser Coppers, down to the Still-house, whereof the strong Spirit is made, which they callkill-devill, and the skimmings of the two greater Coppers are conveyed another way, as worthlesse and good for nothing.RThe Dore that goes down the stairs to the fire-room, where the Furnaces are, which cause the Coppers to boyl; and though they cannot be exprest here, by reason they are under the Coppers; yet, I have made small semi-circles, to let you see where they are, behinde the partition-wall, which divides the fire-room from the boyling-house; which wall goes to the top of the house, and is mark’d with the Letter (c) as the other walls are.SA little Gutter made in the wall, from the Cistern that holds the first Liquor, to the clarifying Copper, and from thence is conveyed to the other Coppers, with Ladles that hold a gallon a piece, by the hands of Negres that attend that work day and night, shifting both Negres and Cattle every four hours, who also convey the skimmings of the three lesser Coppers down to the Still-house, there to be twice distill’d; the first time it comes over the helme, it is but small, and is called Low-wines; but the second time, it comes off the strongest Spirit or Liquor that is potable.TAll Windowes.UThe Fire-room, where the Furnaces are, that make the Coppers boyl.WThe Still-house.XThe Cistern that holds the skimmings, till it begin to be soure, till when, it will not come over the helme.YThe two Stills in the Still-house.ZThe Semi-circles, that shew where about the Furnaces stand.Place this afterFolio 84.
A
The ground-plat, upon which the Posts or Pillars stand, that bear up the house, or the Intercolumniation between those Pillars.
B
The Pillars or Ports themselves.
C
The wall between the Mill-house and Boyling-house.
D
The Circle or Circumference, where the Horses and Cattle go, which draw the Rollers about.
E
The Sweeps to which the Horses and Cattle are fastned, that draw about the Rollers.
F
The Frame of theIngenio.
G
The Brackets or Butteresses, that support that Frame.
H
The Dore, that goes down stairs to the Boyling-house.
I
The Cistern, into which the Liquor runs from the Ingenio, immediately after it is ground, and is carried in a Pipe under ground to this Cistern, where it remaines not above a day at most.
K
The Cistern that holds the Temper, which is a Liquor made with ashes, steept in water, and is no other than the Lye we wash withall inEngland. This Temper, we straw in the three last Coppers, as the Sugar boyles, without which, it would never Corn, or be any thing but a Syrope; but the salt and tartarousnesse of this Temper, causes it to turn, as Milk does, when any soure or sharp liquor is put into it; and a very small quantity does the work.
L
The Boyling-house.
The five black Rounds are the Coppers, in which the Sugar is boyled, of which, the largest is called the Clarifying Copper, and the least, the Tatch.
M
The Cooling Cistern, which the Sugar is put into, presently after it is taken off the fire, and there kept till it be Milk-warm; and then it is to be put into Pots made of boards, sixteen inches square above, and so grow taper to a point downward; the Pot is commonly about thirty inches long, and will hold thirty or thirty five pounds of Sugar.
N
The Dore of the Filling-room.
O
The Room it selfe, into which the Pots are set, being fild, till the Sugar grow cold and hard, which will be in two daies and two nights, and then they are carried away to the Cureing-house.
P
The tops of the Pots, of sixteen inches square, and stand between two stantions of timber, which are girded together in severall places, with wood or iron, and are thirteen or fourteen inches assunder; so that the tops of the Pots being sixteen inches, cannot slip between, but are held up four foot from the ground.
Q
The Frame where the Coppers stand, which is raised above the flowre or levell of the room, about a foot and a halfe, and is made of Dutch Bricks, which they call Klinkers, and plaister ofParis. And besides the Coppers, there are made small Gutters, which convey the skimmings of the three lesser Coppers, down to the Still-house, whereof the strong Spirit is made, which they callkill-devill, and the skimmings of the two greater Coppers are conveyed another way, as worthlesse and good for nothing.
R
The Dore that goes down the stairs to the fire-room, where the Furnaces are, which cause the Coppers to boyl; and though they cannot be exprest here, by reason they are under the Coppers; yet, I have made small semi-circles, to let you see where they are, behinde the partition-wall, which divides the fire-room from the boyling-house; which wall goes to the top of the house, and is mark’d with the Letter (c) as the other walls are.
S
A little Gutter made in the wall, from the Cistern that holds the first Liquor, to the clarifying Copper, and from thence is conveyed to the other Coppers, with Ladles that hold a gallon a piece, by the hands of Negres that attend that work day and night, shifting both Negres and Cattle every four hours, who also convey the skimmings of the three lesser Coppers down to the Still-house, there to be twice distill’d; the first time it comes over the helme, it is but small, and is called Low-wines; but the second time, it comes off the strongest Spirit or Liquor that is potable.
T
All Windowes.
U
The Fire-room, where the Furnaces are, that make the Coppers boyl.
W
The Still-house.
X
The Cistern that holds the skimmings, till it begin to be soure, till when, it will not come over the helme.
Y
The two Stills in the Still-house.
Z
The Semi-circles, that shew where about the Furnaces stand.
Place this afterFolio 84.
The upright of the Ingenio or Mill that squeeses or grinds the Suger CanesThe upright of the Ingenio or Mill that squeeses or grinds the Suger Canesa. the foundation or plates of the house which must be of massey and lasting timberb. the frame of the Ingenioc. the planks that beare up the Rollersd. the suporter or propp that beares upp those plankse. the Rollers themselvesf. the shaft that is grafted into the midle roller which turnes both the otherg. the swepes that come over all yeworke and reach to yeCircle where the horses and Cattle draw.h. the Bracketts that keepe the frame from shakeing whereof there must be 8.i. the sides of the house which are strong posts or studds which beare up the house and are plact att ten foote distance with Brackets above and below to strengthen them for beareing up the plates of the house above.k. the out Brackets that keepe the posts from starting or bucklingl. the great Beame to which the Shaft of the midle Roller is let in by a goudg in a sockett and goes cross the midle of the housem. the Brackets that support the great beame and likewise all the Roofe of the housen. the Roofe or cover of the house.
