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Full text of "Sketch of the Mosquito Shore
"
See other formats
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7
as in Laurie and Whittle’s charts. I do not pre-
tend to decide its true longitude, but am rather in-
clined to think the Spanish correct, as the distance.
between the two capes is undoubtedly. 20 leagues.
The point forming the north side of Truaxillo Bay
is low, and ‘a considerable reef of coral rocks, with
sand, stretches from it to the westward. The land
of the interior, hence to the eastward, appears high
and variegated.
Cabbage Tree, or Three Leagues Point La-
goon, lays about twelve miles to the eastward of
Cape Honduras; it is of a small extent, but with a
very wide mouth, and has a reef of ‘rocks laying off
its westernmost entrance.
Salt River Lagoon, lays afew miles inland, a
little to the eastward of the former,-and has a small
river running out of it, which empties itself into the
sea ; ‘here, it is said, large quantities of salt might be
made.
Great Roman River, called by the ‘Spamiards,
El Rio Grande, empties itself into the sea, after
a course ef about one Hundred and fifty miles, by
two mouths, which are formed by: Spark’s island,
Several considerable streams empty themselves in-
to it, the chief of which are the Rio Guayape,
which rises in the mountains -in the neighbourhood
of ‘Olancho el Viejo, where there ‘are mines of
silver. The Rio Ye anque, has its head waters in
the immediate vicinity of the silver mines, and in
8
its course ‘passes by the Spanish towns of San
Gorge de Olancho, and Soneguera, and empties
itself into the great Roman river, about thirty
miles below the latter town, where the Guayape
also forms a junction with it.
Lime-house River, is the next on the coast, and
has a course of about forty miles; from the sea
it is known by a saddle mountain with a sugar loaf
hill on one side, and by another sugar loaf on the
other side, whose top appears to be broken off. To
the eastward of the mouth of the river are the Great
Rocks, which shew themsélves like a round bluff;
they are close to the sea side, about a mile from
theshore. The bluff point of the Great Rocks to
the eastward, and old Roman point, make Lzme-
house Bight. Further on are the “itile Rocks,
and between them and the Great Rocks are the
two rivers called Paw River and Piaw Creek.
At Piaw River there is anchorage.
Zachary Lyon River follows next, and has a
course of about 30 miles; it has high land, nght
over it, in the’ form of a sugar loaf, not unlike
that over Black River, but distinguished by a saddle
mountain, alittle to the westward ; between Piaw
river and the Zachary-lyon river, there is a small
bay, called the Turtle Bight. Itis on the banks
of the Zachary Lyon, that the proposed Hebrew co-
lony is about to be established. The title-deed
9
to which property, has already been. transmitted
to a respectable house.in London.
Praunow Creek, is only two miles to the west-
ward of Cape Camaron River; the opening is ea-
sily seen from the sea, as the eastern side is distin-
guished by a high sand hill, and en the western side
a spit.stretches out a mile into the sea. This
river forms the eastern boundary of the projected
Hebrew colony.
Cape Camaron, and River, are the next import-
ant points on the coast. The Cape, as determined
by the Spanish observers, lies in 16e 2’ north and
85° 9’ west. The coast between Cape Honduras and
Cape Camaron is irregular ; there are gradual sound-
ings in approaching, but there are some patches of
rocks along shore.
Black River; the entrance of this, which is to
the eastward of Cape Camaron, has been determin-
ed by the Spanish observers, to be in 15° 58’ North,
and 84° 55’ West, or at the distance of about
twelve miles from the cape.
The Spaniards call it Reo Tinto; it has a course
of about one hundred and twenty miles, and several
considerable streams empty themselves into it.
It is navigable for small-craft till within about
twenty miles of its principal source. About for-
ty miles from the sea, on its left bank, is situated
the town of Poyars, the capital of the territory of
thisname. And about fifty miles higher up is the
16
Embarcadero, from whence there is an Indian patli
leading to Manto, or Olancho el Viejo, in the
neighbourhood of which, as already observed, there
are rich silver mines. At the junction of two of
its branches, and in latitude 15° 8’ at the base of a
ridge of mountains, are two remarkable hot and
cold springs, situated close to each other. “ Its
entrance ”, the only harbour on all this coast from
** Rattan to Cape Gracias a Dios, was for more than
* 60 years the refuge of the Logwood-cutters, when
‘‘ the Spaniards drove them from the forests of East
“ Yucatan; they waited there in safety for the
‘moment their enemies should retire. As their
“ expulsions were frequent, and always unforeseen,
“ the ships which went to load with logwood in the
‘bay of Honduras, chose to touch first at the
“ Black River, to get intelligence, and to deter-
“mine in consequence the manner of pursuing
“ their voyage. Wood-cutters, sailors, deserters,
“and adventurers of several kinds, fixed themselves
“ insensibly in this place ; they received merchan-
“ dise in return for the fruits of their labour, and
“ soon established a lucrative trade with the Spa-
“ niards in the inland parts. The last treaty of
“‘ peace, which secures to the wood-cutters the un-
“ interrupted enjoyment of their forests, far from
‘‘ making the Black River deserted, has given more
“activity to the settlement. The séa coast is san-
“ dy, generally low and swampy, with mangrove
11
“ trees: higher upon the rivers and lagoons, the
“ soil more fertile, produces many plantains, co-
‘ coa-trees, maize, yams, potatoes, and several
“ other vegetables; the passion of drinking rum
“ has made them begin the planting of sugar canes.
“ The rivers, as well as the lagoons, are extremely
** well stored with fish, the forests filled with deer,
“« pecarys or Mexican swine,andgame. On the shores
“ they catch the finest turtle, from March to J une,
‘and from August to the end of September ; be-
‘ sides this fishery, which is very plentiful, the Black
“ River settlers cut mahogany and zebra wood, and
“ gather a great deal of sarsaparilla. These settlers,
“ still fewer in number than those of the Bay of
“ Honduras, are like them under the inspection of
‘ the commander of the frigate which cruises on the
“ coast: but the colony is so wel] situated, that it
** cannot fail of increasing ; the Government, who
** destroyed their fort at the peace, in vain neglects
“it. Itisone of those plants, which placed by
“ chancein a happy corner of the garden, flourish, in-
“ crease, and bear fruit of themselves, without the
‘* gardener’s giving himself the trouble of watering
‘‘ or taking care of them. But it ismow given up
“ to the Spaniards, and the English have entirely
“ abandoned these parts.” ** The occupation of
this territory by the Spaniards, was however of
* Jeffery’s West India Atlas, p. 11.
B
T2
_ short duration ; for having quarreled with the Mos-
quito people, the fort at Black River was attacked
by the Indians, under the command of one of their
most distinguished chiefs, General Robinson, and ta-
ken by escalade. The Spaniards however effected
a retreat, and since that time have never attempted
to make any other establishments.
Black River Lagoon, is of considerable extent,
being calculated at eight miles broad and fourteen
if length ; it is beautifully spotted with several
smiall islets, on one of which, when in possession* of
the British, was occupied for raising stock.
Plantain River, is about thirty miles to the east-
ward of Black River ; it has a large mouth, with
four fathoms water, a short distance from the coast ;
its sources are about eighty milesin the interior of
the country ; on its left bank, and near the mouth,
aré sonie fine savannahs, where the Indian chief,
General Robinson, has a large herd of cattle.
Brewers Lagoon, is fifteen miles farther on ; it has
a wide mouth, with anchorage off the entrance
from twelve to eight fathoms water. This Lagoon is
about nine miles broad, and runs nearly fifteen into
the interior of the country. In the middle of the
haven, about a league up, is an island, that appears
like two hills, Whereon some English people for-
merly resided, and probably had a battery, as there
are two old guns laying there to this day.
“Puttuch, or Patook River, is of considerable
13
size, and has several smaller rivers that empty them-
selves into it, the chief of which is the Rio Barbo:
these streams have their sources in the ridgeof moun-
tains. which form a barrierto the left bank of the great °
river Yare; the extent of the Patook and its tri-
butary streams, is upwards of one hundred miles. It
has two-mouths, one of whichempties itself into Bre-.
wers lagoon. On the easternmost bank of the Patook ts
Patook Point, from whicha sand bank, with a sharp
point, extends for a mile and a half into the sea; and
which vessels ought to give a good birth to, approach
ing no nearer than nine fathoms water. T'wo or three
years ago, in the time of the heavy rains and freshes,
the waters of the river cleared away the bar, leaving a
depth of about three fathoms, which is a proof of
the facility, with which the bar rivers on the north
coast might be cleared and deepened ; it has been
gradually filling up ever since.
Little Patook River, is about fifteen miles fur-
ther to the east of Great Patook River, and rises
about thirty five miles in the interior. There isa kay,
or small island, laying between the two rivers,
Caractasco Lagoon, called by the Spaniards
Balia de Cartago, lies about 17 leagues from Great
Patook river. This place is easily known ; for, as the
mouth is very wide, the opening may always beseen
It is shallow, has a bar, and is only navigable for
small vessels, and is considered by the natives a
day’s journey in length ; its breadth, which is nearly
equal throughout, may be computed at ten miles.
14
Captain Henderson, who visited this lagoon in
the mionth of September 1804, says, “ We pas-
‘sed the bar in a short time, and entered the
‘* Lagoon of Caratasco, and had to beat up the re-
** mainder of our voyage, a distance of about two
* leagues, in a course directly contrary to the one
‘‘ we had pursued previous to entering it. It was
** almost the same as going back by the same sea,
* the space of land dividing the navigation we had
* left from that we were in, not being more than
“a few hundred yards. We came to ananchor off
“ the settlement of Crata at five. The Mosquito
«‘ Indians have other settlements on both sides of ©
“ the sound.......Caratasca Lagoon is considered by
the natives a day’s journey in length: its breadth,
“which is nearly equal throughout, may be com-
* puted at about ten miles; it is shallow, and only
navigable for vessels ofsmall burden. On landing,
“ T was immediately received by Captain Potts, a
“man of some consequence in the settlement or
« Crata, with most expressive marks of friendship
¢¢ and regard, and conducted by him to his habi-
“tation: ‘The whole of the inhabitants of the
¢* Settlement soon crowded round me, and from alk
“IT could discover the same signs of welcome. An
“excellent supper of fowls, eggs, plantains, and
“the root of the Casava, was expeditiously pre-
* pared, and I do not recollect that 1 ever made
¢ a meal with more entire enjoyment. I passed the
Lo
‘night with my Indian frends. Captain Potts
“appeared about sixty years of age, and a more
“ kind, aimable being Imever met. His atten-
‘tions and hospitality were unceasing. He had
“three wives; the elder seemed of the same years
“ with himself; the youngest certainly not more
“ than sixteen; the other might be taken at the
“ medium age of both.
‘“« Saturday, 5th.—As soon as I had breakfasted,
“ I was informed that a house had been prepared for
‘me to occupy during my stay. Few houses, I be-
*« lieve, had ever been raised with more expedition.
‘‘ It was begun and finished in one night; and al-
‘ though aot after any known design of architecture,
‘it was comfortable and commodious, sufficiently
‘ proof against the weather, and affording every
“ requisite convenience for myself and servants. Of
“ the latter I never stood in less need, for the
“unremitted assiduity of the people of the country
“to be useful to me, would scarcely allow of their
“interference in any thing. In the course of the
*‘ day, numbers that I had not seenon my arrival,
“ living contiguous to Crata, came and paid their
“ respects, bringing presents of hogs, poultry, &c.
“&c. Luinvited threeof the principal men to dine
“withme. After our meal was concluded, I gave
“‘ several toasts expressive of regard for their na-
* tion, and for perpetuating a good understanding
* between it and my own; all of which they per-
16
* fectly understood, and received with high marks of
‘ approbation.
‘¢ Sunday, 6th.—The principal Mosquito chiefs
“ not arriving as I expected, in the forenoon I dis-
‘“* patched other messengers to hasten them. Dur-
“ing the remainder of the day, I amused myself
“‘ with short rambles round the settlements of Crata,
“ and was much delighted with the simple and rural
‘‘ appearance of the Indian dwellings, and the very
‘* pleasing scenery which every where presented
‘* itself. I eagerly wished for the tasteful pencil
‘“‘ of a Gilpin to delineate some of the many agree-
“ able subjects before me ; for, without the language
“‘ of affectation, most of them were worthy of it.
“‘ Wednesday, 9th.— As it might be expected, my
“ appointment of yesterday produced an early as-
‘‘semblage of the men of Caratasca Sound this
“forenoon. Immediately after their arrival, I con-
“ cluded my business with them.... An ox having
‘‘ been slaughtered for the occasion, I had as many
‘as my house could contain to dine with me, and
‘* every thiag passed with entire harmony. I can-
“ not omit remarking, that the greater part of my
“‘ puests, if not tastefully or fashionably dressed,
“ were at least splendidly and variously so. I really
‘believe the entire costume of Europe, civil and
‘‘ military, for the last hundred years, might at one
“view have presented itself at my table. And
“ whatever was oncethought gay and ornamenta! in
17
* the brilliant and refined circles of London and
“ Versailles, might perhaps be now considered equally
“ soonthelesspolishedshore of Caratasca. It had often
“ been matter of surprise with me, to what earthly
“ mart the venders of cast off gaieties in London could
“ consign the odd articles frequently decorating their
“‘ doors; this astonishment ceased, the moment my
‘‘ company had collected in the Mosquito nation.
“* Monday, 14th.—Early this morning General
** Robinson came on board our vessel, and shortly
“afterwards I accompanied him onshore. Whilst
“ the matters I had to take with me were. collecting,
‘‘T amused myself with a walk of about a mile
‘“ through a spacious savannah, and the scenery on
“ thisside the Lagoon certainly greatly surpassed that
‘¢ we had left on the other. ‘Thissavannah for a very
“< considerable extent, formed an entire level of con-
‘¢ tinued verdure, and of the finest pasturage; skirted
‘* on one side of the water of the Lagoon, and bounded
“on the other by gentle rising hills. ‘he clumps
“ of pine and other lofty trees, interspersed at pleas-
‘ing distances over the whole, gave the view all
“the appearance of cultivated art, and afforded a
‘¢ most agreeable relief to the eye. At the foot of
** the hills, the wood in places thickening, almost
‘‘ deluded the imagination to conceive, that in the
** bosom of these sequestered groves might be found
“ the ornamental dwelling of some tasteful owner.
18
“ But awaking from this, here all was Nature *,.”
I must now leave the friendly Indians, and con-
tinue the description of the coast, which from Cara-
tasca. Lagoon, inclines to the south-east.
Croalk or Crotch River, is a small stream, which |
empties itself into. a little bay, a short. distance
before reaching the False Cape. It has from nine
to eleven feet water over its bar.
False Cape, is about 14 leagues from the en-
trance of Caratasca Lagoon; it has a shoal called
Cape Bank laying off it, that lies to the northward.
There is tolerable anchorage under the lee. of the
cape, after getting round the sand bank.
Little Black River, lays about half way between ©
the False Cape, and Cape Gracias a Dios; its course
is about forty mules, and about twelve miles from its
mouth, is the settlement of Tobuncana.
Cape Gracias a Dios, this celebrated cape lays
in about 15° north latitude. The harbour is formed
by an arm of the sea, large enough to hold the navy
of Great Britain, and open only from E. by S. to
S.S.W. from which points the wind seldom blows
there +. Captain Wright informs us, that it isa
noble extensive harbour, where Commodore Parry
anchored in 1782, with his squadron, consisting
* An Account of the British Settlement of Honduras, &c.
by Captain Henderson, 44th Regiment, 1811, p. 173.
+ Edward’s Account of the British Settlements on the Mose
quito Shore, in Vol. 5, app. p. 209.
19
of a fifty gun: ship; and some heavy frigates ¢ this
bay is open to no winds but a south-east ; the Cape
Keys, off this place, abound with turtle all the year
round *, The depths in the bay are from 6 to 24
fathoms, and this is a safe and convenient place
of shelter during the north winds. When off the
pitch of the Main Cape, you will see the land
tending nearly north and south. ‘The cape ends in
a low sandy point, tending to the southward: some
old trees are frequently drifting out of the river.
The water shoalens a good way off, till yow double
the pitch of it, then you may borrow as close as
you please, into 2, 3, 4, and 5 fathoms, soft ground.
Do not proceed higher up in the bay than in 3
or 4 fathoms ; although it is all clear ground, ‘and’
sheltered from all winds }._
On entering the Bay, a small village presents it-
self on the larboard side; here the King of the
Mosquito Nation usually resides ; there are also
some settlers here, and an American and an Irish
Gentleman, have both established astore for the sale
of goods, which are chiefly obtained from Jamai-
ca. “Itisone of the most healthy and. beautiful
“spots in the world : the Europeans do not suffer
‘* by any of those disorders so dangerous in the West
* Wright’s Memoir-of the Mosquite Territory, p: 17.
_-t Columbian Navigator, art. Mosquitia, p. 32.
C }
20
“ Indies, and live here to a very old age. *” Before.
the evacuation of it by the British in 1787, there
were near thirty English families, with about one
hundred negro slaves, who had, begun planta-
tions of sugar on the lands given. them} by: the
Mosquitos +. The inhabitants live on the edge of
avery large savannah, perpetually covered’ with
the most fattening pasturage, and wes on.
the river Wanks. | Peyrae.
Wanks, or Great Cape River, called also Van-.
kes, Yure, Yowra, and. Golden -River; from the:
grains of that metal, bein g found in its sands): it-arises'
very near the South Sea, and aftersuccessively passing
the Spaniards, Indians friendly to the Spaniards, Indi-”
ans friendly to us, and Mosquito Indians; rolls overa’
shallow bar into the sea at Cape Gracias.a»Dios:f.
In the time of the English, they cut'a canal from”
the: bay through to the river, from which itis sepa-
rated only a few, hundred yards ;’it.is now filling”
up, but canoes are still able to pass, and:orders have”
lately been given to have it properly. cleared. «:! ©
_The strength of current, and various -coutse of
this river, ‘and many~ other obstructions to mea-"
surement of distance, make it very. difficult to as-
certain the breadth of the continent ; but mules
=
4
* Introduction to Jeffrey’s West India Atlas, p. 11. + Ibid.
{ Edward’s account of the British .settlements on the Mose
quito shore, p. 209.
el
21
have been brought down to the Cape, from a place
supposed to. be considerably: more than a hundred
leagues ‘up the river,’ from whence: ‘it is said to bé
only two days ride through the woods to the Spanish
city of Leon *,° The whole length of the river may
be safely stated at upwards of 300 miles. .