The upright of the Ingenio or Mill that squeeses or grinds the Suger Canesa. the foundation or plates of the house which must be of massey and lasting timberb. the frame of the Ingenioc. the planks that beare up the Rollersd. the suporter or propp that beares upp those plankse. the Rollers themselvesf. the shaft that is grafted into the midle roller which turnes both the otherg. the swepes that come over all yeworke and reach to yeCircle where the horses and Cattle draw.h. the Bracketts that keepe the frame from shakeing whereof there must be 8.i. the sides of the house which are strong posts or studds which beare up the house and are plact att ten foote distance with Brackets above and below to strengthen them for beareing up the plates of the house above.k. the out Brackets that keepe the posts from starting or bucklingl. the great Beame to which the Shaft of the midle Roller is let in by a goudg in a sockett and goes cross the midle of the housem. the Brackets that support the great beame and likewise all the Roofe of the housen. the Roofe or cover of the house.
a. the foundation or plates of the house which must be of massey and lasting timber
b. the frame of the Ingenio
c. the planks that beare up the Rollers
d. the suporter or propp that beares upp those planks
e. the Rollers themselves
f. the shaft that is grafted into the midle roller which turnes both the other
g. the swepes that come over all yeworke and reach to yeCircle where the horses and Cattle draw.
h. the Bracketts that keepe the frame from shakeing whereof there must be 8.
i. the sides of the house which are strong posts or studds which beare up the house and are plact att ten foote distance with Brackets above and below to strengthen them for beareing up the plates of the house above.
k. the out Brackets that keepe the posts from starting or buckling
l. the great Beame to which the Shaft of the midle Roller is let in by a goudg in a sockett and goes cross the midle of the house
m. the Brackets that support the great beame and likewise all the Roofe of the house
n. the Roofe or cover of the house.
The first Storie of the Cureing houseThe first Storie of the Cureing house where the potts stand which hold the Suger and is 8. foote 2 inches from the ground haveing 14. steps to rise of 7. inches to a stepp.In this storie is 924. potts and they use to have another storie above this which will hold above 600. potts moreThe Index of the Cureing house.a. the roome where they knock out the suger when it is cured, or made into whites, and is called the knocking roome; when they knock it out for muscavados, they finde the midle of the pott well coloured, but the upper and nether parts, of a browner colour the topp frothy and light, the bottom verie browne and full of Molosses, both which they sett aside to be boyld againe with the Mosses in the Cisterns of which they make Penneles, which though it be a worse kind of suger in the spending yet you will hardly know it from the second sort of Muscove sugerb. the two doresc. the passages betweene the potts upon the flour aboved. the great passage in the midle of the rome from end to ende. the topps of the potts which are .16. inches square and hang betweene stantions of timber borne up by verie strong and Massy studs or posts and girded or bract together with Iron plates or wood, the length of the potts are 2.6. or 2.8. inches long made taper downeward, and hold about .30. pound of suger.f. the walls of the roome which is 100. foot long and 40. foot broade within, they have some tymes a storie of potts above this.
The first Storie of the Cureing house where the potts stand which hold the Suger and is 8. foote 2 inches from the ground haveing 14. steps to rise of 7. inches to a stepp.In this storie is 924. potts and they use to have another storie above this which will hold above 600. potts moreThe Index of the Cureing house.a. the roome where they knock out the suger when it is cured, or made into whites, and is called the knocking roome; when they knock it out for muscavados, they finde the midle of the pott well coloured, but the upper and nether parts, of a browner colour the topp frothy and light, the bottom verie browne and full of Molosses, both which they sett aside to be boyld againe with the Mosses in the Cisterns of which they make Penneles, which though it be a worse kind of suger in the spending yet you will hardly know it from the second sort of Muscove sugerb. the two doresc. the passages betweene the potts upon the flour aboved. the great passage in the midle of the rome from end to ende. the topps of the potts which are .16. inches square and hang betweene stantions of timber borne up by verie strong and Massy studs or posts and girded or bract together with Iron plates or wood, the length of the potts are 2.6. or 2.8. inches long made taper downeward, and hold about .30. pound of suger.f. the walls of the roome which is 100. foot long and 40. foot broade within, they have some tymes a storie of potts above this.
In this storie is 924. potts and they use to have another storie above this which will hold above 600. potts more
The Index of the Cureing house.
a. the roome where they knock out the suger when it is cured, or made into whites, and is called the knocking roome; when they knock it out for muscavados, they finde the midle of the pott well coloured, but the upper and nether parts, of a browner colour the topp frothy and light, the bottom verie browne and full of Molosses, both which they sett aside to be boyld againe with the Mosses in the Cisterns of which they make Penneles, which though it be a worse kind of suger in the spending yet you will hardly know it from the second sort of Muscove suger
b. the two dores
c. the passages betweene the potts upon the flour above
d. the great passage in the midle of the rome from end to end
e. the topps of the potts which are .16. inches square and hang betweene stantions of timber borne up by verie strong and Massy studs or posts and girded or bract together with Iron plates or wood, the length of the potts are 2.6. or 2.8. inches long made taper downeward, and hold about .30. pound of suger.
f. the walls of the roome which is 100. foot long and 40. foot broade within, they have some tymes a storie of potts above this.
The ground roome of the Cureing houseThe ground roome of the Cureing house of the place where the gutters ly wchconvey yeMolosses to yeCisternsThe Index to the ground roome.a. the knocking roome.b. the doresc. the vacuitie betweene the guttersd. the Cisterns of which there are .4. which hold the Molosses till they boyle it which comonly they doe one day in a weeke.e. all the gutters that convay the Molosses downe to the Cisterns.f. the walls of the roome which are to be accompted two foot thick, since there are seldome any windows in the Cureing house, for the moyst ayer is an enemy to the cure of the suger rather bring panns of well kindled coales into the roome espetially in moyst and raynie wether.
The ground roome of the Cureing house of the place where the gutters ly wchconvey yeMolosses to yeCisternsThe Index to the ground roome.a. the knocking roome.b. the doresc. the vacuitie betweene the guttersd. the Cisterns of which there are .4. which hold the Molosses till they boyle it which comonly they doe one day in a weeke.e. all the gutters that convay the Molosses downe to the Cisterns.f. the walls of the roome which are to be accompted two foot thick, since there are seldome any windows in the Cureing house, for the moyst ayer is an enemy to the cure of the suger rather bring panns of well kindled coales into the roome espetially in moyst and raynie wether.