In the ‘months of February and March ‘1688, a
party of the Buccaniers, whohad been cruizingin the
South Sea, passed from the Bay of Amalapa to the
town of New. Segovia, and from thence, after tra-
versing the. woods fora short : distance, they em-
barked: upon the river and arrived at Cape Graci:
asa Dios. The town of New Segovia “ liesin a bot-
‘tom, and is so surrounded with mountains, that she
“ looksas if she were laid. up.in a prison; the churchés
“ heré‘are but:very indifferently built, and the place’ ,
“of arms is both very considerable’ and’ ‘very fine ; +
“itis an.inland place, forty leagues off from ‘the |
“ South Sea. The way that leads to it, from the place -
“ where.we were, is very difficult, ‘being ‘all moun-°
“ tains ofa prodigious. height,’ to the tops whereof '
“we must ‘creep. with great danger’;- and the val-
“leys, consequently, are so very narrow here, ‘that’
“ fora league of: even ground you pass over, you” sal
“ have six leagues of: mountains-to go. When we
“had passed these mountains, we felt a very ="
* Edward’s account of the British: Settlements % ‘the Mos,
quito shore, p. 209, ) |
C 2
“ gold, and were taken with so thick a fog, that even
“ when day appeared, we could not know one ano-
‘‘ ther, no otherwise than by our voices ; but that
‘‘ only lasted till ten in the morning, when the
“¢ weather cleared wp, and the fog went entirely off ;
“and the heat which succeeds the cold, becomes
‘‘ there very great, as well as im the plains, where
‘¢ none-of this cold is felt, till you come to the foot
“ of the mountains.—On the 16th, we lay at another
“‘ (Hatto *) six leagues farther ; and at last on ‘the
“ 17th, which was the sixteenth day since our setting
‘“‘ out, we came to the so much: desired river, and
‘* presently entered into the woods, that grow upon
‘‘the banks thereof, where every one fell to work,
“in good earnest, to cut down trees to build pipe-
“ ries, wherein we might go down the same +.”
Upon their first setting out, they found the
river to run fora * long way in a most rapid man-
“ner, interrupted by vast numbers of rocks, of a
“‘ prodigious bigness. On the 20th of February,”
our author says, “ we found the- river larger, and
“‘ more spacious than before, and met with no
* more falls therein; but the same was so incum-
“ bered with trees and bamboos, which the flood
“‘ carried thither, that our wretched machines. could
“not be kept from overturning ; at last, when we
* A Grazing Farm.
i Hist. of the Buccaniers of — p: 170, London 1699.
23
“ were got down some leagues farther, we found the
“ river very good, the stream very gentle, and no
“ jikelihood of our meeting any more rocks nor
“ trees, though we had still above sixty leagues to
‘¢ the sea side. ‘Though this river we are now leav-
‘“‘ ing, is by some Spanish maps made to run direct-
‘‘ ly fourscore leagues, and then to fall into the
‘North Sea, yet we have computed the same to
‘run above three hundred, being almost always
“ carried to the south-east for to go to the north *.”
The Yare, or upper part of the river, as we have
seen above, is full of falls, and there is a considera-
ble one, and the last, just below the forks, in about
latitude 140 20’ N. and about fifty miles above the
Indian town, called Secklong, which latter is by the
course of the river distant about 150 miles from the
mouth of Cape River, thus making the river navi-
gable for small craft for about 200 miles; the direct
distance from the great falls, by land, to the Upper
Embarcadero on the Black River, is about’70 miles,
but a branch of the river Yare rises within nine
miles of Popyas River, which falls into the Rio
Tinto, separated however by a ridge of hills, but of
no considerable height.
Warner’s Sound, called also Wano Sound, is a
short distance to the southward of the Cape, is of
small extent, and las a bar at its mouth.
meee:
* Hist. of the Buccaniers of America, London, 1699.
a4
Sintipoco River, is a few miles —— and runs’
out of a small lagoon. 6.0 fi me Sat
Sandy Bay, is nearly 10: a from Cape
Gracias a Dios.. ‘You. may.come to an,anchor in
this bay in as deep or as little water as you choose:
In 6 or 7 fathoms there is good muddy ground, and”
fit for ships. In from 5 fathoms, or less, is sandy?
ground, fit for smaller vessels. ..At the head of «the
bay, and about twenty five miles from its entrances.
is the chief Indian town, and where. the King fre-»
quently resides ; this town 1s situated upon the river.
Corce, which runs for about ninety, miles up into,,
the country. The English formerly had settlements ,
between this bay and Ducana lagoon. bs at
Governor's Point, forms the,-southern. point of
the outlet from Ducana lagoon, and here, commence.
the _ territories of the Tact kar ne the Go-,.
VERNOR. |. |). ———
Stony Island, lays. eae ani to. the peers
a little to the southward, and distant from the main: .
land about twelve miles; it is a rock, and appears
above water to the height of a ship’s hull, and, quite:’
black. It hes E, S; E. from Sandy. Bay, at, the dis-;;;
tance. of about. A or 3 leagues. _-You may approach »
to the distance of a mile from Stony Island, ‘and :.
have 6 fathoms, bottom of white sand, TD
Housetana Creek, is about nine miles ta aa
southward of Governor’ $ Point, and about thirteen. .
miles further south, is, Housetana River. which:
25
flows out of Para Lagoon. The coast from Go-
vernor’s Point to the northern entrance of this ri-
ver, is called Playa Blanca.
( Waniessa, called by the English Devils Key, lays
at the distance of about three leagues south from
Stone Island, and fourteen miles from the main
land. It is a small islet covered with trees.
Brangman’s Bluff; called by the Spaniards
Monte Gordo, is composed of the highest sandy
hills on the coast to the southward of Cape Gracias
a Dios. It'has three or four whitish hills, which’
are very remarkable, and is also covered with tall”
trees. There is anchorage close in shore, under the
high land. |
» Ville Coose River, rises upwards of one hundred
and fifty miles in the interior, and empties itself by
two mouths, the noithermost into Para Lagoon,
and the southernmost by ier! is called the River’
Vava into Wava Lagoon. ‘The Towkeas Nation
live on its head waters, |
-Wava Lag oon, lies a little to the southward. of
perroarie s Bluff; its mouth is of no great extent,
and is situated a few miles inland, communicating
with the sea by means of two rivers, one of ye
is of the ‘same name.“ * © a J
T ongulaw Lag ‘TOON, is about fourteen miles to
the southward of Wava River, it is also of small
extent, an island lays inside of. it, near its mouth; ~
the Fou’s Reef; lays at the distance of three miles, —
26
and across the whole lengths of its mouth, and be-
tween the reef and the southernmost éntrance of the
lagoon, there is anchorage in 3 fathoms.
Prince Pulko River, is of considerable extent,
and empties itself into the sea by four principal
mouths, which form several islands; the northern-
most is called Walpo Six, and its southernnrost
branch is called Great Snook Creek. iil
Little Snook Creek,is.a small river, and dividing
itself into two empty forms. a. considerable island
at its mouth. |
Great River, called in some mapsand chatts, Rio
Grande, rises about 180 miles in the interior, and in
its course several small streams fall into it; this
fiver empties itself into the sea, a few miles below.
Little Snook ee which with it, forms at’ its
mouth, a. considerable island ;. 1t has a considerable
depth of water at its mouth, and there are several
Indian settlements on its banks.
Alligator Creek, is a small army of the sea, and.
runs about twelve miles up into the country, ending
in a salt pond, or lagoon. From hence to Pearl
Key Lagoon, a great number of islets and shoals
lay all along the coast, which makes the navigation
intricate for a stranger, and a pilot ought to be pro-
cured, before attempting it. The principal of these
are the Moskito Keys, King’s Keys, Long Reef,
Ashin’s Key, Pearl Keys, Water Keys, Hobbies
27
Keys, Frenchman’s, Bill Birds Keys, Parrots
Key, Maroond’s Key, &e.
Pearl Key Lagoon, the entrance les in about
12° N. and has a bar, with only nine feet water
on it. It is distant about fifteen leagues from
Cape Gracias a Dios. Captain Wright says, it has
some small keys all round and lying off it, which
forms good anchorage *. It takes its name on acs
count of the pearl oysters which are plenty aboutit+.
This lake is of considerable magnitude, being from
two to three miles broad at its entrance, about
twenty miles in length, and from eight to eleven
miles in breadth. It contains five islands, some of
them two miles in length. There are four rivers of
soine magnitude that empty themselves into it.
The entrance, however, has a shallow bar, but
there is good. anchorage under tlie lee of the north
point in three fathoms water. In the time of the
English, there were a great many settlers at this
place, attracted by the fertility of the soil; there
are still a few here, who cultivate principally cotton
and sugar; one of them, a French gentleman, has a
considerable sugar plantation, and has lately com-
menced the distillation of rum.
Bluefield’s Lagoon, is said to be called after a
famous Jamaica buccanier of that name, it is some
* Wright's Memoir, p. 17.
+ Introduction to the West India Atlas, p. 1i.
ith
28
times also denominated Hone Sound. This La-
goon, properly speaking, 1s composed of an Upper
and Lower, and is separated in one part from Pearl
Key Lagoon by a narrow isthmus of two miles in
breadth. An island, called Hone Key, and about
eight miles long, divides the mouth into two en-
trances ; the southernmost entrance has a bad bar
and very shallow, but the northernmost has sixteen
feet water over it at high water; when inside, it
forms a noble bason, capable of holding a thousand
sail of shipping *. The Bluff, an extensive rocky
eminence, of very easy defence, has naturally almost
every requisite for a town, and presents so bold
a bank to the harbour, that vessels of any bur-
den may he close to it when they load. This
high eminence has a flat at top of about 1500 acres,
on which one cannot land but by two places easy
to euard ; it is joined to the continent on the north
part by alow isthmus, sandy on the sides, and fen-
ny, with mangrove trees in the middle. ‘There is
the most grand and extensive prospect of the sea
and land to the south from the top of this emi-
nence{. As Bluegelds Bluff fully commands the
entrance of the harbour, a small force stationed
there, would keep off, effectually, a great and nu-
* Wright’s Memoir, p. 17. |
+ Edward’s Account of the British Settlements on the Mos-
quito Shore. App. vol, 5th, p. 209.
{ Introd. to Jeffery’s West India Atlas, p. 11.
29
merous enemy *, It would be easy to fortify this
Bluff, for stone is found near it in abundance, and
the oyster shells would afford all the lime necessary }.
The Lower Lagoon is about 20 miles in length,
and from 5 to 6in breadth. The Upper Lagoon
is a continuation of the Lower, and runs 2bout N.
N. E. at itsentrance ; it is little more than one mile
broad, but encreases as you ascend, and in one place
is 61 miles broad; its length may be estimated at
twenty three miles. “ Several noble rivers, after
“ having watered some of the richest land, perhaps,
‘‘ in the world, empty themselves in the vast lazoon
“ of which this harbour is part {.” The depth of
water in the harbour is from three fathom to three
fathoms and a half. The neighbouring land is
fertile, and its climate very healthy ;? the banks of
its principal river are covered with cedars, large
mahogany trees, and plenty of other trees gcod for
building either houses or ships §. In the time of
the English, they had many settlements about the
Lagoon, and carried on an extensive trade with the
interior of the country.
Bluefields River, called by the Spaniards Rio
Escondido, and Riode Neuva Segovia, rises in the
* Wright’s Memoir, p. 19.
+ Introd. to West India Atlas, p. 11.
+ Edward’s Account of the British Settlements on the Mos«
guito Shore. App. vol. 5th, p. 209.
§ Inirod. to West India Atlas, p. 11.
30
mountains of the Province of Nicaragua, one of its
sources being near the town of Corpus Christi, and
its other priricipal source rises in the mountaing near
the town of Néuva Segovia, by which it passes ;
it has'a course of upwards of three hundred miles,
and in its passage receives the waters of several tri-
butary rivers, emptying itself into Bluefields Upper
Lagoon ; it is navigable for vessels of one hundred
tons burthen for 60 miles, and canoes and other
small craft may ascend it, nearly to its sources.
The Cockoracks Indians reside about one hundred and
thirty miles from its mouth ; they are denominated
wild and tame, in order to distinguish the civilized
from the uncivilized * ; a tribe of the latter, toge-
‘taet with the Woolvas, have settlements within 15
‘miles of its mouth.
Monkey Point, lies about ten miles to the south-
ward of Bluefields Lagoon.
Varin Key River; the principal mouth of this
river is about eleven miles south of Monkey Point ;
it has another mouth which empties itself into Blue-
fields Lagoon. The course of this riveris about for-
ty-five miles. Varin K ey, lays a short distance
off it; and between Monkey’ Point and its
mouth, at.the distance of eight miles from the con-
‘ tinent, is French Key, a small round islet.
Rio de Punta Gorda, has a course of about seven-
ty miles, and passing between two ridges of moun-
* Wright’s Memoir, p. 25. 0
ol
tains empties itself into the sea, to the northward
of Punta Gorda; it has three islands laying off it,
called the Three Brothers: the tribe called the
Ramas, have two settlements upon this river, near
its mouth, the uppermost of which is called Tigu-
zigalpas.
Grindstone Bay, lays between Punta Gorda, me
Corn River ; there is anchorage for vessels here in
from 4 to 10 fathoms water; a short way in the in-
terior, the country rises into high and elevated hills.
Corn River, has a course of only about forty or
fifty miles, its sources are at the foot of the high
Jands of the interior, and its mouth, which is wide,
is easily distinguished.
Indian River, has a course of about fifty miles,
and rises in a high ridge of mountains in the interior ;
it communicates with the river San Juan by two
branches, the one called the river Cambitto, and the
other the Rio Bocades ; a few miles further south
is the river Z'rigo or Trigu, which also runs out of
the great river San Juan’s. The Ramas occupy the
country, from Bluefields to San Juan’s, and at va-
- Ylous periods of the year, carry on a considerable
' traffic with the Spanzards.
Rio de San Juan, is considered by geographers
as the southern extremity of the Mosquito Shore ;
nevertheless, the king of the Mosquito nation, whose
country it originally was, claims all the eastern part
of the province of Nicaragua, as far as Ro de Oro,
J2
in the province of Veragua. The river issues out of
a lake of the same name, and falls by three mouths
or channels into the sea or bay of Guatimala. . Its
current is so strong, that the flat-bottomed boats
and canoes, which navigate it, are about nine days
in ascending, and but thirty-six hours in.descend-
ing, to and from the lake*. This river is more
than thirty-six leagues long. Several rapids ren-
der its navigation difficult, and the Indians are the
only ones who know how to get over. these obsta-
cles}. Bryan Edwards, the elegant historian of the
British West Indies, however says, ‘I have been as-
“ sured, if am not greatly deceived in my recollec-
“* tion, that a vessel of thirty tons has sailed up to the
“ entrance of this lake, which very vessel afterwards
“made a voyage to Jamaica. {” About the latter
end of the dry season, or middle of March, the river
is so full of shoals as to render the passage very dif-
ficult §; and the entrance into the river from the
harbour of St John’s, 1s somewhat obstructed by a
bar, on which there are only five feet water. About
sixteen years ago, an enterprising Englishman, who
casually visited the river, examined the different
passages over the bar, and discovered one, which al-
* Columbian Navigator, p. 22.
t Introduction to Jeffrey’s West India Atlas, p. 11.
{ Edward’s Account of the British Settlements on the Mos-
quito Shore, Vol. 5. p. 213.
§ Columbian Navigator, p. 22.
NCY
ae
though narrow, would admit a vessel drawing twen-
ty-five feet *. The harbour above-mentioned, called
St John’s, is very capable of containing from ten to
fifteen ships of war, with shallow water births, of
about three fathoms ; and there 1s room enough for
one hundred sail of transports besides, which will
be perfectly secure from the north and south winds,
the only dangerous winds on the coast +.
The Lake of Nicaragua, from which the river
flows, is about 170 British miles in length, and a-
bout half that breadth. This grand lake is situated
in the province of the same name, and according to
Alcedo is navigable for ships of the line. “ In the
“hands of an enterprising people, this lake would
“ supply the long wished for passage from the At-
‘ Jantic into the Pacific, and in the most direct
*‘ course that could be desired. Nature has al-
“‘ ready supplied half the means, and it is probable
“ that a complete passage might have been opened,
*‘ at half the expence wasted in fruitless expeditions
“ to discover such a passage by the north-west or the
*¢ north-east {.” Atthe western extremity of the great
lagoon, is a river which communicates with the
* Memoirs of the Mexican Revolution, &«. feael are an-
nexed some observations on the practicability of opening a
commerce between the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, &c. by
William Davis Robinson. Vol. 2d, p. 276.
+ Edward’s Account,c. Vol. 5th, Appendix, p. 213.
{ Pinkerton’s Geography, 4to. Vol. 2d, p. 357.
Lake of Lindiri, or Leon, distant about eight
leagues. The distance from the Lake of Leon to
the ocean is about thirteen miles; and from Nica-
ragua to the Gulf of Papagayo in the Pacific Ocean,
is twenty-one miles*. ‘The ground between the
“ two lakes and the sea is a dead level +.”
Pinkerton says, “ On the other side the space to
“be cut, according to the best and most recent
“maps, would not exceed ten or twelve English
‘¢ miles, and might cost to open a grand navigation,
*“‘ about two hundred thousand pounds sterling f. ”
I have been the more particular in mentioning
this idea of a canal between the two seas, as the
Mosquitos, whose country it originally was, enjoy
still all the eastern part ; and the province of Nica-
ragua, with the exception of the castle of Neuestra
Senora, on the river San Juan, is inhabited by the
Spaniards, only towards the South Sea §, and in the
immediate vicinity of the great lake.
Rio Colorado, rises in the mountains of the in-
terior, and in its course to the sea, which is about
forty-five miles, several small streams empty them-
selves into it. This river, according to the Spaniards,
forms the boundary line between the provinces of
® Robinson’s Memoirs of the Mexican Revolution, vol. 2d, —
p: 218. %
+ Ibid.
+ Pinkerton’s Geography, vol. 2d, p. 358.
§ Introduction to the West India Atlas, p. 11.
3o
Nicaragua and Costa Rica. To the southward of
this is an inlet called the Boca de la Tortuga, in-
to which a small river of the same name discharges
itself. : .
Rio de los Anzuelos, and Rio Vasquez, are two
small rivers both laying to the southward of Boca
de la Tortuga.
Port of Cartago, is at the mouth of the Rizo
Matina, which the Buccaniers have named Car-
penters River ; it is one of the grand rendezvous of
the European contiaband traders *. This river has
a course of about sixty miles, and about thirty-five
miles from its mouth, it is joined by another at a
place where the Spaniards havea fort called Castil-
lo de Austria ; there is a road from thence for about
eight leagues to the Embarcadero, or landing place,
which is only seven or eight miles distant from the
port. :
From Carpenters River to Punta Chica, or pion
key Point, the coast is inhabited by the race of
Indians called YZalumancas. The following are
the capes or headlands, and also the rivers that run
through this territory, emptying themselves into the
| sea, or Bay of Guatemala, as itis by some geogra-
phers designated Rio} de Suerre, the harbour, called
el Portete, Rio Salado, port of Cuernavaca, Rio San
Antonio, Punta Blanca, Rio de Bananas, Rio de
* Intreduction to the West India Atlas, ee 32,
+ The Spanish name fer River,
iD :
36
Dios, Rio de los Doraces, Punta Caneta, Rig Que-
mado; and Rio de Culebras ; thislatterisesteemed by
the Spaniards the boundary between the provinces
of Costa Rica and Veragua.
Punta Chica, or Monkey Point, is the first head-
land in the province of Veragua, and after aii fol-
lows Punta Gorda de Tirbi.
Lagoon of Chiriqui, and Bahia del Almirante,
isan immense piece of water; it has excellent an-
chorage: several islands extend themselves across. its
mouth from Punta Gorda de Tirbi, to Punta de
Valencia, vulgarly called Valenty Point. The Boca
del Toro, is one of the principal entrances to the
Lagoon of Chiriqui. Itis 44 leagues from Porto
Bello, and leads on the west to the Bahia del Al-
mirante, or Port of Boca Toro; and on the east, or
rather south, to Chiriqui Lagoon. The mouth to the
west is called Boca del Drago, or Dragons mouth.
In the harbour there is safe anchorage and good
shelter for ships; and under the Itttle islands in the
vicinity, smaller vessels may ride securely during
violent winds. This place was often resorted to by
the Buecaniers, and here they victualled and refit-
ted their fleet, consisting of nine vessels, fora South |
Sea expedition *.
Bryan Edwards says, ‘* but the finest harbour in
“‘ all the continent, from Honduras to Porto Bello,
* Columbian Navigator, p. 21-
37
‘“‘ ig undoubtedly the Boca del Toro, a place not
“ only capable of containing the whole navy of
“ Great Britain, with good anchorage throughout,
“ but which has within it many excellent harbours,
“« sheltered from the wind at every point of the com-
‘* pass ; 1t commands a tract. of country one hundred
“miles in extent, and joins a lagoon, called the
“ Chiriqui Lagoon. The ‘rivers that empty them-
“* selves into the lagoon areindeed little known toany
‘¢ people, except our Mosquito Indians, who say they
‘ have traced some of them quite back to the Spa-
‘nish settlements. ‘They aver, that there is a la-
*‘ goon on the South Sea coast, right opposite to the
“ Chiriqui lagoon, and that these Jagoons have a
“communication with each other, by means of some
“ of the rivers above-mentioned : certain it is, that
“ from a hill on the interior banks of .the -Chiriqut
‘ Lagoon, there isa spacious prospect of both seas,
‘ ‘Fhe navigation into the harbour we are now speak-
“ yng of, will be attended with no’kind of difficulty
“ to ships of the largest. tonnage, the smallest depth
** being five fathoms *”. ‘Mr Jefferys says, * The In-
“dians who inhabit the country around these
*‘ bays are very fierce; and,.as the Spaniards could
‘“‘ never conquer them, they called them Jndios
‘“* Bravos, or Wild Indians. These people have
* Edward’s Account of the British Settlements on the Moss
quito Shore. Vol. Sth, p. 215. .
8
Ou)
often shewn an inclination to trade with the En-
“ lish ; but the Mosquitos, (to the northward,)
“ being jealous, it has been thought more prudent
‘to decline it, though a settlement erected here,
“ with a fort, might be attended with a very lucra-
“ tive trade to the British nation. Near this coast
‘¢ is found asmall shell fish, which affords the true
“Tyrian dye. The country is very fruitful, and
“ produces great plenty of mango, equal to that of
“ the East Indies, with several sorts of spices, includ-
‘ing the wild nutmeg, many of which were
“ brought by the French, who once had a design of
“settling here *.” There are at present about sixty
persons, chiefly English from Jamaica, settled here,
and the Indians of the whole of the district of
Chiriqui, recognise George Frederic, king of the
Mosquito nation, as their sovereign, and pay him an
annual tribute. !
' There is a kay on the north point of the Boca
del Toro, with cocoa nut trees on it; which shews
itself like a snow under sail. When you get this
kay in sight, bearing from S. by E. to §. S.W. you
must haul off; for there is very foul ground, which |
lays for at least.3 leagues from the kay f.
* Jefferys,
+ The West India Pilot, p. 36.
a9
ISLANDS.
Ruatan, vulgarly called Rattan, is about thirty
miles in length, and varies from five, to seven, and
eight miles in breadth; it lies nearly E. and
W. and the east end of it bears N.W. by W.
distance 14 leagues from Cape Honduras, and IL
from Truxillo, and lays 444 miles W.5.W. from
Jamaica. It is estimated to contain about 250,000.
acres ; the climate is very healthy, the land in the
vallies rich and fertile. Here are great quantities
of cocoa nuts, wild figs, and excellent grapes *.
The forests produce white oaks, and pine trees fit
for masts for merchant ships}. It abounds with
-deer, wild hogs, Indian rabbits, and birds of many
species ; parrots are innumerable, and their inces-
sant noise may be heard at a considerable distance
‘from the shore t. Its soil, and the natural advan-
tages connected with it, might perhaps in no de-
gree be found inferior to many of the West India
islands which are cultivated, and it is considerably
larger than many of them {. A constant breeze from
the E. cools and tempers the air, and it abounds
* Jeffery’s West India Atlas, p. 17.
+ Maltham’s Naval Gazetteer, Vol. 2d.
{ Henderson's Honduras, p. 163,
$ Ibid. p. 168. :
40
with excellent water #. At its west end are several
iine meadows of many hundred acres, where the
Jamaica planters formerly used to breed mules.
The north coast is defended by a continued reef
of rocks, between which are very few passages even
for small vessels. The south side of Ruatan has se-
veral good harbours: the principal, named by the
English New Port Royal, and where they began
their settlement, ‘is a very fine harbour, and ca-
‘* pable of being made impregnable ; the sea breeze,
“ meeting no obstruction, blows quite through, and
“renders the place extremely healthy ; the air is
** cooler, and more temperate than most parts of tbe
“ West Indies +.”
‘This harbour is naturally guarded by rocks and
shoals, and has an entrance so small as only to ad-
mit one ship at a time t. It is formed, on the south,
by several islets and shoals, which form two entran-
ces. The largest of these is called George's Isle;
and the best channel is at the west end of it. At
‘the N.E. end of the harbour there is a small kay,
called. Careening Kay, where vessels may be cleaned
and repaired, This is the best anchorage for vessels
that come in to:stay:for any considerable time-4.
Maltham’s Naval Gazettter. Vol. 2d,
West India Pilot, 1766.
Jeffery’s West India Atlas, p. 17.
Columbian Navigator, p. 38.
4L
“In Port Royal Harbour, British ships formerly
“‘ obtained wood ; and they procured water from
“a nvulet in the N.W. part of the harbour. The
“ harbour is capacious enough to contain 20 or 25
sail of the line, Formerly there were two small
* batteries here; one on the west end of George’s
* Isle, and the other on a high point of land on the
‘* S.W. part of the harbour. The heights of Rua-
** tan command such an extensive prospect, that no.
“‘ vessels can pass to the Bay of Honduras without
“being seen from them *. ”
Within about three leagues of the west end of
the island, and just to leeward of the second point
on the coast, in running down from Port. Royal, isa
harbour called Dzxon’s Cove, very convenient in
north winds for ships to shelter in that are bound
to the Bay of Honduras. The banks on both sides
of the harbour are very steep, 12 to 3 fathoms
not half a ship’s length from the deep water to the
shoalest. It is best to anchorin the middle of the
harbour in about 15 or 16 fathoms, clay ground,
and moor with a kedge to the eastward ; you will
then be abreast of a creek on the east side of the
harbour +. This is a fine outlet, as you may be at
sea in 10 minutes; and, in case of accidents, a ves-
sel may be saved here without anchors or cables,
* Columbian Navigator, p. 38.
+ Earle’s Sailing Directions, 1799, p. 29.
42
by running up the N.E. part of the harbour, which
ig all soft mud *. |
The English in 174%, took possession of the is-
land of Ruatan, and built a fort in which they puta
garrison of 250 men; one Pitts, a logwood cutter,
was its first governor, who never had a successor+.
“Our ships, bound from Honduras to Jamaica,
* touch at Port Royal when they want water or
“‘ have sprung a leak ; and those which go from Ja-
“‘ maicato Honduras, take pilots there for the Bay {.”
This fine island is claimed by H. H. the Cazique
of Poyais. ‘ The Spaniards have a kind of military
* station or look-out post on this island ; this, how-
“ever, may rather be considered as intended to es-
“tablish their right to it by occupancy than as a
“ means of defence, as the force does not consist of
** more than five or six men {.” The small islands
adjoining the east end of Ruatan, named Helena
Moraite, and Barbaretia, may be deemed only as
detached parts of the former ; they are situated on a
flat, extending from Ruatan, and are only separated
from each other by a narrow channel of the sea.
They are frequented by turtles, and abound in In-
dian rabbits, an animal something larger than a
* Earle’s Sailing Directions, 1799, p. 29.
+ Jeffery’s West India Atlas, p. 17.
t Ibid. p. 17.
§ Henderson’s Honduras, p. 194.
43
hare, the flesh of which is considered very delicate.
Captain Henderson, on his return from Mosquitia,
was driven by stress of weather to take shelter un-~
der Barbaretta, on the beach of which he construct-
eda hut, but could not gain the interior without
great difficulty; the surface though +igh, being
nearly covered with impenetrable underwood. ‘‘ Af-
“ ter a walk of about a mile and a half along the
‘‘ beach, in a contrary course to the one’I had.pursued
“‘ the day before, we came to the rocks, and here, al-
‘“‘ though our progress seemed less difficult to the
“eye, it scarcely presented fewer obstacles to the
“feet. Difficulties, however, sink before determi-
*‘ nation. Iwas resolved to mount, ,to it therefore
“TI went with hands and knees. After some
‘‘trouble, I.gained a firm station .on a toler-
‘able eminence: and without -resorting to .the
“ extravagant and affected language sometimes used
‘‘ on similar occasions, I might truly say, the whole
“¢ was.enchantingly beautiful.and picturesque. -The
“spot on which I stood.might,be connected.with a
‘© space of somewhat more: than half an acre, entire-
“ ly clear of trees, growing with a luxuriant grass.
“ Beyond.this the whole became.a thick continued
“* grove,
«© Where scarce a speck of day,
“ Falls on the lengthened gloom.”
THOMSON.
“ At the bottom of the rock, the sea rolled with
FE
A
* Joud and haughty sway, and the confused mass of
“stone which lay scattered about, at once confes-
“sed its uncontrollable dominion *.”
Guanaja, vulgarly called Bonaca, was discover-
ed by Columbus, and is about 60 miles in cireum-
ference. It lies about the distance of 40 leagues
W.S.W. from the Swan Island, and 20 leagues
from Black River. “ The part of the island we
“were on was highly romantic and picturesque,
“ and like Ruatan, profusely covered with trees. Its
' “natural productions appeared nearly the same.
‘¢ The little bay in which we anchored was of great
“ depth, and so transparent that the shell fish and
“ coral rocks at the bottom might be clearly discern-
“ed+.” This island contains abundance of lime-
stone ; and lapis calaminaries, an ore of zinc, has
been discovered here. The land is very high, and
it can be seen at a great distance off at sea.
The harbour on the south side is called Half
moon Kay, from a small island of that name and
shape, close to its entrance ; it 1s also the largest of
several, that lay about the entrance, and has cocoa-
nut trees growing onit. There are several other kays
inside. To go to the watering place, you must steer
west from the Half-moon Kay, for the middle, or 77o-
lan’s Kay, and from thence W. by N. for the kay
* Henderson’s Honduras, p. 194.
+ Ibid. p. 176:
40
which is nearest the island, and called Frenchman’s
ay. Then run round the north-east side, between
it and the island, observing to keep close to the
reef, and to fetch as near as you can to the kay,
and when it bears East from you, to let go the an-
chor. “ There are several patches of rocks lying
‘* to the southward and westward ; but as the water.
“‘is-very clear, those dangers may be avoided *.” A
Between Halfmoon Kay, and the S.W. Kay, and
about mid-channel over to the eastward, lies a very
dangerous shoal, where there is hardly, e eight feet
water in some places; the bad effects of which
were felt by H. B. M. sloop Swift, which struck
u pon it in 1764, and was thereby obliged to throw
her guns overboard}. ‘‘ Rattan and Bonaca, for
“‘ the conveniency of very fine harbours, the good~
“ness of the soil, pureness of the air, the great
“‘ quantity of fish and wild hogs, cocoa-nuts, fine-
“ness of water and commanding ground; those
“islands are proverbially called in that country,
“ ¢ the Garden of the West Indies; the Key to
“ Spanish America, New Gibraltar, &e.: and they
‘¢ of themselves, from their natural strength, might
‘“‘ be made impregnable, being tenable with a Say
‘¢ small force f.
* Columbian Navigator, p. 37.
+ Directions for Sailing to the Moskito Shore, Rattan, and
Bay of Honduras, &c. by Captain Hester,
% Wright's Memoir, p. 16.
bs
re 8)
46
Swan Islands, called by the Spaniards Santa-
nillas, aré two islets, situated about 300 miles from
the west end of Jamaica, and about 90 miles dis-
tant from Black River. They’ aré siirrounded by a
reef, excepting on the S.W. side, where there is an-
choragé. Considerable quantities of fustic gtow
here, and gredt numbers of turtle resort to them, to
lay their eggs, Vessels from Jainaica, bourid to
the Mosquito Shore and Bay of Honduras, usually
endeavout to make these islands, from whericé they -
take a fresh departure. It is 1 contemplation to
establish a few fishermen’s familiés oni them, for the
purpose of being able to supply pilots to vessels,
bound to Black River and Balize. :
Old Providence, lies in latitude 13°96"Ney it:
is only two leagues and a halflong, and one Bi ta:
its most northerly point, called Santa Catilina, is
separated from it by a narrow channel, on which
the Buccaniers had built a bridge *. It is nearly
surrounded by a reef, which also incloses the isle of
Catalina. A break on the reef, on thé western
side, admits vessels to an anchorage, in 4 fathoms fF.
This island formerly belonged to the Earls of War-
wick, and its possession was secured to England by
the 8th article of the American treaty in 1670, but
it afterwards reverted to the Spaniards. It has lat-
* Jeffery’s West India Atlas, p. 11,
- Columbian Navigator, p. 31.
AT
terly been in possession of the independent chief,
General Aury, who has built a town there, called
Isabella. Its present population is between three
and four hundred souls, exclusive of the garrison.
It has been very much celebrated in the history of
the Buccaniers, who fortified it, and made it for .
some time their principal retreat. In 1665, Mans-
velt, the pirate, sensible of the great convenience of
these islands, in his descents on the Spanish Main,
took them, and connected them by a bridge, in-_
tending to raise provisions on them for his whole |
_ fleet, leaving a garrison and French governor; the
latter delivered them soon after to the Spaniards,
who fortified them, but they were subsequently
taken by the Buccaniers *. Notwithstanding the
smallness of this island, it may be considered as ‘one
of the best in the West Indies, both on account of
its fruitfulness and the salubrity of its air; to which
we may add, the facility of fortifying its shores ;
it is watered by four streams, two only of which are
dry in summer; the woods, composed of cedars,
fustic, and other trees for dying, are full of an in-
credible number of pigeons; guanas, whose flesh .
in taste resembles that of a chicken, are in great
abundance ; and there is not a serpent, or any other
venomous creature to be found +. |
* Columbian Navigator, art. ‘Mosquitia, p. 31.
a Jeffery’s West India Atlas, p. 11. '
48 .
San Andres, sometimes called St Andrews, and
St Andreas, lays in latitude 12°. 30’, with the
north point of the island N. by E. the middle E.
by S. and the south point S. E*. San Andreas is
about. 18 leagues from Old Providence. At the S.
W. side, you may anchor in very good sandy
ground. Abont a mile from shore, you have from
15 fathoms to 6 fathoms. You may come to an
anchor in what water you please}. On the west
side there is a fine harbour called the Cove, where
large vessels may anchor within a cable’s length of
the shore ; ‘‘ the water here is so deep that the Mon-
‘‘ arch, a ship of 600 tons, anchored with a cable a-
“ stern, within a few yards of the shore f.” On the
east side there is good anchorage in Cocoa-Plumb-
Tree-Bay ; the entrance is between two small islets ;
on the bar there is two and a half fathoms water.
This 1s an excellent harbour for vessels not exceed-
ing 200 tons: up the harbour towards the north
end, there is fine shelter, and plenty of wood and
water to be had.
Mr Weatherhead, a medical officer attached to the
army of General Macgregor in 1819, and who has
* Columbian Navigator, p. 31.
+ Earle’s Sailing Directions, p. 28.
{ An Account of the late expedition against the Isthmus of
Darien, under the command of Sir Gregor M‘Gregor, by W-
D. Weatherhcad, Esq. London 182!, p. 15.
49
since published, rather a biassed account of the late
expedition against Darien, influenced probably by
hisown disappointment, says, “‘ the Island of St An-
“ drews is a coral formation, of small size, within a
“ few hours sail of the Island of Old Providence and
~“ the Corn Islands, and about forty-eight hours sail
“from the main land of South America. It is
“beautifully varied by hills and valleys covered
“* with woods, sugar and cotton plantations, provision
** grounds, and excellent pasture for oxen; the beef
“‘and pork here are very superior, fowls are in a-
“ bundance, yams, plantains, and cocoa-nuts, pines,
- “ shaddocks, forbidden fruit and tamarinds, onicns,
** shalots, &c. &c. enrich the provision grounds, and
*“ prow round the picturesque houses and cottages of
the inhabitants *.” In another place he says, “two
“ roads lead from the cove the length of both sides
“of the island; they are, however, somewhat diffi-
“ cult at landing to find out ; indeed, so snugly are
“¢ all the houses on the island situated, that only one
“‘ of them can be perceived from the sea, it appear-
“edtousto be uninhabited. The island is éx-
' “ tremely healthy, rich and beautiful, perpetually
“ cooled by delightful sea breezes+ .” |
The island of San Andres centains about three
hundred white persons and people of colour, and be-
* Weatherhead’s account of the expedition against the Isth-
mus of Darien, p. 15. vWD
50
tween ten and twelve hundred slaves ; “‘ they carry
“on a considerable smuggling trade with the Main,
“ ship cotton, &c. for Jamaica, supply Chagres and
“‘ Porto Bello with ground provisions, and I believe,
“annually dispose of a number of the children of
“their slaves at the ports on the South American
“coast *.” In the month of December 1815, two
Carthagenian privateers landed their crews and cap-
tured the island, putting the Spanish governor and
soldiers to the sword; they spiked the guns of the
batteries, and burnt the government house, and
Governor Gonzale’s plantation, at the same time
carrying away .many of the slaves. In 1818, Gene-
ral Aury sent his sick here from the island of Pro-
vidence, and in April 1819, General Macgregor came
to an anchor in the Cove with hisfleet ; ‘‘ the island of
‘* St Andreas was taken formal possession of by him-
“self and the ex-governor, in the name of the govern-
‘‘ ment of New Grenada, on Sunday the 4th April,
“1819. At twelve o’clock the patriot colours of
“ Grenada were:hoisted on Leva-hills, near the scite
‘of an intended battery, which was to command
“ the cove, and a salute of 21 guns was fired by the
‘¢ Hero upon the occasion +,” immediately after which
she was commissioned as a national vessel, and un-
_ ™ Weatherhead’s Account of the Expedition against the
Isthmus of Darien, p. 15.
t Ibid. p. 15,
51
der a second salute of twenty-one guns, hoisted the
independent standard of New Grenada, when his
Excellency Don Juan Elias Lopez, the governor of
Carthagena and Delegate of the General Congress
of New Grenada, conferred on her the name of El
Macgregor *, in compliment to the commander in
chief. “* A dinner was given on shore by the ex-go-
«' vernor, at which the principal officers were present,
“ andchief inhabitants of the island; an oath of
“allegiance to the government of New Gre-
“nada was taken, and General Wolf’s song,
“ The soldiers business is to die, was sung with
*‘ all that enthusiasm which the occasion inspired.
‘‘ It was the intention of Sir Gregor to convert St
‘* Andreas into a depot for the sick, to erect forts,
* &c. upon the island, and to leave a part of the
“ artillery and stores+.” After the recapture of
Porto Bello, General Macgregor returned here, and
again took formal possession of the island, appointing
Colonel Woodbine, the Adjutant-General of .the
army, to be its governor. At the capture of Porto
Bello, he particularly distinguished himself; Wea
therhead says, ‘‘ Colonel Woodbine now led the
“advance, who, from his experience in bush-fight-.