The Index to the ground roome.
a. the knocking roome.
b. the dores
c. the vacuitie betweene the gutters
d. the Cisterns of which there are .4. which hold the Molosses till they boyle it which comonly they doe one day in a weeke.
e. all the gutters that convay the Molosses downe to the Cisterns.
f. the walls of the roome which are to be accompted two foot thick, since there are seldome any windows in the Cureing house, for the moyst ayer is an enemy to the cure of the suger rather bring panns of well kindled coales into the roome espetially in moyst and raynie wether.
The superficies or Plat forme of the IngenioThe superficies or Plat forme of the Ingenio that grinds or squeeses the canes which make the suger
The superficies or Plat forme of the Ingenio that grinds or squeeses the canes which make the suger
The Queene Pinepage 84The Queene Pine.
page 84The Queene Pine.
page 84
At the time we landed on this Iland, which was in the beginning ofSeptember, 1647.we were informed, partly by those Planters we found there, and partly by our own observations, that the great work of Sugar-making, was but newly practised by the inhabitants there. Some of the most industrious men, having gotten Plants fromFernamlock, a place inBrasill, and made tryall of them at theBarbadoes; and finding them to grow, they planted more and more, as they grew and multiplyed on the place, till they had such a considerable number, as they were worth the while to set up a very small Ingenio, and so make tryall what Sugar could be made upon that soyl. But, the secrets of the work being not well understood, the Sugars they made were very inconsiderable, and little worth, for two or three years. But they finding their errours by their daily practice, began a little to mend; and, by new directions fromBrasil, sometimes by strangers, and now and then by their own people, (who being covetous of the knowledge of a thing, which so much concerned them in their particulars, and for the generall good of the whole Iland) were content sometimes to make a voyage thither, to improve their knowledge in a thing they so much desired. Being now made much abler to make their queries, of the secrets of that mystery, by how much their often failings, had put them to often stops and nonplusses in the work. And so returning with more Plants, and better Knowledge, they went on upon fresh hopes, but still short, of what they should be more skilfull in: for, at our arrivall there, we found them ignorant in three main points, that much conduced to the work;viz.The manner of Planting, the time of Gathering, and the right placing of their Coppers in their Furnaces; as also, the true way of covering their Rollers, with plates or Bars of Iron: All which being rightly done, advance much in the performance of the main work. At the time of our arrivall there, we found many Sugar-works set up, and at work; but yet the Sugars they made, were but bare Muscavadoes, and few of them Merchantable commodities; so moist, and full of molosses, and so ill cur’d, as they were hardly worth the bringing home forEngland. But about the time I left the Iland, which was in 1650. they were much better’d; for then they had the skill to know when the Canes were ripe, which was not, till they were fifteen months old; and before, they gathered them at twelve, which was a main disadvantage to the makinggood Sugar; for, the liquor wanting of the sweetnesse it ought to have, caused the Sugars to be lean, and unfit to keep. Besides, they were grown greater proficients, both in boyling and curing them, and had learnt the knowledge of making them white, such as you call Lump Sugars here inEngland; but not so excellent as those they make inBrasill, nor is there any likelyhood they can ever make such: the land there being better, and lying in a Continent, must needs have constanter and steadier weather, and the Aire much drier and purer, than it can be in so small an Iland, as that ofBarbadoes. And now, seeing this commodity, Sugar, hath gotten so much the start of all the rest of those, that were held the staple Commodities of the Iland, and so much over-top’t them, as they are for the most part sleighted and neglected. And, for that few inEnglandknow the trouble and care of making it, I think it convenient, in the first place, to acquaint you, as far as my memory will serve, with the whole processe of the work of Sugar-making, which is now grown the soul of Trade in this Iland. And leaving to trouble you and my self, with relating the errours our Predecessors so long wandred in, I will in briefe set down the right and best way they practised, when I left the Iland, which, I think, will admit of no greater or farther improvement.
But, before I will begin with that, I will let you see, how much the land there hath been advanc’d in the profit, since the work of Sugar began, to the time of our landing there, which was not above five or six years: For, before the work began, this Plantation of MajorHilliards, of five hundred acres, could have been purchased for four hundred pound sterling; and now the halfe of this Plantation, with the halfe of the Stock upon it, was sold for seven thousand pound sterling, and it is evident, that all the land there, which has been imployed to that work, hath found the like improvment. And, I believe, when the small Plantations in poor mens hands, of ten, twenty, or thirty acres, which are too small to lay to that work, be bought up by great men, and put together, into Plantations of five, six, or seven hundred acres, that two thirds of the Iland will be fit for Plantations of Sugar, which will make it one of the richest Spots of earth under the Sun.
And now, since I have put my selfe upon this Discovery, I think it fit to let you know the nature of the Plant, the right way of planting it, the manner of growth, the time of growing to ripenesse, the manner of cutting, bringing home, the place where to lay them, being brought home, the time they may lie there, without spoile, the manner of grinding or squeezing them, the conveyance of the liquor to the Cisterns, how long it may stay there without harme, the manner of boyling and skimming, with the conveyance of the skimmings into the Cisterns, in the Still-house, the manner of distilling it, which makes the strongest Spirits that men can drink, with the temper to be put in; what the temper is, the time of cooling the Sugar before it be put into the Pots; the time it staies in the Cureing house, before it be good Muscavado Sugar. And last, the making of it into Whites, which we call Lump-Sugar.