“ ing in the late American war, when at the head of,
“ the Indians, was well calculated for this descrip-
“tion of service {.” This officer, who has been
* The Macgregor. .
+ Crea cehieall’s Account of the cpusinen against the
Isthmus of Darien, p. 19 and 20. + Ibid. p. 25.
G
52
several years in the Cazique’s service, was promoted
in 1819, to the rank of Brigadier-General, and at
the same time received the Military order of the
Green Cross; end in 1820, in consideration of his
long and faithful attachment, was entrusted with
the important office of Vice-Cazique of Poyais ;
and it is my firm opinion, that no one conld have
been found more deserving and worthy of this con-
fidence, or more capable of filling the important
station with credit to himself, and benefit to the
native Indians, as well as the settlers in general.
There are some islets or kays in the vicinity of
San Andres. At the distance of six leagues to the
eastward are the E.S.E. Kays, they are three in
number, and have reefs all round them; there is
good anchorage for small vessels, but a person ought
to be well acquainted. ‘The $.S.W. Hays, called
by the Dutch Abu-kerken, and by the Spaniards
Albuquerque, axe three islets with good anchoring
ground. There is nothing to fear here; the water
about therm is deep and clear, and every thing may
be seen. ‘There are a few rocks above water, close
to the kays, but they will be avoided by keeping
the island of San Andres N. by W. until the
9.9.W. kays bear S.W. by S. when you may pro-
ceed as convenient*. Both the above kays aré
covered with cocoa-nuts; and large quantities of
turtle are caught here in the season, many of them
* Columbian Navigator, art. Mosquitia, p. 31.
33
of the Hawks-bill species. In a ciear day, both the
E.S.E. and S.8.W. kays may be distinctly seen
from the heights of San Andres. J
Corn Islands, called by the Spaniards Islas de
Manglares, lie to the eastward of Pearl Key La-
goon; they are of considerable height, the south-
western is the largest. From the sinaller island
stretches a reef, about two leagues distant on the
north-east side of the island. These two islands
are reckoned 50 leagues distant from Sandy Bay *.
The largest is nearly surrounded by a reef, but
there 1s anchorage on the western side, in clear
sandy ground, in 4, 5, or 6 fathoms water. Little
Corn Island, is full of large cocoa-nut trees, and
has fresh water: in the Great Corn Island, plenty
of good fresh water may be found, by digging '
small holes in the sand. Several English families
reside upon these islands, where they raise cotton
and pienty of stock; the population may be esti-
mated at one hundred souls.
MOUNTAINS.
The chief of these to the westward, are called the
Poyer Hiils, and by the Spaniards Sierras de la
Cruz. This high land terminates with a remark-
able sugar loaf hill, supposed to have been a vol-
cano, which stands several leagues inland, upon the
eastern bank of Black River, and nearly south from |
* The West India Pilot, 33.
G2
a4
the entrance; further westward,a little distance in the
interior, stands the high round hill called the Picacho.
A chain of lofty mountains run diagonally from the
Bay of Truxillo, nearly south-east, to Saint Juans,
which are deemed inaccessible, and serve as a strong
barrier between the Spanish and Mosquito terri-
tories *,
CLIMATE.
The climate is mild for those latitudes, and being
continental, not nearly so hot as the islands in the
same parallel +. The great salubrity of the air { of
this delightful and most valuable country §, sup-
plies a constant fund of health and activity to the
European settler, a blessing which is seldom enjoy-
ed in the same degree in any other part of either
- North or South America. With the exception of
a few months in the year, this country is constantly
refreshed by regular sea breezes, accompanied by an
average of heat that may be taken at the tempera-
ture of 80 degrees ||, The temperature of the air
@ Wright’s Memoir, p. 11.
t Memoir of the Mosquito Territory, by Captain Wright, R.
N. 1808, p. 11.
+ Ibid, p. 11.
§ Account of the British Settlements on the Mosquito shore,
by Bryan Edwards in 1773, 5th Edit. vol. 5, App. p. 202.
|| Account of the British Settlement of Honduras, by Captain
Henderson, 44th Regiment, 2d Edit. 1811, p. 13.
03
varies indeed considerably according to the eleva-
tion of the land, but with this exception, the me-
dium degree of heat is much the same throughout
the country. Captain Henderson, speaking of the
climate of Honduras, very justly observes, “ The
“ climate of this part of the American continent is
“ greatly superior to that of most other paris of the
‘¢ same vast portion of the globe, either in higher or
“ lower degrees of latitude. It is equally superior
“to the climate of the West India islands general-
“ly; for persons whose health and constitutions
‘‘ have become impaired from the effects of the
‘‘ latter, very frequently acqu:re a sudden restora-
*‘ tion of both after an arrival at Honduras *.” This
observation holds not only equally good, but even in
a superior degree, with respect to the Mosquito shore,
and there certainly is not any where to be found in
either the Northern or Southern continent of Ame-
rica so salubrious and delightful a climate.
ene
SEASONS.
A tropical year seems properly to comprehend
but two distinct seasons, the wet and the dry, and
these have also their marked difference, though na-
ture may not have determined the shades of varia-
* Account of the British Settlement of Honduras, by Captain
Henderson, 44th Regiment, 2d Edit. 1611, p. 12, 13.
56
tion with the same strong lines which she has affix-
ed to most other situations under her dominion ;
but as the rains in these climates constitute. two
great periods, it may be described like the, Euro-
pean year, under four divisions.
The Spring or vernal season may be said to com-
mence with the months of April and May, when
the foliage of the trees evidently become. more vi-
vid, and the savannas begin to change their russet
hue, even previous to the first periodical rains,
which are now daily expected, and compared with
the autumnal rains, may be said to be gentle show-
ers. After these rains have continued a short time;
the weather becomes dry, settled and salutary ; and
the tropical Summer or dry season, reigns in full
glory. The sun, during this space, is always most —
powerful, and its. vivid rays are not mitigated by.
the same uniformity of breeze that prevails dur-
ing. the other months of the year. Nota cloudis
to be perceived ; and the nights at this season are
transcendently beautiful. The clearness and bril-
liancy of the heavens, the serenity of the air, and
the soft tranquillity in which nature.reposes, contri-
bute to harmonise the mind, and produce the most
calm and delightful sensations. |
The moon too, in these climates, displays far great-
er radiance than in Europe. The smallest print is le-
gible by her light, and in the moon’s absence, her
function is not ul supplied by the brightness of the.
57
milky-way, and by that glorious planet Venus,
which appears here like a little moon, and glitters
with so refulgent a beam as to cast a shade from
trees, buildings and other objects, making full a-
mends for the short stay and abrupt departure of the
crepusculum or twilight *.
The state of the weather commonly continues
with little variation, from the middle of June until
the end of August, when the diurnal breeze begins
to intermit, and the sun, during this space, is always
more powerful, and instead of a steady and refresh-
ing wind from the sea, there are usually faint bree-
zes, and calms elternately. These are preludes
to the second periodical or autumnal seasons. Large
towering clouds, fleecy and of a reddish hue, are
now seen in the morning in the quarters of the
south and south-east ; the tops of the mountains at
the same time appear clear of clouds, and the ob-
jects upon them wear a bluish cast, and seem much
nearer to the spectator than usual. When these
vast accumulations of vapour have risen to a con-
siderable height in the atmosphere, they common-
ly move horizontally towards the mountains, pro-
claiming their progress in deep and rolling thunder,
which reverberated from peak to peak, and an-
swered by the distant roaring of the sea, heighten
the majesty of the scene, and irresistibly lift up the
* Edward's History of the West Indies, vol. Ist, p. 9.
58
mind of the spectator to the great Authorof all sub-
limity *.
The waters, however, with which these congre-
gated vapours load the atmosphere, seldom fall with
great and general force until the beginning of Octo-
ber.
But the wet season, as it is emphatically denomi-
nated, is not considered here the season of disease.
It is fatally otherwise with the whole of the West
Indies. At the beginning of November, what are
called the norths, north winds, commence, and gene-
rally continue, with little variation, til the return
of the month of March. Whilst these winds last,
the mornings and evenings are cold, frequently un-
pleasantly so; and what in this country is under-
stood by a wet north, might perhaps furnish no very
imperfect idea of a November day in England; a
dry north, on the contrary, is healthful, agreeable,
and invigorating +. The north wind having ac-
quired sufficient force, the atmosphere is cleared ;
and now comes on a succession of serene and plea-
sant weather, the north-east and northerly winds
spreading coolness and delight throughout the whole
of the country. If this interval, therefore, from the
beginning of December to the end of April, be cal-
led winter, it is certainly the finest winter on the
* Edward's History of the West Indies, vol. 1st, p. 11.
+t Henderson’s Honduras, p. 14.
ms
59
globe. . To valetudinarians and persons advanced in
life, it is the climate of Paradise *.
——
SOTL.
[ aoa)
The soil is every where fertile in a very uncom:
mon degree, and capable of producing in the utmost
perfection, whatever is produced between the tro-
pics+. Few countries, perhaps, ever possessed
higher advantages, in an agricultural point of view,
than the greater part of that which is placed con-
tiguous to the Bay of Honduras. The extraordinary
benefits that might result from the happiest com:-
bination of climate and soil, are almost disregarded ;
and the cultivation of the earth, which in almost
every other spot of the habitable world, claims a
first attention, is here held of no consideration at
allt. The soil isso rich, that, until three or four
seasons of ratoon canes has in some degree impo-
verished the land, no sugar can be produced; the
first growth rising to the great height of sixteen to
eighteen feet, and of several inches diameter ; which
naturally impoverishes the saccharine juices. This
fact must sufficiently tend to shew the great ferti-
* Edward’s History of the West Indies, vol. 1, p. 13.
+ Ibid. p. 208.
+ Henderson’s Honduras, p. 37, 88. ;
el
60
lity of the soll in producing maize, Indian corn,
cotton, coffee, and provisions of all kinds, exceeding
by far any thing known in the West India Is-
lands *.
In the month of September 1806, Captain Hen-
derson was sent from Balize to the Mosquito Shore,
charged with a vatiety of presents, ordered by go-
vernment for the Chiefs of that nation; he says,
‘The soil they inhabit is abundantly fertile, and
*t capable of many modes of cultivation. Indian
“‘ corn of the finest quality, plantains, cassava-root,
“ varieties of the yam and sweet potatoe, are plen-
“ tifully raised from it. The sugar-cane, cotton
*‘ and tobacco, thrive equally well; and in the
_ “ mountainous situations, coffee, no doubt, might
‘*‘ be produced, not inferior to that which is raised
“in the West India Islands +.” Had Captain Hen-
derson visited Biack River, he would have there
seen as fine. coffee as 1s produced in any part of the
“world.
' Every variety of animal and vegetable nature,
for use or beauty, for food or luxury, has been most
liberally bestowed on this country. It is every
where. plentifully watered ; and the soil is almost
every where fertile in a very uncommon degree, and
* Captain Wright’s Memoir, p. 11, 12.
+ Henderson’s. Sketches of the Mosquite Indians, p. 212,
213,
61
capable of producing, in the utmost perfection,
whatever is produced between the tropics. © The
cotton bush, the cocoa or chocolate nut, and venel-
loes, flourish spontaneously all over the country ;
indigo, too*, is a native, and appears to be the
same sort with that of the neighbouring province of
Guatimala +, which is accounted the best of any.
The sugar-canes arrive here to as great perfection as
in any of the islands{. The productions common
to the West India Islands, with a considerable va-
riety of such as are more familiarly known to that
part of the continent which is comprehended within
the tropics, might unquestionably be cultivated at
Honduras, with equal, if not, in many instances,
with superior success. The sugar-cane viewed as
the most valuable of all, thrives with the richest
luxuriance. Coffee, another, and now become one
of the most profitable articles of our island culture,
grows equally well. Cotton must likewise be in-
cluded. Indigo might’also amply reward the labours
of the cultivator; an inferior sort is indigenous, In-
dian atrow-root is abundantly produced, and prmento
has been tried under the most.encouraging appear-
ance of profit{. ‘ Previous to the removal of the:
“ English settlers from the Mosquito Shore, several
* Indigofera Argenta, Linn. + Indigofera Disperma, Linn.
{ Edward’s West Indies, vol. 5th, App. p. 20».
§ [Ienderson’s Honduras, p. 39.
HS
62
‘ sugar plantations had been formed on Black River,
“ and the sugar and rum which they furnished was
“‘ very generally deemed, by competent judges, not
‘inferior to the same articles the prodtce of Ja-
“« maica *,”
One might cultivate rice, cocoa, indigo, silk grass,
tobacco, &c. to advantage in this country ; at pre-
sent, we get from it tiger and buck-skins, dying-
woods of several kinds, gums and balsams, indigo,
cochineal, sarsaparilla, tortoise-shells, zebra-wood,
for cabinet-makers, &c. but all these only in small
quantities {.
From Bluefields to Black River, the country is
generally flat for many miles from the sea-coast ;
but it rises into hills much sooner to the westward
of Black River, and to the southward of Biuefieldsf.
The savannas, or plains, afford the richest pastur-
age, being capable of any sort of cultivation §:
Endless tracts of fine ridges interspersed all over the
country, would supply an inexhaustible fund of tar
and turpentine ; the trees being so redundant with
the liquors, that when put into the deepest rivers
they instantly sink ||.
* Henderson’s Honduras, p. 39, 40.
+ Jeffery’s West India Atlas, p, 11.
{ Edward's History of the West Indies, vol. 5th, app. p.
208. j
§ Wright’s Memoir, p. 14.
| Ibid, p. 12,
63
MINERALS AND MINERAL SPRINGS.
Gotp,--thisis the only mineral that has yet been
discovered in this country, with the exception of
lapis calaminaris, in the Island of Guanaja:
many of the rivers, by washing the sands in fine
sieves, furnish the native globules of pure gold.
Those mines that have been discovered are very
rich: “I shall particularly mention one at Albra-
“ poyer, which might have turned out to infinite
‘‘ advantage to those concerned, had honesty in the
“ conducting of it been as proportionably attended
*‘ to as the mine was rich. This mine, with several
“ others might, with proper management, be again
“ worked to great benefit *.” In the neighbour-
ing province of Honduras, there are a great many
mines both of silver and gold; it is therefore pro-
bable that mines of the former metal will also be dis-
covered here, when the country becomes more peo- ©
pled, for the ridge of mountains that traverse the
Mosquito territory, are spurs of the same great
chain that separate this country from that of Hon-
duras and Nicaragua, and which contain many rich
mines of both these metals. The Mexican gold is
chiefly alluvial, but partly found in primitive moun-
ee
* Wright’s Memoir p. 14.
64
tains, and mixed with silver, in the mines of that
metal *.
Lapis CALAMINARIS,--this mineral is found in the
{sland of Guanaja ; it is an ore of zinc, of a spongy
substance, and a lax and cavernous texture, yet con-
siderably heavy. Zinc, which forms the connect-
ing link between the ductile metals, and those
which are not so, when found oxidated, 1s then com-.
monly called Calamine, or Lapis Calaminaris. Cal-
amine, according to Werner, is not found in the
primitive rocks. It oftener occurs sulphurated, and
then the vulgar name of it 1s Pseudo-gealena, or
Blende. It generally accompanies galena, or sul-
phuret of lead. It is often mixed with iron, gold,
and silver. The latter in particular is frequently
found in sulphurated zinc. It combines with al-
most all the metals, and some of its alloys are of great
importance. Zine combines readily with copper,
and forms one of the most useful of all the metallic
alloys. When the zinc does not exceed a fourth.
part of the copper, the alloy is known by thé hame
of brass. When the alloy contains three parts of
zinc, and four of copper, it assumes a colour nearly
the same with gold; but itis not so maleable as.
brass. Itis then called pinch-beck, princes metal,
or Prince Rupert’s metal. Tin and zinc may be
+ Edinburgh Gazetteer, Introduction, p. 77.
65
easily combined by fusion. The alloy is much
harder than zinc, and scarcely less ductile. This
alloy is often the principal ingredient in the com-
pound called pewter. The importation of this ore
into the United States of America, is free of duty ;
it may perhaps therefore merit the attention of some
of the settlers.
At the junction of two of the branches of the
Black River, or Rio Tinto, and in latitude 15° 8’.
are two springs, the one hot, the other cold; they
are situated close to each other at the base of a
ridge of mountains, which contain, according to re-
port, several rich mines of gold, and probably also
some of the other mineral ores.
TREES, SHRUBS, PLANTS, &c.
Manocany *,——This beautiful and valuable tree
grows in vast quantities in various parts of this
country ; it thrives in most soils, and varies both in
grain and texture with each 3 that which grows a-
mong the rocks is smaller, but very hard and weigi-
ty,ofaclose grain and beautifully shaded; while
-the produce of the low and richer lands is observed
to be more light and porous, of a paler colour and
open grain ; and that of mixed soils to hold a nie-
dium between both. The tree grows very tall and
* Seretenta Mahagoni, Linn.
66
straight, rising often sixty feet from the spur to the
branches, and is usually about four feet in diameter.
The leaves are of a beautiful deep green, the flower
of a reddish or saffron colour, and the fruit of an
oval form, about the size of a turkey’s ege ; while
that-which grows in the mountainous districts hard-
ly exceeds the size of a nutmeg: the whole appear-
ance of this tree, is the most beautiful that can be
imagined. It is said, that some have grown to the
- enormous height of one hundred feet. The wood is
generally hard, takes a fine polish, and is found to
answer better than any other sort in all kinds of
cabinet ware. It 1s a very strong timber, and answers
very wellin beams, joists, plank, board and shingles ;
and has been frequently put to those uses in Jamai-
ca in former times *. The Spanish men of war ta-
ken by the English, at the last memorable siege of
Gibraltar, in 1782, were of the finest species of this
wood.
The mahogany tree is seldom found in clusters, or
groups, but single and often much dispersed +;
there are two seasons of the year for cutting it ; the
first commencing shortly after Christmas, the other
about the middle of the year. The tree ig common-
ly cut about twelve feet from the ground. The
workmen raise a scaffolding four or five feet high
* Brown’s Civil and Natural History of Jamaica, p, 159.
+ Henderson’s Honduras, p. 62,
67
for the axe-man employed in levelling it. The part
beneath, extending to the roots, is not only of a lar-
ger diameter, but of a closer texture than the other
parts, most elegantly diversified with shades or
clouds, or dotted like ermine, with black spots, and
moreover takes the highest polish, with singular
lustre. This part is only to be come at by digging
below the spur to the depth of two or three feet,
and cutting it through, which is so laborious an o-
peration, that few attempt it, unless they are un-
commonly curious in the choice of their wood, or
to serve a particular order *. The body of the tree,
from the dimensions of the wood it furnishes, is
deemed the most valuable ; but for purposes of orna-
mental kind, the branches or limbs are generally
preferred, the grain of these being much closer, and.
the veins more rich and variegated. Some of the
wood is rough squared upon the spot, but this part
of the labour is generally suspended until the logs
are rafted to the entrance of the different rivers.
*“‘ It has been remarked, by those of most experience
_ “in the occupation, that the mahogany which is
“ fallen between the months of February and Sep-
** tember is very liable to split; the same observa-
* tion extends to that also which grows in rocky or
‘“* mountainous situations. This is the bay-man’s
“* greatest evil, for the wood more particularly sub-
* Mortimer’s Commercial Dictionary.