First then, it is fit to set down, what manner of place is to be chosen,to set this Sugar-work, or Ingenio, upon; and it must be the brow of a small hill, that hath within the compasse of eighty foot, twelve foot descent,viz.from the grinding place, which is the highest ground, and stands upon a flat, to the Still house, and that by these descents: From the grinding place to the boyling house, four foot and a halfe, from thence to the fire-room, seven foot and a halfe; and some little descent to the Still house. And the reason of these descents are these; the top of the Cistern, into which the first liquor runs, is, and must be, somewhat lower than the Pipe that convaies it, and that is a little under ground. Then, the liquor which runs from that Cistern must vent it selfe at the bottom, otherwise it cannot run all out; and that Cistern is two foot and a halfe deep: and so, running upon a little descent, to the clarifying Copper, which is a foot and a halfe above the flowre of the Boyling house, (and so is the whole Frame, where all the Coppers stand); it must of necessity fall out, that the flowre of the Boyling house must be below the flowre of the Mill-house, four foot and a halfe. Then admit the largest Copper be a foot and a halfe deep, the bottom of the Copper will be lower then the flowre of the Boyling-house, by a foot; the bottom of the Furnaces must be three foot below the Coppers; and the holes under the Furnaces, into which the ashes fall, is three foot below the bottom of the Furnaces: A little more fall is required to the Still-house, and so the account is made up. Upon what place the Sugar-work is to be set, I have drawn two Plots, that expresse more than language can do, to which I refer you. And so I have done with the Ingenio, and now to the work I promised, which I shall be briefe in.
When I first arrived upon the Iland, it was in my purpose, to observe their severall manners of planting and husbandry there; and because this Plant was of greatest value and esteem, I desired first the knowledge of it. I saw by the growth, as well as by what I had been told, that it was a strong and lusty Plant, and so vigorous, as where it grew, to forbid all Weeds to grow very neer it; so thirstily it suck’t the earth for nourishment, to maintain its own health and gallantry.
But the Planters, though they knew this to be true, yet, by their manner of Planting, did not rightly pursue their own knowledge; for their manner was, to dig small holes, at three foot distance, or there about, and put in the Plants endwise, with a little stooping, so that each Plant brought not forth above three or foure sprouts at the most, and they being all fastned to one root, when they grew large, tall, and heavy, and stormes of winde and rain came, (and those raines there, fall with much violence and weight) the rootes were loosened, and the Canes lodged, and so became rotten, and unfit for service in making good Sugar. And besides, the roots being far assunder, weedes grew up between, and worse then all weeds, Withs, which are of a stronger grouth then the Canes, and do much mischiefe where they are; for, they winde about them, and pull them down to the ground, as disdaining to see a prouder Plant than themselves. But experience taught us, that this way of planting was most pernicious, and therefore were resolved to try another, which is, without question, the best; and thatis, by digging a small trench of six inches broad, and as much deep, in a straight line, the whole length of the land you mean to plant, laying the earth on one side the trench as you make it; then lay two Canes along the bottom of the trench, one by another, and so continue them the whole length of the trench, to the lands end, and cover them with the earth you laid by; and at two foot distance, another of the same, and so a third, and fourth, till you have finish’d all the land you intend to plant at that time: For, you must not plant too much at once, but have it to grow ripe successively, that your work may come in order, to keep you still doing; for, if it should be ripe altogether, you are not able to work it so; and then for want of cutting, they would rot, and grow to losse: By planting it thus along, two together, every knot will have a sprout, and so a particular root, and by the means of that, be the more firmer fixt in the ground, and the better able to endure the winde and weather, and by their thick growing together, be the stronger to support one another. By that time they have been in the ground a month, you shall perceive them to appear, like a land of green Wheat inEngland, that is high enough to hide a Hare; and in a month more, two foot high at least. But upon the first months growth, those that are carefull, and the best husbands, command their Overseers to search, if any weeds have taken root, and destroy them, or if any of the Plants fail, and supply them; for where the Plants are wanting, weeds will grow; for, the ground is too vertuous to be idle. Or, if any Withs grow in those vacant places, they will spread very far, and do much harm, pulling down all the Canes they can reach to. If this husbandry be not used when the Canes are young, it will be too late to finde a remedy; for, when they are grown to a height, the blades will become rough and sharp in the sides, and so cut the skins of the Negres, as the blood will follow; for their bodies, leggs, and feet, being uncloathed and bare, cannot enter the Canes without smart and losse of blood, which they will not endure. Besides, if the Overseers stay too long, before they repair these void places, by new Plants, they will never be ripe together, which is a very great harm to the whole field, for which there is but one remedy, and that almost as ill as the disease, which is, by burning the whole field, by which they lose all the time they have grown: But the roots continuing secure from the fire, there arises a new spring altogether; so that to repair this losse of time, they have only this recompence, which is, by burning an army of the main enemies to their profit, Rats, which do infinite harm in the Iland, by gnawing the Canes, which presently after will rot, and become unservicable in the work of Sugar. And that they may do this justice the more severely, they begin to make their fire at the out-sides of that land of Canes they mean to burn, and so drive them to the middle, where at last the fire comes, and burnes them all; and this great execution they put often in practice, without Assises or Sessions; for, there are not so great enemies to the Canes, as these Vermine; as also to the Houses, where they lay up their stores of Corn and other provisions; and likewise in dwelling houses for their victualls. For, when the great down-falls of rain come, which is inNovemberandDecember, and in the time of theTurnado,they leave the field, and shelter themselves in the dwelling houses where they do much mischiefe.
The Canes with their tops or blades, doe commonly grow to be eight foot high; the Canes themselves, are commonly five or sixe foot, (I have seen some double that length but ’tis but seldome) the bodyes of them, about an inch diametre, the knots about five or six inches distant one from another, many times three or four inches, some more, some lesse, for there is no certaine rule for that; the colour of the blades, and tops, pure grass green; but the Canes themselves, when they are ripe of a deep Popinjay; and then they yeeld the greater quantity, and fuller, and sweeter juyce. The manner of cutting them is with little hand bills, about sixe inches from the ground; at which time they divide the tops, from the Canes, which they do with the same bills, at one stroake; and then holding the Canes by the upper end: they strip off all the blades that grow by the sides of the Canes, which tops and blades, are bound up in faggots, and put into Carts, to carry home; for without these, our Horses and Cattle are not able to work, the pasture being so extreame harsh and sapless, but with these they are very well nourisht, and kept in heart. The Canes we likewise binde up in faggots, at the same time, and those are commonly brought home upon the backs ofAssinigoes, and we use the fashion ofDevonshire, in that kind of Husbandry, (for there we learnt it) which is small pack saddles, and crookes, which serve our purposes very fitly, laying upon each Crook a faggot and one a top, so that each Assinigo carries his three faggots; and being accustomed to go between the field and the place where they are to unload, will of themselves make their returnes, without a guide; So understanding this little beast is in performing his duty. The place where they unload, is a little platforme of ground, which is contiguous to the Mill-house, which they call aBarbycu; about 30 foot long, and 10 foot broad; done about with a double rayle, to keep the Canes from falling out of that room; where one, or two, or more, (who have other work to do in the Mill house,) when they see theAssinigoescomming, and make a stop there, are ready to unloade them, and so turning them back againe, they go immediately to the field, there to take in fresh loading; so that they may not unfitly be compar’d to Bees; the one fetching home honey, the other sugar: being laid on theBarbycu, we work them out cleane, and leave none to grow stale, for if they should be more then two dayes old, the juyce will grow sower, and then they will not be fit to worke, for their soureness will infect the rest; The longest time they stay, after they are cut, to the time of grinding, is from Saturday evening, to Munday morning, at one or two a clock; and the necessity of Sunday comming between, (upon which we do not work) causes us to stay so long, which otherwise we would not doe. The manner of grinding them, is this, the Horses and Cattle being put to their tackle: they go about, and by their force turne (by the sweeps) the middle roller; which being Cog’d to the other two, at both ends, turne them about; and they all three, turning upon their Centres, which are of Brass and Steele go very easily of themselves, and so easie, as a mans taking hold, of one of the sweeps, with his hand will turne all the rollers about with much ease. But when the Canes are put in betweenthe rollers, it is a good draught for five Oxen or Horses; aNegreputs in the Canes of one side, and the rollers draw them through to the other side, where anotherNegrestands, and receives them; and returnes them back on the other side of the middle roller, which drawes the other way. So that having past twice through, that is forth and back, it is conceived all the juyce is prest out; yet the Spaniards have a press, after both the former grindings, to press out the remainder of the liquor, but they having but small works in Spaine, make the most of it, whilst we having far greater quantities, are loath to be at that trouble. The Canes having past to and againe, there are young Negre girles, that carry them away, and lay them on a heap, at the distance of six score paces or there abouts; where they make a large hill, if the worke have continued long: under the rollers, there is a receiver, as big as a large Tray; into which the liquor falls, and stayes not there, but runs under ground in a pipe or gutter of lead; cover’d over close, which pipe or gutter, carries it into the Cistern, which is fixt neer the staires, as you go down from the Mill-house to the boyling house. But it must not remaine in that Cisterne above one day, lest it grow sower; from thence it is to passe through a gutter, (fixt to the wall) to the Clarifying Copper, as there is occasion to use it, and as the work goes on, and as it Clarifies in the first Copper, and the skumme rises, it is conveyed away by a passage, or gutter for that purpose; as also of the second Copper, both which skimmings, are not esteem’d worth the labour of stilling; because the skum is dirtie and grosse: But the skimmings of the other three Coppers, are conveyed, down to the Still-house, there to remaine in the Cisterns, till it be a little sower, for till then it will not come over the helme. This liquor is remov’d, as it is refin’d, from one Copper to another, and the more Coppers it passeth through, the finer and purer it is, being continually drawn up, and keel’d by ladles, and skim’d by skimmers, in the Negres hands, till at last it comes to the tach, where it must have much labour, in keeling and stirring, and as it boyles, there is thrown into the four last Coppers, a liquor made of water and Ashes which they call Temper, without which, the Sugar would continue a Clammy substance and never kerne. The quantities, they put in are small, but being of a tart quality it turnes the ripeness and clamminesse of the Sugar to cruddle and separate: which you will find, by taking out some drops of it, to Candy, and suddenly to grow hard; and then it has inough of the fire. Upon which Essay they presently poure two spoonfulls of Sallet Oyle into the tach, and then immediately it gives over to bubble or rise. So after much keeling, they take it out of the tach, by the ladles they use there, and put it into ladles that are of greater receipt, with two handles, and by them remove it into the cooling Cisterne, neer the stayers that goes to the fire roome: But as they remove the last part of the liquor out of the tach, they do it with all the celerity they can; and suddenly cast in cold water, to coole the Copper from burning, for the fire in the furnace, continues still in the same heat: and so when that water is removed out againe by the Ladles, they are in the same degree carefull, and quick, as soon as the last Ladle full is taken out, to throw in some of theliquor of the next Copper, to keep the tach from burning, and so fill it up out of the next, and that out of the third, and that out of the fourth, and that out of the Clarifying Copper, and so from the Cistern, and so from the Mill-house or Ingenio. And so the work goes on, from Munday morning at one a clock, till Saturday night, (at which time the fire in the Furnaces are put out) all houres of the day and night, with fresh supplies of Men, Horses, and Cattle. The Liquor being come to such a coolnesse, as it is fit to be put into the Pots, they bring them neer the Cooler, and stopping first the sharp end of the Pot (which is the bottom) with Plantine leaves, (and the passage there no bigger, then a mans finger will go in at) they fill the Pot, and set it between the stantions, in the filling room, where it staies till it be thorough cold, which will be in two daies and two nights; and then if the Sugar be good, knock upon it with the knuckle of your finger, as you would do upon an earthen pot, to trie whether it be whole, and it will give a sound; but if the Sugar be very ill, it will neither be very hard, nor give any sound. It is then to be removed into the Cureing house, and set between stantions there: But first, the stopples are to be pull’d out of the bottom of the pots, that the Molosses may vent it selfe at that hole, and so drop down upon a gutter of board, hollowed in the middle, which conveyeth the Molosses from one to another, till it be come into the Cisterns, of which there is commonly foure, at either corner one; and there remains, till it rise to a good quantity, and then they boyl it again, and of that they make Peneles, a kinde of Sugar somewhat inferiour to the Muscavado; but yet will sweeten indifferently well, and some of it very well coloured. The pots being thus opened at the bottoms, the Molosses drops out, but so slowly, as hardly to vent it selfe in a month, in which time, the sugar ought to be well cur’de; and therefore they thought fit, to thrust a spike of wood in at the bottom, that should reach to the top, hoping by that means, to make way for the Molosses to have the speedier passage: But they found little amendment in the purging, and the reason was this, the spike as it went in, prest the Sugar so hard, as it stopt all pores of passage for the Molosses. So finding no good to come of this, they devis’d another way, and that was, by making an augure of Iron, which instrument cuts his way, without pressing the Sugar, and by that means the Molosses had a free passage, without any obstruction at all. And so the Sugar was well cur’d in a month. As for the manner of using it, after it is cur’d, you shall finde it set down in my Index, to the plot of the Cureing house. And this is the whole processe of making the Muscavado-Sugar, whereof some is better, and some worse, as the Canes are; for, ill Canes can never make good Sugar.