I
68
ject to this inconvenience is invariably the largest
“and of the finest quality. ! There is but one pre-
“ caution'‘against this, whenever the tendency to-
“‘ wards it is discovered, which is, to keep the tree
‘‘ immersed as closely as possible in deep water until
‘the time for shipping, or otherwise disposing of 1t
“arrives *,”
The price of mahogany on the Mosquito Shore, is
only £12 Jamaicacurrency per thousand feet. At
Balize it sells from sixteen to thirty pounds. This
difference of price arises from the cheapness of la-
bour in the Mosquito territory, and its greater a-
bundance. “ To give some idea of the profit,
“ though'perhaps the instances of such success are not
‘¢ numerous, which has been known to attend the
“ cutting of mahogany : a single tree has been found
“to contain 12,000 superficial feet, and this to pro-
‘« duce upwards of one thousand pounds sterling +.”
When this country was is possession of the British,
the exportation of mahogany in 1769 amounted to
800,000 superficial feet f.
Locwoop }.—This tree is small and crooked, with
a dark rough bark, the branches armed. with solitary
auxiliary prominent thorns: the leaves are wedge-sha-
* Henderson’s Honduras, p. 62.
+ Ibid. “
+ Edward’s Account of the British Settlements on the Mos-
quito Shore, drawn up for the use of Government in 1775.
§ Hamatozylum Capechianum, Linn.
69
ped, very smooth and shining; the flowers are nu-
merous, and appear either solitary, or in pairs, and
are of a reddish yellow colour. In-1715 it was
brought to Jamaica, in order to be propagated there
for exportation, and it now grows in many parts: of
that island. It thrives best in low swampy lands,
or shallow waters, where the bottom is rich and
moderately firm, and seldom rises above twelve or
fourteen feet in height, or exceeds seven inches in
diameter ; but the trunk is generally short and un-
even*, It may be classed among productions of an.
aquatic kind, and can seldom be obtained in any a-
bundance but in a low swampy soil or contiguous to
fresh water creeks and lakes, on the edges of which
the root, the only valuable part of the tree, spreads
to a very wide extent+. Iam not aware that this
tree is to be found in the Mosquito territory, and
if so, in only very small quantities. Captain Hen-
derson says, ‘‘1t may likewise be observed, that it
“is a production of local growth, and but rarely dis-
“ covered in any direction southwardly from the
“settlement of Balizet.” As this plant produces a
very valuable dye, and has been naturalized in Ja-
maica, I think there is little doubt, but what it
might thrive on some parts of the eastern coasts of
* Brown’s Civil and Natural History of Jamaica, p, 221,
+ Henderson’s Honduras, p. 70.
} Ibid. p. 71.
I 2
70
this country, were any of the settlers to be curious
enough to make the experiment. ‘This tree it 19.
paid attains to maturity in five years.
Cepar *, is found in great abundance in this
country, and grows to the height of seventy or
eighty feet, and is sometimes found from five to
six feet in diameter; the trunk is covered with a
rough bark, marked with longitudinal fissures ; but
when young, the bark is smooth and of an ash-co-
lour, growing rough as it advances in age ; when fresh
cut, it has an unpleasant smell, resembling that of a-
safoetida ; the timber, however, has a pleasant smell
when dry, and is soit, light, and of a reddish colour.
The leaves are sometimesnear three feet long, and have
a smell resembling that of the bark. | The flowers are
small and of a whitish flesh-colour. The wood of this
tree is much esteemed for wainscoting, and the in-
ternal partitions of most sorts of cabinet ware. It
makes good planks and shingles for houses, but can-
not be made into casks, as all spirituous liquors
dissolve a great quantity of its natural resin, and
from thence acquire a strong bitter taste +. ie
much used for canoes and periaguas, some of which
have been hollowed out of its trunk, not less than
forty feet long, and six broad : the softness and light-
* Cedrela Odorata, Linn.
t Brown’s Civil and Natural History of Jamaica, p. 158.
Ww
ness of its wood render it peculiarly proper for this
purpose ; and it is a valuable material for chests of
drawers, and other articles of household furniture,
because its odour is offensive to insects.
Santa Maria.—This isreckoned pretty good tim-
ber-wood ; but it must be kept under cover, for it
does not bear the weather well: it is frequently
used for staves and headings *, There is another
tree of the same name, which I believe is the Z'er-
minalia latifolia of botanists, and the Broad-leaf
tree of Jamaica. This wood has lately become
greatly in repute for ship-building, and its im-
portation into Great Britain is encouraged by
its being declared, for a limited time, free of duty.
SUMWOOD, or SOMEWOOD, is a peculiar non-de-
script wood, fit for many purposes of ship-building ;
“ the valuable properties of it are, to be impregna-
“ ble to the worm, and resist rust; this I had an
“ opportunity of ascertaining very fairly, by getting
‘¢ the carpenters of the Swift to build a boat of it for
“me, 28 feet length of keel, that 1 used all the
‘‘time I was in that country, and a twelvemonth
“‘ after I returned to England, finding it answers all
“‘ the good qualities that were given of it +.”
* Brown’s Civil and Natural History of Jamaica, p. 372.
+ Memoir of the Mosquito Territory, by Captain John
Wright, R. N. p. 13.
72
- Ouca,or Basrarp LiGNUMVITAE *.—This tree ri-
ses to a very considerable height ; its trunk is often a-
bove two feet and a half in diameter, and is covered
with a thick scaly bark. The leaves are about
three inches long, and two broad, smooth, with a
strong mid-rib, and many. interbranching veins;
the wood is hard, dark coloured, and close grained.
It is esteemed as one of the best timber woods of
the country.
Fustic +.—This tree is found in many parts of the
country, and abounds particularly in the Santanilla,
or Swan Islands, It has a large and straight trunk
rising to the height of upwards of sixty feet, with
long and large roots ; the bark is of a yellow colour.
he wood is very fine and solid, and of a fine yel-
low; the leaves are alternate, on shortish stalks,
rough, dark green, pointed, and larger towards the
footstalk ; the fruit is as large as a nutmeg, round,
formed like a mulberry, but greenish, both within ~
and without, with brown seeds. ‘This is a fine tim-
ber wood ; and a principal ingredient in yellow dies,
for which it is chiefly imported into Europe. The
berries are sweet and wholesome, but not. much
used, except it be by the winged tribe, by whose
care it ischiefly planted {. It is principally used in
* Rhamnus Sarcomphalus, Linn.
+ Morus Tinctoria, Linn,
.. $ Brown’s Civil and Natural History of Jamaica, p. 339.
73
general dyeing, and seldom in printing. It goes
much further than weld.
YELLOW SANDERS*, 1s of a pale yellowish or
brownish colour, of close even grain, and with a smell
approaching to a mixture of musk and roses, and of
a somewhat acid taste, with a slight bitterness ; it
is a most beautiful wood, and yields by digestion a
rich yellow tincture. On account of its fine frag-
rance, it is held in universal estimation. The wood
of this tree is said to make good inside timbers.
There is a shrubby plant + of this species which is
sometimes found in swampy places.
Pine {.—This tree rises to the height of fifty or six-
ty feet, with upright uneven rugged branches; the
leaves have rough, or finely serrated edges, and are
crowded about the extremities of the branches. A-
bout the different rivers and lagoons, particularly
towards the coasts, are found extensive tracts of
land abounding with pine trees of various kinds.
Captain Henderson, speaking of those found at Balize,
says, “‘ The timbers which these furnish, can scarcely
‘* be exceedéd in size, and are generally considered for
“ every necessary purpose, greatly superior to what
“* can be imported of the same kind from the Unit-
* Santalum, Linn.
+ Pterocarpus Ecastaphyllum, Linn.
t Panus Occidentales, Lambert.
74
“ed States. But the cause which has been before
“ assioned, the high value of labour in this country,
“‘ has occasioned the settlers, in most instances, ra-
“ther to prefer purchasing such materials from the
«“ Americans, than have recourse to those before
“them of domestic growth*.” Several saw mills,
some of them to be worked by steam, are about
being erected in the territory of Poyais, for the
purpose of cutting lumber, both for domestic con-
sumption and exportation.
Endless tracts of pine ridges interspersed all over
the country, would supply an inexhaustible fund of
tar and turpentine: the trees being so redundant
with the liquors, that, when put into the deepest rl-
vers they instantly sink +. While the British were
im possession of Black River, several of the settlers
engaged in the manufacture of tar, and some of the
ovens used by them are still standing. The large
quantities of pitch pine t upon the borders of Black
River Lagoon, might be turned to valuable account,
and become an article of extensive exportation to
Europe, and particularly Great Britain; and there
are few occupations that would better repay the la-
bours of the settler, as may be seen from the follow-
ing extracts, copied from Warden’s Account of the
* Henderson’s Honduras, p, 109.
+ Wright’s Memoir, p. 12,
£ Pinus Teda, Linn,
79
United States. “ From the pitch pine which. covers
“ the high sandy soil of the low country, an immense
‘‘ quantity of turpentine, tar, and pitch, 1s extract-
“ed. These commodities formerly enriched many
_“ farmers, who gained from the labours of one man
“ between £100 and £200 a-year. The turpentine
“is obtained by the simple process of making two
“ slits in the trunk of the pine, each about a foot in
“length, under which vessels are placed to receive
“ the resin, or gum, as it flows. For extracting zar,
“a circular basin, or floor of potter’s earth, is made,
“and so perforated as to allow the escape of the re-
*¢ sinous matter, which is received in carts placed
“underneath us it runs from the burming pine.
“ Pitch is formed by boiling the tar in pots of iron,
“ or in vessels formed of potter’s earth *.”” In Nor-
way, the inhabitants extract tar from the root of the
fir tree f.
Mancrove {.—There are three species of this tree,
the black, white, and red. This tree is generally
found on the borders of the sea, in whose waters
alone it seems to thrive; and there, only in such
places as have a soft and yielding bottom. The
* Warden’s Account of the United States of America; vol.
ad, p. 389.
+ Rordanz’s Europ. Commerce, p. 228.
+ Rizophora Mangle, Linn.
K
76
fruit of this tree germinates within the cup, and
grows from the top downwards, until it acquires a
due degree of weight and perfection: then it falls
off; and asthe root part is always thickest, and
hangs lowest, it drops in that direction, and is thus
réceived in the natural position in the mud below:
the leaves immediately unfold, and in a few minutes
you see a perfect plant, sometimes of ten or twelve
inches in length, which soon begins to shoot its roots,
and push its growth hke the parent stem *.
. ‘Fhe trunk of the Mangrove seldom grows to any
considerable thickness ; it is said sometimes to gTOW
to the height of fifty feet, has a white wood, and
rusty coloured bark. The wood is very tough and
hard, bears the Water well, and the black species is
much tised for knees and ribs in iong-boats, and o-
ther small craft ; for which the archings and angles
of its limbs most naturally adapt it. Its lower bran-
ches become frequently the supporters of the Amert-
can oysters, which has given rise to the fabulous ac-
count of the growth of this shell-fish +. The red
species is greatly preferred for the firmness of its
texture and its extraordinary durability : the bark it
furnishes has been thought little inferior to that of
the oak, when applied to the purpose of tanning
leather. This species of the mangrove usually
. =
* Brown’s Civil and Natural History of Jamaica, p. 211.
+ Fbid.
17
6
grows on the borders of the sea, or on the edges of
the rivers and creeks contiguous to it *,
SEA-SIDE GRAPE, Of MANGROVE GrapE tree}. This
is a large tree ; the branches irregularly spreading,
not forming a handsome head, but rendered beauti-
ful by the leaves and fruit. The leaves are large,
often quite round, of a deep green, with small scarlet
veins ; the flowers are small and of a whitish colour.
It grows on a sandy soil, generally near the sea.
The wood, according to Jacquin, is of a deep red co-
lour, very hard, heavy, brittle, but almost incorrupt-
ible: when used for posts or pallisades, the part un-
derground becomes as hard as stone. The fruit is
said to be good to eat. This tree is found extreme-
ly useful, from the naturally formed knees and Ubi
bers it supplies for small vessels.
Saropizza t, called by the natives Eban, and in
the island of Jamaica the Bully, or Nisberry Bully
tree, is found extremely useful for many purposes.
It generally grows the tallest of all the trees in the
woods ; its fruit is small, and the seeds oblong and
narrow. It is esteemed one of the best timber trees
in Jamaica {. There is another species of it called
* Henderson’s Honduras, p. 108.
+ Coccoloba Uvifera, Linn.
+t Achras, Linn.
§ Brown's Civil and wana’ History of Jamaica, p. 201.
K 2
78
the White Bully tree, or Galimeta wood *. This
tree grows to a considerable height, and is generally
furnished with many branches towards the top ; but
then rise irregularly and at distant stages, as they
usually appear in most of the firs of Europe. The
berries of this tree are black, smooth, and very
small +. All the species of this genus are found
growing naturally in the woods, and are much
sought after for the sake of their fruit, which
is very agreeable and pleasant to the taste. The
bark of several of the species is very astringent, and
is called Cortex Jamaicenis. 'This was once sup-
posed to be the true Jesuits bark, but its effect on
the negroes has been found to be pernicious.
PatmetTtTo [, Patmerro Royat, or Mountain
CazBBAGE, so called, because the upper part of the
trunk is sometimes eaten, and supposed to resemble
the European cabbage in flavour. This is a most
beautiful tree, and Brown says, ‘“‘ may be esteemed
“ the queen of the woods ;” it grows to a very con-
siderable size ; rises by a tall straight trunk, which
bilges moderately at some distance above the root ;
‘and shoots by a straight cylindric tapering body from
thence to the. top, where it spreads into a large and
: .
¥ Achras Salicifolia, Linn.
+ Brown’s Civil and Natural History of Jamaica, p. 201.
+ Palma Altissima, Linn,
19
beautiful foliage, not unlike that of the cocoa-nut
tree*, The sheaths of the leaves are very close, and
form the green top of the trunk, a foot and a half in
length. The fruits are oblong, obtuse berries of a
blue purple colour, and about the size of an olive,
containing a stone or nut which is oblong, mem-
braneous, smooth, brittle, inclosing a very hard car-
tilaginous kernel. “ The upper part of the trunk
“from whence the foliage springs, resembles a well
‘“‘ turned finely polished baiuster, of a lively green
“ colour, gently swelling from its pedestal, and di-
“‘ minishing gradually to the top, where it expands
“into branches waving like plumes of ostrich fea-
“thers. From the centre of the summit rises the
“ spatha or sheath, terminating in an acute point,
“The trunk itself is not less graceful, being a
“ straight, smooth, slightly annulated column, large
“at the base, and tapering from thence to the in-
“sertion of the baluster or cabbage+}.” Within
the leaves, at the top of the palm, is found a white
heart of eight or nine inches in circumference, which
is called cabbage, and which is esteemed a great
luxury by the inhabitants, who eat it either raw as
sallad, or fried with butter, as well as boiled, and
compare its taste to that of the archichoke. Some
authors say, that it frequently rises to above 200
¢
* Browns Civil and Natural History of Jamaica, p. 342,
t Edward's History of the West Indies, vol. Ist, p. 20.
80
feet in height, with a trunk no bigger than a man’s
thigh, and covered with a coat which is impenetra-
ble to a musket ball. Ray makes mention of one
of these trees that was observed to grow to the
height of 270 feet, or thereabouts. Ligon men-
tions some, at the first settlement of Barbadoes,
about 200 feet in height ; but Mr Hughes observes,
that the highest in his time, in that island, was 134
feet. Ldwards says, I am inclined to believe, that
I have seen them in Jamaica upwards of 150 feet
in height ; but it is impossible to speak with cer-
tainty, without an actual measurement. Neither
the tall trees of Lebanon, (says Hughes) nor any
trees of the forest, are equal to it in height, beauty;
or proportion ; so that it claims among vegetables,
that superiority, which Virgil gives to Rome among:
the cities of Italy :
** Verum hec tantum alias inter caput extulit urbes,
* Quantum lenta solent inter viburna cupresst.”
o
This tree is found very abundant in the different
islands and kays, and its wood is found remarkably
serviceable in the construction of wharfs, or when
put to any use where a continued resistance to water
may be needed.
PaLMETO-THatTcH *, grows both in the rocky
* Palma Brasthenses prunifera, Sloane..
8]
hills, and low moist plains near the sea, but seems
to thrive best in the former. It shoots-by a simple
stalk, and rises generally from four or five, to ten or
fourteen feet in height. It is always furnished with
leaves of the form of a fan, sustained by slender
compressed foot-stalks, and bears a great abundance
of small berries, which seem to feed both the birds and
beasts of the wood, when they are in season. The
trunk seldom exceeds four or five inches in diames
ter; it is called the Thatch-pole, and is much used
for piles in wharfs, and other buildings made in the
sea; for it has been observed to stand the water
very well, and is never corroded or touched by the
worms : the foot stalks of the leaves are very tough,
and serve (when split and pared) to make baskets,
bow-strings, ropes, and a thousand other convenien-
ces, where strength and toughness is required. The
leaves are called Thatch, and are daily used as such
in most new settlements and plantations, especially
for all the out-houses, and is found to stand the
weather for many years; but such coverings are
apt to harbour rats, and other vermin, which pres
vents a more general use of them *,.
Iron Woop +, the Ysera PuTerana of Mares
grave.— This wood is of a reddish cast, and is called
* Brown’s Natural History of Jamaica, p. 191.
t Syderoxylum, Linn,
82
iron wood, on account of its corroding as that metal
does, and its being remarkably hard and ponderous,
even more so than ebony. It will not float in wa-
ter, but sinks like metals. In South America it is
used for the shafts of the wheels of water-mills,
for the rollers with which the cylinders are jointed
for pressing the sugar canes, &c. Iron wood is fre-
quently employed in the manufacture of works of
taste, and in the formation of such articles as are re-
quired. to possess durability.
CaLaBaso-TreE *,—-This tree seldom rises above
sixteen or twenty feet in height; the trunk is gene-
rally irregular, and the branches crooked and spread-
ing; the wood is very tough and flexible, which
renders it very fit for the coach-makers purposes,
where it is observed to answer better than any other
sort of timber hitherto known +. The shell of the
fruit is so thin and close, that it serves to boil wa-
ter, as well asan earthen pot. The thicker parts are
frequently used for button moulds, and it also makes
a light and convenient drinking cup, for which pur-
pose they are much esteemed, and are often found
so large, as to be able to contain a gallon of water,
or other fluid.
ee ee _
* Crescentia, Linn.
t+ Brown's Natural History of Jamaica, p. 266,
83
Burton Woop *.—This tree grows very luxuri-
antly in low sandy bays and marshes, and seldom
rises above fifteen or sixteen feet, although it has
sometimes been known to grow as high as thirty
feet ; the leaves are smooth and greasy to the touch ;
the flowers are small and of a greenish yellow.
The Spaniards call it- Mangle Saragoza. It is
used for fire-wood, and its bark, it is said, serves to”
tan leather very well +. j
BuLttet-Tree.—This isa hard wood, and much
esteemed.
Wittow {.—This tree is very common, and grows
on the banks of most of the rivers. -
Bamsoo §, the large or Wild Bamboo Cane, is
very common in the cooller swampy bottoms a-
mong the mountains, and rises frequently to the
height of twelve or fourteen feet from the root ; it
is jointed like other reeds, is about an inch anda
half in diameter near the bottom, and tapers gradu-
ally towards the top; the outward coat 1s hard and
smooth, and the body firm, and filled with a soft
* Conocarpus Evecta, Linn.