I call those ill, that are gathered either before or after the time of such ripenesse, or are eaten by Rats, and so consequently rotten, or pull’d down by Withes, or lodg’d by foule weather, either of which, will serve to spoil such Sugar as is made of them. At the time they expect it should be well cur’d, they take the pots from the stantions in the Curing-house, and bring them to the knocking room, which you shall finde upon the plot of the cureing house; and turning it upsidedown, they knock the pot hard against the ground, and the Sugar comes whole out, as a bullet out of a mold; and when it is out, you may perceive three sorts of colours in the pot, the tops somewhat brownish, and of a frothy light substance; the bottom of a much darker colour, but heavy, grosse, moist, and full of molosses; both which they cut away, and reserve to be boyl’d again, with the molosses for peneles: The middle part, which is more then two thirds of the whole pot, and lookes of a bright colour, drie and sweet, they lay by it selfe, and send it down daily upon the backs of Assinigoes and Camells, in leather baggs, with a tarr’d cloth over, to their Store-houses at theBridge, there to be put in Caskes and Chests, to be ship’t away forEngland, or any other parts of the World, where the best market is. Though this care be taken, and this course used, by the best husbands, and those that respect their credits, as, CollonellJames Drax, CollonellWalrond, Mr.Raynes, and some others that I know there; yet, the greater number, when they knock out their Sugars, let all go together, both bottom and top, and so let the better bear our the worse. But, when they come to the Merchant to be sold, they will not give above 3 l. 10 s. for the one; and for the other, above 6 l. 4 s. And those that use this care, have such credit with the Buyer, as they scarce open the Cask to make a tryall; so well they are assured of the goodnesse of the Sugars they make; as, of CollonellJames Drax, CollonellWalrond, Mr.Raines, and some others in the Iland that I know.
I have yet said nothing of making white Sugars, but that is much quicker said than done: For, though the Muscavado Sugar, require but a months time to make it so, after it is boyl’d; yet, the Whites require four months, and it is only this. Take clay, and temper it with water, to the thicknesse of Frumenty, or Pease pottage, and poure it on the top of the Muscavado Sugar, as it stands in the pot, in the Cureing-house, and there let it remain four months; and if the clay crack and open, that the aire come in, close it up with some of the same, either with your hand, or a small Trowell. And when you knock open these pots, you shall finde a difference, both in the colour and goodnesse, of the top and bottom, being but to such a degree, as may be rank’d with Muscavadoes; but the middle, perfect White, and excellent Lump-Sugar, the best of which will sell inLondonfor 20 d. a pound.
I do not remember I have left unsaid any thing, that conduces to the work of Sugar-making, unlesse it be, sometimes after great rains, (which moisten the aire more then ordinary) to lay it out upon fair daies in the Sun, upon cloaths, or in the knocking room, and sometimes to bring in pans of coals, well kindled, into the Cureing house. If I have omitted any thing here, you shall finde it supplyed in the Indexes of my Plots.
As for distilling the skimmings, which run down to the Still house, from the three lesser Coppers, it is only this: After it has remained in the Cisterns, which my plot shewes you in the Still-house, till it be a little soure, (for till then, the Spirits will not rise in the Still) the first Spirit that comes off, is a small Liquor, which we calllow-Wines, which Liquor we put into the Still, and draw it off again; and of that comes so strong a Spirit, as a candle being brought to a neer distance, to the bung of a Hogshead or But, where it is kept, the Spirits will flie to it, and taking hold of it, bring the fire down to the vessell, and set all a fire, which immediately breakes the vessell, and becomes a flame, burning all about it that is combustible matter.
We lost an excellent Negre by such an accident, who bringing a Jar of this Spirit, from the Still-house, to the Drink-room, in the night, not knowing the force of the liquor he carried, brought the candle somewhat neerer than he ought, that he might the better see how to put it into the Funnell, which conveyed it into the Butt. But the Spirit being stirr’d by that motion, flew out, and got hold of the flame of the Candle, and so set all on fire, and burnt the poor Negre to death, who was an excellent servant. And if he had in the instant of firing, clapt his hand upon the bung, all had been saved; but he that knew not that cure, lost the whole vessell of Spirits, and his life to boot. So that upon this misadventure, a strict command was given, that none of those Spirits should be brought to the Drink-room ever after in the night, nor no fire or candle ever to come in there.
This drink, though it had the ill hap to kill one Negre, yet it has had the vertue to cure many; for when they are ill, with taking cold, (which often they are) and very well they may, having nothing under them in the night but a board, upon which they lie, nor any thing to cover them: And though the daies be hot, the nights are cold, and that change cannot but work upon their bodies, though they be hardy people. Besides, comming home hot and sweating in the evening, sitting or lying down, must needs be the occasion of taking cold, and sometimes breeds sicknesses amongst them, which when they feel, they complain to the Apothecary of the Plantation, which we call Doctor, and he gives them everyone a dram cup of this Spirit, and that is a present cure. And as this drink is of great use, to cure and refresh the poor Negres, whom we ought to have a speciall care of, by the labour of whose hands, our profit is brought in; so is it helpfull to our Christian Servants too; for, when their spirits are exhausted, by their hard labour, and sweating in the Sun, ten hours every day, they find their stomacks debilitated, and much weakned in their vigour every way, a dram or two of this Spirit, is a great comfort and refreshing to them. This drink is also a commodity of good value in the Plantation; for we send it down to theBridge, and there put it off to those that retail it. Some they sell to the Ships, and is transported into forraign parts, and drunk by the way. Some they sell to such Planters, as have no Sugar works of their owne, yet drink excessively of it, for they buy it at easie rates; halfe a crown a gallon was the price, the time that I was there; but they were then purposing to raise the price to a deerer rate. They make weekly, as long as they work, of such a Plantation as this 30 l. sterling, besides what is drunk by their servants and slaves.
And now for a close of this work of Sugar, I will let you see, by wayof estimate, to what a Revenue this Iland is raised; and, in my opinion, not improbable. If you will be pleased to look back to the extent of the Iland, you shall find, by taking a medium of the length and breadth of it, that there is contained in the Iland 392 square miles,
2814—-11228—-392
out of which we will substract a third part, which is the most remote part of the Iland from theBridge, where all, or the most part of Trade is, which by many deep and steep Gullies interposing, the passage is in a manner stop’d: besides, the Land there is not so rich and fit to bear Canes as the other; but may be very usefull for planting provisions of Corn, Yeams, Bonavista, Cassavie, Potatoes; and likewise of Fruites, as, Oranges, Limons, Lymes, Plantines, Bonanoes; as also, for breeding Hoggs, Sheep, Goats, Cattle, and Poultry, to furnish the rest of the Iland, that want those Commodities. For which reasons, we will substract a third part from 392. and that is 130. and so the
3̸9̸2̸(130⅔3̸3̸ 3392130—-262
remaining ⅔ is 262 square miles; the greatest part of which may be laid to Sugar-works, and some to be allowed and set out for small Plantations, which are not able to raise a Sugar-work or set up an Ingenio, by reason of the paucity of acres, being not above twenty, thirty, or forty acres in a Plantation; but these will be fit to bear Tobacco, Ginger, Cotten-wool, Maies, Yeames, and Potatoes; as also for breeding Hoggs. But most of these will in short time, be bought up by great men, and laid together, into Plantations of five, sixe, and seven hundred acres. And then we may make our computation thus,viz.A mile square will contain 640 acres of land, and here we see is 262 acres, being ⅔ of the Iland. So then, we multiply 262. by 640. and the product will amount unto 167680. Now we will put the case, that some of those men that have small Plantations, will not sell them, but keep them for provisions, which they may live plentifully upon; for those provisions they raise, will sell at good rates; for which use, we will set out thirty thousand acres. So then we substract 30000 acres from 167680, and there will remain 137680 acres, to be for Sugar-works; out of which, ⅖ may be planted with Canes, the other ⅗ for Wood, Pasture, and Provisions, which must support the Plantations, according to the scale of CollonellModiford’s Plantation, as I
640262———128038401280———16768030000———1376803̸2̸1̸3̸1̸3̸7̸6̸8̸0̸ (275365̸5̸5̸5̸5̸ (27536——-55072
said before. Now these two fifths are, as you see 55072 acres, and an acre of good Canes will yield 4000 pound weight of Sugar, and none will yield lesse then 2000 weight; but we will take aMedium, and rest upon 3000 weight, upon which we will make our computation, and set our price upon the Sugar, according to the lowest rates, which shall be 3 d. per pound, as it is Muscavado, to be sold upon the Iland, at theBridge. In fifteen months the Canes will be ripe, and in a month more, they will be well cur’d, and ready to be cast up, and stowed in the Ware-house. So here, we make our computation upon the place, and say, 3000 threepences is 37 l. 10 s. ten acres of which is 375 l. sterling. So then we say, if 10 acres of Canes will produce 375 l. what shall 55072. which is the number of acres contained upon the ⅖ of the land, allotted for Sugar Plantations, upon which the Canes must grow: and by the Rule of 3. we finde, that it amounts to 2065200. in sixteen months: Now add four months more to the time of cureing, and
10 ——— 375 l.///55072 ——— 2065200 l.55072375———-275360385504165216————-2065200(02065200————-41304001032600————-30978003097800————-6195600
making it into whites, which is that we call Lump-Sugar inEngland, and then the price will be doubled to 4130400. out of which we will abate ¼ for waste, and what is cut off from the tops and bottoms of the pots, which will be good Muscavadoes; but we will abate for that, and waste ¼ which is 1032600. and that we will substract from 4130400. and there remaines 3097800. which is the totall of the revenueof Sugars, that grow on theBarbadoesfor twenty months, and accounted there, upon the Iland, at the Bridge. But if you will run the Hazards of the Sea, as all Marchants doe, and bring it for England, it will sell in London, for 12 d. the pound, and so ’tis doubled againe; and then it will amount to 6195600. and in two months time more it will be in England. Now you see what a vast Revenew this little spot of ground can produce in 22 months time; And so I have done with this plant, onely one touch more, to conclude with all; as Musicians, that first play a Preludium, next a Lesson, and then a Saraband; which is the life and spirit of all the rest. So having played you a short Preludium, to this long and tedious lesson of Sugar and Sugar-making, I do think fit to give you a Saraband, with my best Touches at last; which shall be only this, that as this plant has a faculty, to preserve all fruits, that grow in the world, from corruption and putrifaction; So it has a vertue, being rightly applyed, to preserve us men in our healths and fortunes too. DoctorButlerone of the most learned and famous Physitians that this Nation, or the world ever bred, was wont to say that,
If Sugar can preserve both Peares and Plumbs,Why can it not preserve as well our Lungs?
If Sugar can preserve both Peares and Plumbs,Why can it not preserve as well our Lungs?
If Sugar can preserve both Peares and Plumbs,
Why can it not preserve as well our Lungs?
And that it might work the same effect on himselfe, he alwayes dranke in his Claret wine, great store of the best refin’d Sugar, and also prescribed it severall wayes to his Patients, for Colds, Coughs, and Catarrs; which are diseases, that reign much in cold Climats, especially in Ilands, where the Ayre is moyster then in Continents; and so much for our Health.
Now for our fortunes, they are not only preserv’d, but made by the powerfull operation of this plant.