+ Brown’s Natural History of Jamaica, p. 159.
t Salix Mosquitiana.
§ Arunds Bambos, Linn,
L
84
fibrous substance: the whole stalk is strong and
elastic, and is generally used for wattles in those
countries where they cover their houses with tyles,
or thatch. They are also used for baskets; but to.
prepare them for this purpose, they are obliged to
split them into tender slips, and to pare off the in-
ward more pithy part, leaving none but the out-
ward rind dnd lignous fibres for use. ‘The tops of
the more tender shoots of this plant are frequently
pickled in America, and very much liked; they
eat very crisp and tender *. ‘There are several spe-
cies of this tree, some of them rising to the height
of thirty feet, while others again, rise only a few
feet from the ground. Itis common on the banks
of most of the rivers.
Mouor +.~This tree is frequent by the sea side,
and is also found at soine distancé up the several ri-
vers, and grows very luxuriantly in many places.
It rises commonly to the height of sixteen or eigh-
teen feet, and throws out some large flowers, which
generally appear of a yellow, or saffron colour. The
bark of the tree is very tough, and not much infe-
rior to either hemp, or flax, on many occasions; it is
naturally white, and of a fine, soft, filamentous tex-
* Brown’s Natural History of Jamaica, p. 138+
+ Althea Rucemgsa, Lim.
85
ture ; which must, undoubtedly, render it extreme-
ly fit for the paper-mill *. The bark of it is woven
into ropes, which are found to be little inferior to
those made from hemp for strength and durability.
At Honduras, the body of this tree is usually
converted into rafts to float the logwood down to
the sea+. All the parts of the tree, especially the
flowers, abound with a fine mucilage, and are both
emollient and laxative. There are several species of
this tree.
Caourcuouc f, or Elastic Gum, from which the
well known material of Indian rubber is made, is
abundantly found in most places, and is a consider-
able article of barter between the native Indians
who collect it and the traders. The Mexicans call
it ollz, and the Spaniards we. Besides its use for
removing the marks of black-lead from paper, &c.
it is employed in the construction of various surgi-
cal instruments; it is also of use to chemists, as a
material for flexible tubes to gazometers and other
apparatus; a mixture of volatile oil and alcohol
will dissolve it, and it thus forms a good varnish.
And finally, it enters as an essential ingredient into
the composition of the best varnish for balloons,
a rc en IS een a pA ech SSAA re I
* Brown’s Natural History of Jamaica, p. 284.
+ Henderson’s Honduras, p. 110,
+ Hevea Caoutchouc.—Jatropha Elastica, Linn.
ae,
86
The juice of it may also be used in making cloth
of all kinds, boots, shoes, gloves, &c. impenetrable
to water; and there can be no doubt, but that it
might be applied to a vast variety of important
purposes. From the bark of the tree when wound-
ed, there flows a milky juice, which by exposure to
the air, in a short time turns black, and is convert-
‘ed into caoutchouc. The American caoutchouc, is
usually brought to Europe in the form of globular
narrow necked bottles, about a fourth of an inch
thick, and capable of holding from half a pint to a
quart, or more. They are formed upon moulds of
unburnt clay, pieces of which are often found ad-
hering to the inside. At Cayenne, it is said to be
used. for torches, on account of its inflammability.
Locust Tree *.—-This is a large spreading tree,
with a thick stem, and covered with a_ russet
bark. It grows toa very considerable size, and is
looked upon as an excellent timber-tree;:but it
must be very old before it is cut, otherwise the
heart will be but small. The flowers are of a yel-
low colour, striped with purple, and hang in loose
panicles, at the end of the branches. The pods are
fleshy, brown, shaped like the common garden bean,
about six inches long, and half as broad, of a pur-
plish brown colour, and woody consistence, each con-
* Hymenea Courbaril, Linn
87
taining a few seeds separated by transverse parti-
tions, and inclosed in a whitish substance, inter-
mixed with filaments, as sweet as haney, which is
eaten by the Indians with great avidity. Between
the principal roots of the tree exudes a fine trans-
parent resin, yellowish or red, which is the Gum
Anime of the shops. This is the finest varnish
known, when dissolved in rectified spirits of wine :
it is also used in perfumes, and in medicine, exter-
nally. It has been remarked, that the wild-bees
are very fond of building their nests in the bran-
ches of this tree. Its wood is in great request for
wheel-work in the sugar-mills, particularly for cogs
to the wheels, being extremely hard and tough, as
well as capable of a fine polish. -It is so heavy that
a cubic foot of it weighs about a quarter of a hun-
dred weight.
Potze-Woop.—This tree is found in great a-
bundance in the vicinity of Black River, and is
said to be excellent for making shafts and wheels
for chaises.
BraziLtetTro *.—This tree grows in a dry and
rocky soil ; it is an excellent timber-wood, but sel-
dom exceeds eight or ten inches in diameter in the
* Cesalpinia, Linn,
88
most perfect state. The wood is elastic, tough,
and durable; and bears a fine polish: it is of a
beautiful orange colour, full of resin, and yields
a fine full tincture by infusion *,
Dracon’s-Bioop-TREE }.—This tree rises to a-
bout the height of thirty feet, and is a native of
the interior of the country: the flowers are of a
-yellow colour; and it yields a red pellucid resin,
called Dragon’s Blood t, which had formerly the
reputation of stopping hemorrhages, but it is now
out of use. This substance is a blood-red resin,
and the best sort is the exsudations from the tree,
in the shape of ovaldrops. This resin, when finely
pulverised, becomes a fine crimson. It is totally
-ansoluble in water, insipid and without smell when
cold, but if heated, it gives a fragrant odour like
benzoin: a solution of it in alcohol serves to
stain marble of a beautiful and permanent red co-
lour; it is also employed in staining leather and
wood ; as also in lacquering and varnishing, and for
similar uses ; and is so much valued by artists, that
the finest samples bear a pretty high price.
* Long’s History of Jamaica, p. 227.
+ Pterocarpus Draco, Linn,
+ e ~ e
~ Sanguis Draconis.
89
Cocoa Nut *.—This tzee is planted in most parts
of America, both for its beauty and productions >
this is the common inhabitant ef almost every situa-
tion within the tropics; and in this‘country, both
on the continent and different islands, is most abun-
dant : it grows generally in the low lands, and 1s
from forty to sixty feet high, of a moderate thick-
ness in proportion to its height, straight, naked,
marked with the scars of fallen leaves. It bears alk
its foliage at the top, like the rest of the kind. This
consists of many strong ribs, furnished with long
narrow leaves folded lengthways, which rise in a
continued series on both sides, and spreads very
evenly both ways. These ribs shoot gradually from
the top; and as the younger ones stretch out suiffi-
ciently to raise the sap ; the lower ones decline,
wither away gradually, and fall off in time. The
flowers are of a yellowish white. The nut or shell
is formed of a hard compact substance, and filled
with a sweetish water, while young; but as the
fruit advances inits growth, this deposites a soft ge-
Jatinous crust upon the sides of the shell, which har-
dens gradually with age, until at length it acquires a
strong concreted texture; and then it is not unlike
the substance of an almond, either in taste, or con-
sistence. This kernelin some plants is near an inch
_ LETT OED
* Palma Indica Nucifera.
90
thick, enclosing about a pint of sweet, delicate,
wholesome refreshing liquor, which is looked upon
as one of the greatest ‘dainties in America. Its
trunk is made into boats, rafters, the frames of hou-
ses, and gutters to .convey water. The leaves are
used for thatching buildings, and are wrought into
mats, baskets, and many other things for which osiers
are employed in Europe. The fibrous coat or husk.
of the shell, after being soaked in water, 1s beaten
into oakum, spun into a variety of yarns, woven in-
to sail-cloth, and twisted into ropes and. cables even
for the largest ships; for these purposes it is prefer-
able to hemp on account of its greater durability.
The woody shell itself, or nut which encloses the
kernel, is polished and formed into goblets, powder
boxes, and various kindsof cups. The kernels, pres-
sed ina miil, yield an oil, which when fresh, is e-
qual in goodness to the oil of sweet almonds ; it is
said to become soon rancid, and is then employed by
painters. It is also much used in South America
for burning in their lamps, and has lately become
an article of exportation. If- the body of the tzee
be bored, there exudes from the wound a white,
sweet liquor, which is collected by the natives in
pots; the liquor thus procured is called palm-wine,
and is a favourite beverage in the country. It is
very sweet when fresh; kept a few hours, it be-
comes more poignant and agreeable; but the next
day it begins to grow sour, and in the space of
91
twenty-four hours is complete vinegar. The juice
thus obtained, upon being mixed and fermented
with molasses, affords a very pleasant wholesome
spirit, which differs but very little from arrack.
The tender leaves, before they fully expand, are
sometimes eaten in place of cabbage, and other cu-
linary greens; but as this luxury can be obtained
only by the destruction of so valuable a tree, it is
generally thought too expensive a treat, except in
those parts of the country where the plantations are
numerous. The kernels of the nuts when broken
are much used, and esteemed excellent for fattening
hogs. The tree is propagated by planting the nuts.
Sik Corron Tree *, or Ceiba, grows generally in
the low lands, and rises to the height of eighty, or an
hundred feet, and sometimes even more, by a straight
and well proportioned stem. When in bloom it is
one of the most splendid productions of nature. At
such season it is entirely crowned with a profusion
of brilliant flowers of rich and variegated hues, of
which the colour of the carnation is the most pre-
dominant. This bloom is suddenly succeeded by a
multitude of small pods which contain the cotton,
and that burst when sufficiently ripe. The crop of
cotton it affords is said to be triennial. The trunk
of this tree is much used in the building of canoes
* Bombax Ceiba, Lynn,
M
—— — i
92
and small vessels *. Some of them simply render-
ed concave, have been known to produce a boat
capable of containing one hundred persons f.
Zsa, or Palmeratta-wood, also abounds in this
country ¢. Itismuchesteemed in Europe, for making
ornamental furniture. There is likewise found here,
two other trees of nearly the same kind, but lam
unable to give any description of them ; these are
the. Sabah, and Malata-wood.
Witp Fic-Tree §..-This monstrous tree is, at
first, but a weakly climbing plant that raises itself
by the help of some adjoining trunk, rock or tree;
and continues to shoot some slender flexile radicles,
or appendixes, that embrace the supporter, and
grows gradually downwards, as the stem increases :
this at length gains the summit, and begins to shoot
both branches and radicles or appendixes more lux-
uriantly ; these in time reach the ground, throw out
many smaller arms, take root, and become so many
stems and supporters to the parent plant; which
now begins to enlarge, to throw out new branches
and appendixes, and to form a trunk from the sum-
mit of its supporter; which still continues in the
* Henderson’s Honduras, p. 114. :
_t Edward's History of the West Indies, vol. Ist, p- 21.
{ Wright’s Memoir, p. 15.
§ Ficus Indica,
93
centre of the first radicles, interwoven in their des
cent, and at length augmented and connected gta:
dually into a common mass or body about the bor-
rowed foundation ; which (if a vegetable) soon be-
gins to decay, and at length is wholly lost within
the luxuriant trunk it supported *. This monarch
of the wood, whose empire extends over Asia and
Africa, as well as the tropical parts of America, is
described by our divine poet with great exactness.
“ The fig-tree, not that kind for fruit renown’d,
But such as at this day to Indians known
In Malabar and Decan, spreads her arms,
Branching so broad and long, that in the ground
The bearded twigs take root, and daughters grow
Above the mother tree, a pillar’d shade, .
High over-arched, and echoing walks between |”
) ParapisE Lost, Book i.
Rost Woop +.—This tree grows toa considerable
size, and is considered as one of the most valuable
timber trees, but itisnot common. ‘The wood is
white, and of a curled grain when young, but grows
of adirty clouded ash-colour with age: it bears an
excellent polish, and has a fine smell. The younger
trees, in Jamaica, are frequently cut for firewood in
themountains ; they are fullofresin, burn very freely,
3
* Brown’s Natural History of Jamaica, p. 110.
+ Amyris Balsimifera, Lymn.
M 2
: 94
and with a most agreeable smell. The wood is heavy,
and in great vogue among the cabinet-makers. All
the parts of this tree are full of warm aromatic par-
ticles, and may be used in baths and fomentations ;
the berries are oblong, and have the taste of the Bal-
sam of Copaiba. An infusion of the leaves has a plea-
sant flavour, is highly cephalic, strengthens the
nerves, and is particularly restorative to weak eyes.
~ In Jamaica there are several species of Amyris, the
leaves and bark of which yield a fine balsamic juice ;
and if the body were tapped at the proper season, a
thick liquor would transude, resembling that of the
Gilead Balsam, to which the taste of the bark and
wood of the smaller branches bears a very exact re-
lation. Dr Wright apprehends that this wood, by
distillation, would yielda perfume equal to the ole-
um rhodii.
Nicaracua-Woop *, is a kind of dye-wood of a
very bright red colour ; it grows in great abundance
in the neighbouring province of Nicaragua, from
whence it derives its name, and is also said to be
abundant, about the banks of the Bluefield River,
or Rio de Nueva Segovia.
Copa Tree +.—This tree produces the valuable
* Cesalpinia Nicaraguensis.
+ Rhus Copallinum, Linn.
95
gum resin, called Copal, and is a natural exsudation
from the tree, which hardens in the air. Itis very com-
mon in most parts of the Mosquito Shore, and is
collected in large quantities by the natives for the
purpose of barter with the foreign traders. |
The best copal is a hard brittle resin, in rounded
lumps of moderate size, easily reducible to fine pow-
der, beautifully transparent, but often, like amber,
containing parts of insects and other small extran-
eous bodies impacted in its substance. 'The colour
of copal is a light lemon yellow, varying to orange ;
but when dissolved and thinly spread over any
surface, the colour is scarcely perceptible, and it on-
ly gives a fine hard, smooth transparent glazing. It
is this union of hardness and transparency, with
want of colour, that renders copal so valuable as a
varnish.
CapEvi-TReEE *, is a lofty and elegant tree, with
a handsome head; the smaller branches zig-zag,
with a nearly smooth, brownish ash-coloured bark.
The leaves are about four inches long, and the flow-.
ers are white. This tree produces one of the most
valuable and active medicines, called the Bulsam of
Copaiba: to procure it, several incisions, or some-
times auger holes are made near the ground, pene-
* Copaifera Officinalis, Linn.
96
trating through the bark into the substance of the
wood, when the balsam flows out in such abun-
dance, that sometimes in three hours, twelve pounds
have been obtained.
This balsam is colourless when flowing from the
tree; after a while it becomes of an amber yellow,
and considerably viscid, but retains its transparen-
cy ; itis never known to become perfectly solid.
The smell of capivi balsam is flagrant and power-
ful, and its medicinal virtues are held in high esti-
mation.
Puystc-Nur Trex *, or Physic-nut.—This plant
is very common, and grows to the height of seven
or eight feet, or better; but dies aftera few years f.
It is the property of this nut to act upon the human
system either in the way of emetic or cathartic ; or
if it be required, powerfully as both ; effects, which
depend on the mode of its preparation, and which
in all ways is intimately understood by the inhabi-
tants. It is very generally considered one of the
most efficacious antidotes to bile ; and consequently
must be deemed singularly valuable in a climate,
where the disposition to such habit is so preva-
lent f.
* Jatropha, Linn.
+ Brown’s Natural History of Jamaica, p. 345.
{+ Henderson’s Honduras, p. 115.
G7
Lime TREE *.—This is a bushy shrub, and very
common in America and the West Indies, where
it is often raised for the sake of its fruit, and not
unfrequently planted for fences, When it grows
luxuriantly, it is seldom under twelve or fourteen
feet in height, and spreads greatly about the top ;
but it is often stunted, and of a smaller stature.
' The juice of the fruit is used, as a principal ingre-
dient in punch: the most appropriated and agreea-
ble liquor that can be used in any country, where
the juices are overheated and in a ferment.
Sweer Lime Tree }.—This tree grows much
like the foregoing; but it rises generally more
upright, and bears a fruit which in'size, as well as
form, seems to hold a mean between the lime and
the lemon. The juice is rather insipid, but never-
theless, is esteemed much more grateful than that
of the lemon. It is from this tree that the perfume
called Bergumot is obtained. As this oil exists pure
in the peel, being simply deposited in small cells,
the extraction is easy, either by expression or distil-
lation. The former is the best, as the oil is not
liable to be altered by heat ; but more is produced
by distillation than by expression; by this mode,
* Citrus Acris.
+ Citrus,
98
two ounces of the oil have been obtained from twe
pounds of the peel *.
Lemon Tree +The varieties of the lemon
tree are numerous. The St Helena Lemon-tree
has been introduced into Jamaica, where it is now
cultivated by most people; on a¢count of its large
fruit ; one of which, frequently yields above half a
pint of juicet. Lemon juice is one of the sourest,
and most agreeable of all the vegetable acids. It is
procured.simply by squeezing the fruit, and strain-
ing the juice through linen or any loose filter. This
juice forms a considerable article of commerce, and
is then called the Citric Acid, or Acid of Lemons.
In the Mediterranean, it is obtained by peeling the
fruit, slicing it, and putting it in a strong press
with a cloth or hair strainer. The juice which
comes out very turbid, is then placed for a day in
a cool cellar, and then strained into jars with very
narrow necks, which are then well cemented up. It
may be preserved in these jars for a considerable
length of time, by covering it with a thin stratum
of oil. These presses are sometimes so large as to
squeeze six thousand lemons at once. Scheele has
“ Moitimer’s Commercial Dictionary.
t+ Crtrus Lemon.
¢ Brown’s Civil and Natural History of Jamaica, p. 308.
98,
discovered a process for obtaining the pure citric
acid, in the form of crystals, which is as follows:
Saturate boiling lemon juice with chalk in powder,
added gradually, till all effervescence ceases. A
grey insoluble mass settles to the bottem, composed
of the citric acid united with the lime, leaving the
mucilage and other ingredients of the lemon juice in
the supernatant liquor, which may be thrown away,
and the citrat of lime is to be well washed with cold
water, till the latter comes away colourless. Then
add to the precipitate a quantity of sulphuric acid,
equal to the weight of the chalk employed, but
previously diluted with about ten parts of water.
Boil the whole for a few minutes, and a change of
composition takes place, the sulphuric acid engag~
ing the lime, and the citric acid passing into the
supernatant liquor. Strain off the latter, and eva-
porate it slowly to the consistence of a thick syrup,
and by standing for some days, most of the citric
acid will separate in large crystals. A small excess
of sulphuric acid is requisite to enable the citric
acid to crystallize; which otherwise, would oniy
concrete into a gelatinous mass.