ColonellJames Drax, whose beginning upon that Iland, was founded upon a stock not exceeding 300 l. sterling, has raised his fortune to such a height, as I have heard him say, that he would not look towards England, with a purpose to remaine there, the rest of his life, till he were able to purchase an estate, of tenne thousand pound land yearly; which he hop’d in few years to accomplish, with what he was then owner of; and all by this plant of Sugar. ColonellThomas Modiford, has often told me, that he had taken a Resolution to himselfe not to set his face for England, till he made his voyage, and imployment there, worth him a hundred thousand pounds sterling; and all by this Sugar plant. And these, were men of as piercing sights, and profound judgments, as any I have known in that way of management. Now if such Estates as these, may be raised, by the well ordering this plant, by Industrious and painfull men, why may not such estates, by carefull keeping, and orderly and moderate expending, be preserv’d, in their posterities, to the tenth Generation; and all by the sweet Negotiation of Sugar?
One Vegetable we have on the Iland, which will neither become the name of a Tree, nor a Plant; and that is a Withe; which is in some respect, the harmefullest weed that can grow; for it pulls downe all that it can reach to, Canes, and all other small plants, it makes nothingof; if it be suffer’d to look up in a Garden, it will wind about all Herbs and Plants that have stalks, pull them down and destroy them; or if it find the way into any Orchard, it will clime up by the bodies of the trees, into the branches, and there inwrap them so, as to draw them (as it were) into a purse, (for out of the maine stalk, hundreds of smal sprigs will grow;) and if any other tree be so neer as to touch it, it will find the way to it, and pull the tops of them together, and utterly disfigure the trees, and hinder the growth of the fruit; and if you cut the maine stalk below, neer the root in hope to kill it, the moysture above in the branches, will thrust down a vine into the ground, and get a new root: Nay this is not all the mischiefe, for it will reach the highest timber, and involve and enwrap so the branches, as to hinder their growths, and many times fasten one tree to another, that one shall hinder the growth of another. A couple of ColonelDraxesAxemen, were felling a tree, and about the time it began to bend, that they perceiv’d which way it would fall, got cleare on the other side, and thought themselves safe: But this being fastned to another, by strong withes, pull’d a great branch of that tree after it, which fell upon the fellers, and bruised them so, as they hardly scap’d with their lives. Cleere a passage of tenne foot broad, that goes between a wood and a land of Canes overnight, and come next morning, and you shall find the way crost all over with Withs, and got neere the Canes; So that if you had left your visit till the next day, they had gotten into the Canes, and then it would be too late to help: for when they are mixt with them, you cannot destroy the one without the other, for wheresoever they touch ground they get new roots, and so creep into every place, and as they go pull down all. These harmefull Withs, have, with all these vices, some virtues. They serve for all uses, where roaps or cords are required, as for binding our Wood and Canes into faggots, or what else roapes are needfull for; and without them we were in ill condition, for we have not any wood fit to make hoops for hogsheads, barrels, tubbs, or what not; and we can have them, of what length and bignesse we please, and they are for that use very good.
Severall kinds of these Withs there are, some that beare fruit, somewhat bigger then the Cod of a Beane, which being divided long-wise with a sharp knife, you shall perceive the most various and beautifullest Colours that can be, and so well matcht, as to make up a very great beauty.
Fell a dosen acres of wood, going on in a straight line, and when the ground is cleered, the side of that wood you left standing, will be likewise in the same strait line, and in a few years these Withs will mount, to the tops of the trees, which are for the most part, eighty or 100. foot high, and from that top to the ground, on the outside of the wood, all will be cover’d with leaves, and those are broad, green, and shining, so that if you be absent from the place two or three years, and look to find a wood, you find a faire green Curtaine, 300 paces long, and 80 foot high, which is as pretty adeceptio visus, as you can find any where and this is one of the pleasantest Vistos in the Iland, the same things are done in the mouths or entrances of Caves, whereyou shall find a Cave large enough to hold 500 men, and the mouth of it, cover’d with a green curtaine, 40 foot high, and 200 foot long; and so close a Curtaine it is (the vines being wrapt and interwove one into another) as without putting it aside, you can hardly have light to read by.
These Caves are very frequent in the Iland, and of severall dimensions, some small, others extreamly large and Capacious: The runaway Negres, often shelter themselves in these Coverts, for a long time and in the night range abroad the Countrey, and steale Pigs, Plantins, Potatoes, and Pullin, and bring it there; and feast all day, upon what they stole the night before; and the nights being darke, and their bodies black, they scape undiscern’d.
There is nothing in that Countrey, so usefull as Liam Hounds, to find out these theeves. I have gone into divers of those Caves, to trye what kind of ayre is to be found there; and have felt it so close, and moyst with all, as my breath was neer stopt; and I doe beleive, if I should remaine there but one night, I should never come out againe.
I have often wondred, why such vast Caves and Rocks should not afford some springs of water; the ayre which touches them, being so very moyst; for we see in England, where Rocks are, Springs of water issue out; and sometimes (when wet weather is) the moysture hangs upon the Rocks in drops, and so runns down and finds a way to vent it selfe, into small bibling Springs; But here it does not so, though the Ayre be much moyster than in England; But certainly the reason is the extraordinary drinesse, and spunginesse of the stone; which sucks up all moysture that touches it; and yet it is never satisfied.
I had it in my thoughts, to make an Essay, what SirFrancis Baconsexperiment solitarie, touching the making of Artificiall Springs would doe; but troughs of that stone, being of so dry and spungy a quality, would never have been fit for it, besides we have no brakes growing there, which is one of the materials us’d in that experiment.
Another sort of Withs we have, but they are made of the gum of trees, which falls from the boughes, drop after drop, one hanging by another, till they touch ground; from whence they receive some nourishment, which gives them power to grow larger, and if it happen that three or four of them, come down so nere one another as to touch and the wind twist them together, they appeare so like ropes, as they cannot be discern’d five paces off, whether it be a rope or a withe. I have seen of these of severall sises, from the smallest whip cord to the greatest Cable of the Soveraine; and the most of those timber trees I have named, has them; some four, some five, some halfe a dozen, hanging down like Bell ropes, from the branches to the ground, which was a sight of much rarity to me at first comming.