In preparing the citric acid in the great way,
M. Dizé gives the following particulars: After the
citrat of lime has been decomposed by the sulphuric
acid, cold water, assisted by stirring, is sufficient to
wash out all the citric acid adhering to the sulphat
of lime, which should therefore be employed, and
N
€
100
these washings added to the filtered liquor. Much
sulphat of lime, however, remains in the clear li-
quor, which, 1n fact, is a mixture of citric acid, sul-
phuric acid, and sulphat of lime, and is of a clear
light yellow. It may be evaporated at a boiling
heat, and as the bulk of fluid lessens, the sulphat of
lime falls down, so that it is of use to suspend the
evaporation once or twice for some hours, to give
time for the sulphat of lime to separate, which
should be removed. Towards the end of the eva-
poration the liquor becomes blackish, owing to the
sulphuric acid remaining in it, becoming so concen-
trated as to act partly on the acid itself, and partly,
as this chemist supposes, on a portion of the origi-
nal extractive matter which accompanies the citrie
acid, in its combination with lime, and separation
from it, and which appears to be the cause of the
difficulty found in getting the whole of the acid to
erystallize. This acid is so very soluble, that the:
evaporation must be pushed to a very thick syrupy
consistence before it will crystallize. The crystals
are at first black and dirty ; by a second solution
im cold water, of which a small quantity will suffice,
filtration, and evaporation, the crystals are obtained
yellow and more regular ; but a third operation of
the kind seems necessary to bring them to be per-
fectly transparent and colourless. As there is much
waste in these operations, all the washings and
101
fouled parts should be reserved for subsequent puri-
fication.
SEVILLE OrsaNcEe*, or Sour OraNcEe.—This
species.grows more bulky and upright, than that of
the. lime-tree, and the juice of its fruit is much |
milder. The rhind is much esteemed in bitters,
and stomachic wines +.
Citron-TREE {.—The fruit of this tree is oblong,
with a very thick and succulent rhind, and makes
a fine sweet meat. It is sometimes steeped in spi-
rits; and to them, when distilled, it-gives both an
agreeable flavour, and its name.. The bark of the
citron is smoother, and the wood less knotty than
that of the lemon. In their wild state, some of
them are said to attain to the height of sixty feet.
Curva Orancz-Tree §, is a middle-sized tree,
with a greenish brown bark, with moderately
sized leaves; the fruit is sweet, with a smooth
thin rhind. The orange-tree in general has an
upright smooth trunk, divided upwards into a
branchy regular head, and is generally about
* Citrus Aurantium, Linn.
t+ Brown’s Natural History of Jamaica. p. 308.
$ Citrus Luberosa. |
§ Cutrus Aurantium.
N 2
102
twelve or fifteen feet in height. It is said that
the finest flavoured fruit is obtained by engraft-
iN the China orange on “a Seville orange stock.
The flowers of the orange tree have been for a long
time in great esteem asa perfume, They are high-
ly odoriferous, and of a somewhat warm, and bitter
taste. They yield their flavour by infusion to rec-
tified spirit, and in distillation both to spirit and
water. An oil distilled from the flowers 1s brought
from Italy under the name of oleum, or essentica
neralt.
SHappock Tree *,—It is said to derive its name
from a Captain Shaddock, who first brought it from
the East to the West Indies: it is a middle-sized
tree, and grows to a much greater height than any
of the others ; the leaves are egg shaped: the flow-
ers white, and very odorous : the fruit is very large,
being in general about eight inches in diameter, of
a yellowish green colour, even surfaced, twelve cel-
led or more, containing some a red, others a white
pulp; the juice in some sweet, in others acid.
ForBIDDEN Fruit }, or Smaller Shaddock Tree:
this species also grows to a more considerable size
than any of the others. The fruit of these two last
* Citrus Decumana
+ Citrus
103
species, is agreeable to most palates, and of a plea-
sant grateful flavour; but the last excels in sweet-
ness, while the other partakes a little of the bitter,
which recommends it to most people.
Avocato, or Alligator Pear Tree *.—This tree
grows commonly to the size of the largest apple
trees in Europe, and spreads pretty wide at the top,
The branches are very succulent and soft ; the leaves
oblong and veiny, and the fruit of the form of a
pear ; but the pulp is covered with a tough skinny
coat, and contains a large rugged seed, which is
wrapped up in one or two thin membranous covers.
The fruit of this tree is one of those that is held in
the greatest esteem; the pulp is of a pretty firm
consistence, and has a delicate rich flavour, some-
thing resembling that of the Jerusalem artichoke. Itis
generally eaten with pepper and salt ; and is some-
times called Vegetable marrow. “The tree re-
quires some care, a rich soil, and a warm situation,
to raise 1t to perfection. |
TAMARIND TREE +.—The trunk of this tree is
lofty, and of considerable thickness, crowned with
wide extended branches, bearing bright green leaves:
the fruit hangs pendulous like large beans. This.
* Laurus Persea.
+ Tamarindus Indica, Linn.
104
tree-1S a sensitive-1n some degree, and closes up its
leaves on the.approach. of cold, .or »moist.and heavy
air*, It is common in many parts of the country,
but it is in the island of San Andres, where it is to
be found in the greatest profusion and perfection.
It:is the seed pods of this. tree which form and con-
stitute the .preserve called. tamarinds, which is sold
in_the shops; and is of such.a pulpy acid quality, as
to be of.-great use in abating and quenching thirst,
and. in cooling-and allaying excessive heat. Tama-
rmds-are prepared for exportation at Jamaica, in the
following manner-;- the pods are gathered when ful-
ly ripe, the fruit is taken out of them, cleared from
the shelly. fragments, and placed in layers in a cask 5
boiling syrup, just before it begins to granulate, is
then poured in till the cask is filled. Thesyrup per-
vades every part down to the bottom, and when cool,
the cask isheaded for sale. A better mode of pre-
serving this fruit is with sugar, well clarified with
eggs, till a transparent.syrup is formed, which
produces a pleasant flavour +.
Guava TREE {.—This shrub rises generally from
eight to twelve feet in height, It bears a round
fruit ofa moderate size, which is much esteemed
among the natives: this, while immature, is astrin-
* Brown’s Natural History of Jamaica, p. 125.
+ Mortimer’s Commercial Dictionary.
+ Psidium Guajavas.
105
gent, like all the other parts of the tree; but when
it ripens, it 1s rather laxative, and is then much u2
sed both ‘in jellies and cream dishes. «The wood: is
very tough, and generally used for ' bows 1in* cattle
yokes. The fruit mixed with sugar, Peruvian
bark, and water; and left to ferment, makes a céol-
ing and agreeable drink’; and is much used in this
way in-the province of Socorro in New: Grenada,
where it'was usually served up daily at the ‘table’ of
General-MacGregor, when Commandant-General of
this province, in the year 1813, 0 «4+ piel
Manceneet Tree *.—This tree is very common
in most parts of America; and is generally found in
sandy watery places near the ‘coast. This is a tall
and spreading tree, of handsome appearance, com-
pared by Jacquin to a pear-tree ; it is full- of an ac-
rid milky juice, which is: apt to blister and inflame
the skin; nay, the. dew or rain drops that fall from
the leaves, is said to do the same. ‘The fruit is of
the size of a walnut without the coat, of a yellow-
ish: green, resembling acrab-apple in size and smell ;
the coat is very thin, and nut large. Brown says, “‘1-
“‘ have known many people who have ignorantly-
* eaten of the fruit of this tree, which they had-ta--
“‘ ken for crab apples: they- generally vomited in a
“ short time, and continued to cemplain of a burn-
* Eppomane Mancinetla, Linn,
106
* ing heat in the mouth, throat and stomach, for ma-
“ny hours after. The juice of the buds of the
‘‘ white cedar is esteemed an antidote to this poison,
“and is generally used with some success on these
“ occasions ; but oily mixtures, and emulsions, are
“ the most effectual assistants, and seldom fail giv-
« ing relief soon*.” The wood is of a beautiful
grain, being variegated with several dark colours ;
it will take a tine polish, and last well: the wood-
cutters, to guard against its corrosive juices, are 0-
bliged to make a fire round the body of every tree,
some time before they can venture to fell them. It
is with the juice of this tree that the Indians used
to poison their arrows.
Pimento TREE +, 1s one of the most elegant pro-
ductions in nature; and produces the fruit called
Allspice, or Jamaica Pepper; a _ production
which rivals the most valuable spices of the East,
combining the flavour and properties of many of
those spices; and forming (as its popular name
denotes) an admirable substitute, and succeda-
nium for them all{. The pimento trees grow
spontaneously, and in great abundance, in ma-
ny parts of Jamaica, but more particularly on hilly
situations near the sea, on the northern side of that
_* Brown’s Natural History of Jamaica, p: 351.
+ Myrtus Pimenta, Linn.
+ Edward's History of the West Indies, vol. 2d, p. 369.
107
island. There is a species of pimento growing in
Spanish America, whose berry is larger, weaker in
its aroma, and consequently inferior in its quality
to the West Indian. This tree is so entirely the
child of nature, that not one attempt in fifty to.
propagate the young plants, or to raise them from
the seeds, in parts of the country where it 1s not
found growing spontaneously, has succeeded *. As
a species of it is a native of Spanish America, and
as the planting of it sometimes succeeds in Ja-
maica, I think it is deserving of a fair trial in the ter-
ritory of Poyais, if only for the domestic use of the
planter himself.
The usual method of forming a new pimento
plantation, (in Jamaica it is called a walk) is nothing
more than to appropriate a piece of wood land,
in the neighbourhood of a plantation already exist-
ing, or in a country where the scattered trees are
found in a native state, the woods of which being
fallen, the trees are suffered to remain in the ground
till they become rotten, and perish. In the course
of twelve months after the first season, abundance
of young pimento plants will be found growing
vigorously in all parts of the land, being without
doubt, produced from ripe berries scattered there by the
birds, while the fallen trees, &c. afford them both
* Edward’s History of the West Indies, vel, 2d, p. 370.
O
108
shelter and shade*. At the end of two years it
wil be proper to cleanse the land thoroughly, leav-
ing such only of the pimento trees as have a good
appearance ; these will then soon form goves, which
perhaps do not require much attention, after the
first four or five years,
There is hardly in the vegetable creation, a tree
of greater beauty than a young pimento. The
trunk, which is of grey colour, smooth and shining,
and entirely free from bark, rises to the height of
fifteen or twenty feet. It then branches out on all
sides, richly clothed with leaves of a deep green,
which, in the months of July and August, are
beautifully contrasted and relieved by an exuber-
ance of white flowers. These leaves are equally frag-
rant with the fruit; and in distillation yield an
odoriferous oil; which is very commonly used in the
medicinal dispensaries of Europe, for oil of cloves +.
Soon after the trees are in blossom, the berries be-
come fit for gathering, the fruit not being suffered
to ripen on the tree, as the pulp in that state, is dif-
ficult to cure. It is impossible, however, to prevent
some of the ripe berries from mixing with the rest ;
but if the proportion of them be great, the price of
the commodity is considerably injured.
The berries that are fully ripe, lose the aromatic.
* Edward’s History of the West Indies, vol. 2d, p. 370.
+ Ibid, p. 371.
109
warmth for which they are so much esteemed, and
acquire a taste perfectly resembling that of juniper
berries, which renders them an agreeable food for
the birds, the most industrious planters of these
trees, which devouring them greedily, and muting
the seeds, afterwards propagate these trees in the
woods. Perhaps these ripe berries might be used
with advantage in giving a flavour resembling gene-
va, to the spirit which is distilled from Indian corn.
It is gathered by the hand; and one labourer
on the tree, employed in gathering the small bran-
ches, will give employment to three below (who
are generally women and children) in picking the
berries ; an industrious picker will fill a bag of 70
Ibs. in aday. It is then spread ona terrace, and
exposed to the sun for about seven days, in the
course of which it loses its green colour, and be-
comes of a reddish brown, and when perfectly dry
it is fit for market. ;
In a fayourable season, a single pimento tree has
been known to yield 150 lbs. of the raw fruit, or
one cwt. of the dried spice; for there is ‘generally
a loss of one-third in curing. A plenteous crop,
however, occurs perhaps but once in five years;
and the price in the British market fluctuates ac-
cordingly.
Some planters kiln-dry the pimento berries with
great success, and it seems indeed a most. eligible
ov
110
method, where from abundance of the crop, dispatch
and security against rain are essential. Pimento is us-
ually imported in bags and casks. As there is so great
an affinity between this spice, and the true clove, it
has been proposed as worthy of trial, if the fruit,
when first formed, or the flowers picked off the tree
_and dried, might not answer the same purpose as the
Asiatic clove; the more odoriferous, and smaller the
berries are, the better they are reckoned. The ber-
ries have a similarity in smell, and taste, to cloves,
juniper berries, cinnamon, and pepper, or rather a
peculiar mixture of somewhat a-kin to all of them,
whence their name of all-spice.
The exports from Jamaica are about two millions
of pounds annually. Of this quantity, no inconsi-
derable part is sold to the Dutch. The South
Americans frequently mix pimento with their cho-
colate, and denominate it guayavita. If pimento
be left, for some time, to soak in good brandy, it
will yield, by distillation, an odoriferous spirit,
which, by the addition of a proportionate quantity
of sugar, may be converted into a most agreeable
and highly stomatic cordial.
Awnoto *, calledin commerce Annatto, as also
Nankeen + ; by the French, Rowcou, and the Spa-
% Bizxa Orellana, Linn.
+ Mortimer’s Commercial Dictionary.
111
niards, Achote. It is procured from the pulp of the
seed-capsules of the shrub, which grows seven or
eight feet high, and produces oblong hairy pods, some-
what resembling those of a chesnut. Within these
.are thirty or forty irregular figured seeds, which are
enveloped in a pulp of a bright red colour, and un-
pleasant sinell, in appearance like the sort of paint
called redlead, when mixed up with oil ; and as paint
was used by some tribes of the Indians, in the same
manner as woad by the ancient Britons*. Thisshrub
rises with an upright stem to the height of eight or
ten feet, sending out many branches at top, which
forma regular head. These are garnished with
heart-shaped leaves, ending in a point, which have
long foot-stalks, and come out without any order.
The flowers are produced in loose panicles at the end
of the branches, of a pale peach colour, having large
petals. Itisa native of South America and the
East and West Indies.
The method of preparing the anoto for market is
very simple, and is as follows. The seeds, together
with the red tough matter that surrounds them, are
softened in a wooden trough with water, until, bya
kind of fermentation, which spreads a very nauseous
smell, and by diligent stirring and pounding, the
kernels are separated from the pulp. This mass is
then strained through a sieve and boiled; upon
* Edward's History of the West Indies, vol. 2d; p. 269.
112
which a thick reddish scum, which is the pigment,
separates. When skimmed off, it is carefully in-
spisated in another kettle; and after being com-
pletely cool, is moulded in roundish lumps, wrapt
round with leaves of trees, and packed for sale.
This drug is preferred by the dyers to indigo, and
sold one-fourth dearer. The double Glouster cheese
is coloured with this dye, and some of the Dutch
farmers use it to give a rich colour to their butter,
and great quantities are said to be applied to the
same purpose in the English dairies. The poor people
use it instead of saffron; and in South America, it
is frequently mixed in all their dishes, as well as in
the composition of chocolate, to which it gives (in
their opinion) an elegant tincture, and great medi-
cinal virtues. The liquid sold in London by the
name of ‘* Scott’s nankeen dye,” is said to be an-
natto, dissolved in water by means of potash*, La-
bat informs us, that the Indians prepare a dye of
this sort much superior to that which is brought to
Europe ; of a bright shining red colour, almost e-
qual to carmine. For this purpose, instead of steep-
ing and fermenting the seeds in water, they rub
them with their hands, previously dipt in oil, till
the pellicles come off and are reduced into a clear
paste, which is scraped off from the hands with a
knife, and Jaid on a clean leaf in the shade to dry.
* Bancroft’s Philosophy of Colours.
113
- Coco Pium-Tree*, is an uregular shrub, grow-
ing from seven to ten feet high, with a brown or
russet bark, besprinkled with whitish minute
spots. The leaves are about two inches long, and
one and a half broad: the flowers are small and
whitish, a little villous or cottony on the outside,
and without smell: the fruit is about the size
of a damascene plumb; of these some are black,
some white ; but no essential difference appears
in the shrubs that bear them. ‘he fruit is insipid,
and contains a large nut, marked with five longitu-
dinal furrows: it incloses a single kernel of a very
pleasant flavour ; which makes up abundantly for
the insipidity of the pulp; and for which it pro-
bably had been so much esteemed by the native
Indians +. When planted in situations not far
remote from the sea, it continues in flower almost
the whole year, but generally ripens its fruit in
June and December. When planted in a dry sunny
soil, the fruit remains always a dry drupa ; the nut
being covered only by a thin skin or bark. Its
root passes for an astringent, and has been em-
ployed as such in medicine. This shrub is very
common in the island of San Andres, and gives
name to a bay on the east side of the island.
* Chrysobalanus Icaco, Linn.
+ Brown’s Natural History of Jamaica, p. 250.
114
“PLaNTANE Tree *,.—This plant, of which there
are several varieties, as the Banana+, Dominica,
&e. is cultivated with great care in all the ‘tro-
pical regions, where the fruit supplies the place of
bread. It thrives best in a cool, rich, and moist
soil; and is commonly planted in regular walks or
fields: it is propagated by the shoots, and plant-
ed at convenient distances from each other; but
as the root throws up a number of young lay-
ers every year, the spaces between the first plants
are left pretty considerable. The trunk or stem of
this tree is made up of a small spungy heart, cover-
ed with the thick fibrous vagine formed by the
foot-stalks of the leaves, unfolding each other as
they recede from the centre. But the heart, at
length, shoots above the foliage, and throws outa
large flower-spike, adorned with a great number of
blossoms, joined in clusters, and inclosed in their
several spathce, which are afterwards succeeded by
so many distinct oblong berries, resembling a large
cucumber, with a smooth skin, of a light green co-
lour, and when perfectly ripe, turns to a deep yel-
low. When these are ripe and fall, or are taken
off, the stem decays gradually, and the root begins
to throw up young shoots, by which the kind is
again renewed ; but lest the growth of these should
=
* Musa Paradistaca, Linn.
+ Musa Sapientun, Linn,
415
be retarded by the exhalaflons of the old stalk, it is
usually eut down near the root, when the fruit is
taken off, which gives a stronger and quicker growth
to the new plants. Their fruiting in the South
Sea Islands, is said to be promoted by the use of
lime and wood-ashes.
The fruit is used, not only when full grown, but
before it ripens: it is commonly peeled, and after-
wards roasted in its skin; many persons prefer
them to any other kind of bread, especially when
young and tender. As the fruit ripens, it becomes
soft and sweetish, and is then frequently made into
tarts, or sliced and fryed with butter, and thus
served up in plates,
The juice of the tree is a very rough astringent ;
but its cooling leaves are generally used to dress
blisters in those parts of the world : and when dried,
are made into mats of different sorts, or frequently
employed to stuff matresses *.
Axor Prant +.—The most valuable species of
aloes is that of the island of Socotra in the East In-
dies; the introduction of which to the West Indies,
has hitherto been unaccountably neglected. The
species called the hepatic, is the only sort known to
the planters there; and the cultivation of which,
* Browne’s Civil and Natural History of Jamaica, p. 363.
+ Aloe.
P
116
is principally confined fo the island of Barbadoes.
It is propagated by suckers, and will thrive in soils
the most dry and barren *,
It is procured in Jamaica in the following man-
ner:—The labourers go into the fields with tubs
and knives, and cut off the largest and most succu-
lent leaves close to the stalk: these they put into
the tubs in an upright position, that the loose liquor
may be drained from the wound. When this is al-
most wholly discharged, the leaves are taken out
singly, and cleared of any juice that may adhere to
them ; and the liquor is put into shallow flat-bot-
tomed vessels, and dried gradually in the sun, till
it acquires a proper consistence ae
Another method is described by Mr Edwards,
which is as follows:—The plant is pulled up by
the roots, and carefully cleansed from the earth, or
other impurities. It is then sliced, and cut in
pieces, into small hand-baskets or nets. These nets
or baskets are put into large iron boilers or caul-
drons, with water, and boiled for ten minutes, when
they are taken out, and fresh parcels. supplied, till
the liquor is strong and black. At this period,’the
liquor is thrown through a strainer into a deep vat,
narrow at bottom, where it isleft to cool, and to de-
posit its feculent parts. Next day the clear liquor is
* Edwards’ History of the West Indies, vol, 2d, p. 368..
+ Dr Browne’s Natural History of Jamaica, p. 198..:
Li?
drawn off by a cock, and again committed to the
large iron vessel. At first it is boiled briskly, but
towards the end the evaporation is slow, and requires
constant stirring to prevent burning. When it be-
comes of the consistence of honey, it is poured into
gourds, or calabashes, for sale, and hardens by age.
A species of this plant, the Agave, is common
in all the warm regions of America; Linneus has
separated this genus from the aloe. It isa plant
highly esteemed by the Indians, who make ropes
and various kinds of cloth from the leaves, as also
a kind of shoe or sandal, called apargate. The
fibres of the leaves, separated by bruising and steep-
ing in water, and afterwards beating them, will make
a thread for common uses. It also affords an excel-
lent soap, fit for all the purposes of the laundress *,
Cuaw Strick +.—The bark of this plant is of a
pleasant bitter taste, and raises a great fermentation
in the saliva ¢t. This is the common dentrifice of
the aborigines, from whom the use of it has been
learned ; and for preserving the teeth pure and de-
licately white, thissimpleapplication perhaps exceeds
all others. With the natives any appearance of de-
cay in this respect very rarely occurs §.
* Introduction to Jeffery’s West India Atlas, p. 19.
t+ Rhamnus Gouania.
{ Browne’s Natural History of Jamaica, p. 175.
§ Hencerson’s Honduras, p. 117.
P 2
118
PaLMA CuRIsT1 *,.—-This plant has brown stalks
that divide into two or three branches, and rises to
the height of six or seven feet: the leaves are of a
deep green on both sides, and are unequally serrate ;
the'stem is thick jointed, and of a purplish red colour
upwards. The seed of this plant, is a whitish ker-
nel enclosed in a brown acrid husk. These seeds
contain a large quantity of a mild nearly insipid oil,
which from a third to a fourth of the weight may
be extracted, and is the common Castor Oil + of the
shops. The oil is prepared in two different ways,
either by simple expression, without previous pre-
paration, or by decoction. For the latter method,
the nuts are beaten in deep wooden mortars, and
thrown into iron boilers filled with water, and slow-
ly brought to a boiling heat with constant stirring.
The oil rises as a scum to the top, which is simply
strained and bottled. According to Dr Wright f,
the oil thus prepared is much milder than that ob-
tained by pressure, on account of the mucilaginous
and acrid part which the compression forces out of
the nut and mixes with the oil, Genuine castor oil
is very thick and viscid, of a light amber or straw
colour, with scarcely any smell or taste. It becomes
beautifully transparent by subsidence, and a quan-
* Rieinus Communis, Linn,
+ Oleum Ricini.
{ Medical Journal, 1787.
119
tity of mucilage falls slowly to the bottom of the
vessel *,
Arrow Root ;.—It has a stalk and leaf exact-
ly like the plant called Indian Shot {; but the
flower differs ; that of the latter being a beautiful
searlet, and that of the former milk white : the plant
grows from a thick fleshy root, and shoots by a sim-
ple foliated stalk to the height of two or three feet,
and terminates ina loose and somewhat branched
flower-spike. It was called Indian Arrow Root,
the juice of the root being reputed a remedy for
wounds inflicted with poisoned arrows, as well as
against the stings of venomous insects. It ismealy,
but may be kept perfectly sound for many years, as
no insect will meddle with it. The root washed,
pounded fine, and bleached, makes a fine powder
and starch: It has sometimes been used as food,
when other provisions were scarce, and is frequently
administered in infusions to the sick.
* Ree’s New Cyclopeedia, vol. vi. part 2d.
+ Maranta Arundinacea, Linn.
{ This plant commonly rises about four feet from the ground,
and is furnished with large oval leaves near the bottom: the
top shoots into a simple flower-spike, and is adorned with red
blossoms, which are succeeded by pretty large oval and echina-
ted capsule containing large round seeds, from the size and
form of which it derives its present appellation. Browne.
eee
120
Cassava *.—This plant, which formerly supplied
the greatest part of the sustenance of the native In-
dians, who called it Manzhot, is now raised in most
parts of America. The Spaniards call the plant
Yucca, and the bread made from its root Casada.
It is a very beneficial vegetable, and yields an agree-
able wholesome food ; and this, with its easy growth,
and hardy nature, recommends it everywhere. It
shoots from a tough branched lignous root, whose
slender collateral fibres swell into those fleshy conic
masses for which the plant is cultivated; and rises
by a slender woody knotted stalk, to the height of
four, five, or six feet, sometimes more. It thrives
best in a free mixt soil, is propagated by the bud or
gem, and generally cultivated in the following
manner.
The ground laid out for the culture of this plant
is first cleared, and howed up into shallow holes, of
about ten or twelve inches square, and seldom above
three or four inches in depth. A sufficient number
of full grown stems are then provided, and cut into
short pieces, of about six or seven inches in length,
as far as they are found to be tough and lignous,
and well furnished with prominent, well grown,
hardy buds: of these one or two are laid in every
hole, and covered over with mould, from the adjoin-
* Jatropha Mandihoca.
121
ing bank; but care miust be taken to keep the
ground clean until the plants rise to a sufficient
height to cover the mould and prevent the. growth
of all weaker weeds. The plant grows to perfection
in about eight months ; but the roots will remain for
aconsiderable time, uninjured in the ground, though
the want of plants, or stormy weather, should
oblige the cutting of the stalks. The roots are com-
monly dug up as occasion requires, and prepared for
use in the following manner, viz. Being first well
washed and scraped, then rubbed to a pulpy farine
on iron-graters, they are put into strong linen, or
palmetto bags, and placed in presses, until the juice is
entirely expressed. The presses generally used on
this occasion, are both cheap and effectual; they ,
are contrived by placing one or more large flat
stones near the root of some convenient tree, in the
side of which they cut a hole or notch about the
height of the stones; and into this they fix the end
of a strong plank, which is stretched over the flat
stones on which the Cassava bags are set ; placing
asmany weights as the strength of the board will bear,
or may be requisite to express the juice, on the
other end. The farine being taken out and spread
in the sun for some time, is pounded in large wood-
en mortars, then run through coarse sieves, and af-
terwards baked on convenient irons, similar to those
used for toasting oaten cakes in Scotland. These
122
8
are placed upon the fire, and when hot, strewed
with the sifted meal to whatever size or thickness
people please to have their cakes made; this agglu-
tinates as it heats, grows gradually harder, and when
thoroughly baked, is a wholesome well-tasted bread.
The juice of the root is sweetish, but more or less
of a deleterious nature, both fresh and in the putrid
state ; though it hardly retains any thing of this
quality while it ferments. What is expressed from
the furine is frequently preserved by some people,
and prepared. for many economic uses: in the boil-
ing it throws up a thick viscid scum, which is al-
ways thrown away ; and the remaining fluid (being
found by long experience to be both wholesome and
agreeable) is sometimes diluted and kept for com-
mon drink, and it is thought to resemble whey very
much in that state. Some use it in sauces for all
sorts of fish as well as many other kinds of food ;
purposes for which it was known to be employed a-
mong the native Indians, long before any Zuropean
had landed in those parts of the world *.
VANGLO, or Ort Plant +.—It was first introduced
into Jamaica by the Hebrews, where it is now culti-
vated in most parts of the island: the seeds are
* Browne’s History of Jamaica, p. 349, a
+ Sesamum, Linn.
123 ‘
frequently used in broths by Europeans, but the He-
brews make them into cakes. The plant is in great
esteem among many of the Oriental nations, who
look upon the seeds as a hearty wholesome fcod ;
and express an oil from them, that is not unlike, or
inferior to the oil of almonds. The Sesamum plant
is cultivated in Carolina with great success ; and it
is computed there, that nine pounds of this seed
yields upwards of two pounds of neat oil, which
they find to grow more mellow and agreeable with
age ; and to continue without any rancid smell, or
taste, for many years *. |
ERYNGo +, or Firtweep.—This plant rises from a
thick proportioned root, and spreads a good many.
leaves about the crown, before it throws up a stalk ;
but as the season advances, it shoots into a branched
stem, which generally rises to the height of one or
two feet above the ground, and bears all its flowers
in roundish radiated heads t. The seeds of this plant
bruised and taken internally, are considered an in-
fallible remedy for the bite of the most venomous
snake. The root is attenuant and deobstruent, and
is therefore esteemed a good hepatic, uterine, and
nephritic. Its whole virtue, it is to be observed,
consists in the external or cortical part.
* Browne’s History of Jamaica, p. 270.
+ Eryngium.
+ Browne’s History of Jamaica, p. 185.
Q
124
Tomato *,..-There are several species ; and the
berries are often used in soups and sauces, to which
they give a very agreeable and grateful flavour:
they are sometirnes roasted, and then chiefly used
with mutton: they are also fried with eggs, and
served up in single plates. In Spanish America,
they are much used, particularly in making omelets.
This fruit is supposed to possess a stimulating, or
aphrodisac property. The Hebrews in the West In-
dies, make use of this fruit in almost all their dishes.
The flowers in these plants grow chiefly on common
footstalks, and are seldom above seven or eight feet
together: they are disposed in an alternate and dis-
tich order, and grow commonly at some distance
from the alze of the leaves +.
Gutvéa Pepper t.—All the species.of the Capsi-
cum or Indian pepper (as it is called 11 America)
have the same general qualities, which are sensible
im every part of the plant. The fruit is much used
for culinary purposes, arid has long since been intro-
duced into Europe as a poignant ingredient in soups
and high seasoned dishes, under the name of Cay-
enne pepper. This pepper derives its name from
the island of Cayenne, in South America, of which
it is a native.
* Solanum Lycopersicum, Linn.
+ Browne's History of Jamaica, p. 175.
t Capsicwn,
1295
The species from which the Cayenne is made, is
called Bird Pepper ; it grows in small tufted bush-
es, and seldom rises above three feet trom the
ground : but when it meets with a suppott, shoots
toa moderate height; and in shady places, is fre-
quently observed to rise many feet from the root.
The capsule and seeds of these plants are full of a
warm acrid oil, and generally prove an agreeable
seasoning with these sorts of food that require a
gentle stimulus to promote the proper digestion ;
and indeed, such a stimulus becomes more generally
requisite in those warm countries, where a more
free and constant perspiration seldom fails to pro-
duce a weakness and langour in the bowels. They
are used by most people in these colonies, and al-
ways observed to give an appetite, to help digestion,
to promote the tonic motion of the viscera; and in
more robust habits, is sometimes observed to purge
with a heat and tension about the podex. In the
West Indies, there is a mixture made, and called.
Mandram, in which a great deal of this is employ-
ed, and which seldom fails to promote an appetite
in the most languid stomachs. The ingredients are-
sliced cucumbers, eschalots or onions cut very small,
a little lime-juice, and Madezra wine, with a few
pods of bird or other pepper well mashed, and
mixed with the liquor *.
* Browne’s History of Jamaica, p. 177.
Q 2
126
The fruit of the capsicum bacatum gathered
when ripe, dried in the sun, and then pounded and
mixed with salt, is kept stopt in bottles, and known
in the West Indies by the name of Cayenne butter.
Pepper-pot, according to Miller, is made of the
same species, or of that variety of it, called minimum.
For this purpose the ripe fruit is first dried in the
sun, then put into an earthen or stone pot, with a
layer of flour between each layer of the fruit, and
baked in an oven till it is perfectly dried. Itisthen
cleaned from the flour, and beaten or ground to fine
powder. To every ounce of this powder, a pound
of wheat flour is added, and the mixture made into
small cakes with leaven: these are baked, cut into
small pieces, and baked again till they are as hard
as biscuit, then beaten into powder and sifted. The
result is the well known Cayenne pepper,
VANILLA *, om plant is a climber, and rises
with great ease, to the tops of the tallest trees. The
stalk is moderately slender, and throws out a long
winding tendril opposite to each of the lower leaves,
by which it sticks and holds to the branches, or
bark of the tree : but after it gains the top, these
become useless, and the place of each is supplied by
a fellow leaf. It isa parisitic plant, the leaves of
which greatly resemble the vine, and are about
* Myrobroma—Epidendrum vanilla, Linn.
127
eighteen inches long, and three inches broad. The
flowers are of a white colour, intermixed with stripes
of red and yellow. When these fall off they are
quickly succeeded by the pods, which grow in pairs,
and are generally of the thickness of a child’s fin-
ger; they are green at first, grow yellowish after-
wards, and turn of a brownish cast as they ripen.
The sort which is manufactured, grows not only
in the Bay of Campeachy, but also at Carthagena,
at the Caracas, Honduras, Darien, and Cayan, at all
which places the fruit is gathered and preserved ;
but it is rarely found in any of the English settle-
ents, if we except Jamaica, though it might easily
be propagated in them; for the shoots are so full of
juice, that they will continue fresh, out of the
ground, for several months. |
When these plants are intended for propagation,
nothing more is required than to make cuttings of
three or four joints in length, which should be plant-
ed in low warm lands, along walls, or at the foot of
trees, or other props, whereby it may be supported.
The method used to preserve the fruit, is when it
turns of a yellow colour, and begins to open, to ga-
ther it, and lay it in small heaps to ferment two or
three days, in the same manner as is practised for
the cocoa pods: care should be taken not to allow
the pods to remain upon the stalks too long, as they
then transude a black fragrant balsam, whichcarries
off both the smell and delicacy of the seeds, for
128
which alone the plant is cultivated. They are af-
terwards spread in the sun to dry, and when they
are about half dried, they flat them with their hands,
and afterwards rub them over with the oil of Palma
Christi, or of the Cocoa; then they expose them to
the sun again to dry, and afterwards they rub them
over with oil a second time ; then they put them in
small bundles, covering them with the leaves of the
Indian reed to preserve them. These plants pro-
duce but one crop of fruit in a year, which is com-
monly ripe in May, and fit for gathering, for they
do not let them remain on the plants to be perfect-
ly mature. The Spaniards, French, and Italians,
mix them in their chocolate, to which they are
thought to give both a delicate smell and an agree-
able flavour. They are generally looked upon as a
cooling cordial, a stomachic, and a good nervous me-
dicine ; and are sometimes used to perfume snufis,
and many other substances.
Cownace *, is the celebrated Covw-ztch, or Cow-
hage, and is much used in this country as a power-
ful vermifuge +. It bears long magnificent clusters
of violet coloured flowers. The legumes are densely
clothed with rigid very pungent barbed bristles,
causing intolerable itching in the skin, but swallow-
* Dolichos Pruriens, Linn.
+ Henderson’s Honduras, p. 116.
129
ed with safety, in the form of a bolus, into the
stomach, where they act mechanically, so as to des-
troy all kinds of worms. This medicine may be
given with great safety in all constitutions, as it
produces no sensible disturbance ; and as a proof
that its action is merely mechanical, it may be add-
ed, that neither the tincture nor decoction of this
plant has any perceptible effect whatever on the
constitution *,
Snake Oxro +, or as it is sometimes called Ve-
getable Musk, is very plentiful. The seeds of
this plant when grown to full maturity, have a
strong and perfect smell of musk; a few grains
being sufficient to perfume a whole roomf. 'The
seeds of this contain an highly aromatic oil, and
which when bruised and taken internally, are be-
lieved to be an infallible remedy for the bite of the
most venomous snake. An application to the
wounded part, in the way of poultice, of the same
kind, is likewise recommended. § It may also be
used with great propriety, instead of musk, in pow-
ders, pomatums, &c.
* Rees’s Cyclopedia, vol. 12, p. 1.
+ Hibiscus Abelmoschus, Linn.
~ Browne’s Natural History of Jamaica, p. 285.
§ Henderson’s Honduras, p. 116.
130
Oxro *.—The pods of this shrubby plant are
full of nutritive mucilage; and is the principal
ingredient in most of the soups and pepper-pots,
made in America. They are generally boiled se-
parately,and added just before these messes are taken
off the fire: but the seeds may be boiled in broth,
like barley or any other ingredient ; for they are not
somucilaginous. The pods boiled and buttered, make
a rich plate; but are seldom used in this way, €X-
cept in private families +. |
ConTRAYERVA {.—This plant isa climber, and
rises frequently to a considerable height among the
neighbouring trees and bushes. The root has a
strong smell, and is deservedly looked upon as a
warm attenuant and an active diaphoretic and
stomachic ; it is administered in infusions, and great-
ly used among the slaves in Jamaica §. Another
species || is found in almost every spot about Balize,
in the Bay of Honduras. A preparation from the root
of this is known to produce abortion, and is much
used for such purposes by negro females@. The
* Hibiscus.
+ Browne’s History of Jamaica, p. 285.
+ Aristolochia Phetruome.
§ Browne’s Natural History of Jamaica, p. 250.
|| Dorstenta Contrayerva, Linn.
§ Henderson’s Honduras, p. 117.
131
root is about half an inch thick, full of knots, hard,
and of a reddish colour. Long tough slender fibres
shoot out from all sides of it; these are sometimes
loaded with knotty excrescences: it is of a pale co-
lour within, of an astringent taste, bitterish, with a
Irght and sweetish kind of acrimony, and has a pe-
culiar kind of aromatic smell. It was formerly
much used in medicine, but is now almost neglect-
ed.
FoxcLove*,—This plant is found about the high
lands in the bay of Honduras. It derives its bo-
tanical name from digitale, the finger of a glove.
‘Considerable attention is required in the selection
and preparation of this plant for medical use. ‘The
leaves are to be gathered when the flower stems are
shot up, but before the time of flowering ; and the
largest and deepest coloured leaves are preferable.
These are to be carefully dried, and when complete-
ly crisp and dry, they are to be reduced to powder,
and kept in bottles closely corked, and not exposed
to the light. |
SARSAPARILLAT.—This plant delights in low moist
grounds, and near the banks of rivers. The roots
run superficially under the surface of the ground.
* Digitalis, Linn.
t Smilax Medicinal, Linn.
R
a
132
The gatherers have only to loosen the soil a Httle,
and to draw out the long fibres with a wooden hook.
In this manner, they proceed till the whole root is
got out. It is then cleared of the mud, dried, and
made into bundles. The flower of this plant is yel-
low, mixed with red. The fruit is a black berry,
containing several brown seeds. Its root, which 1s
the part in use, divides itself into a great number
of filaments, three or four feet long, of the thickness
of a quill; it is brownish outside, and white within,
only marked with two red streaks. It is inoderous,
and has a mucilaginous very slightly bitter taste.
Sarsaparilla, which is demulcent, and said to be
diuretic, was first brought into Europe by the Spa-
mards, about the year 1530, with the character of a
specific for the cure of the lues venerea, which
made its appearance a little before that time. The
method of preparing 1t by the Spamiards and Indians
of South America is as follows: they macerate an
ounce of the root in almost four pints of water, for
twenty-four hours, and boil it away to one-half.
They give of the expressed decoction half a pint
twice a-day, four hours before their meals, in bed,
covered with clothes, where they sweat two hours,
mixing. a suffictent quantity of the fine powder of
the root with each dose of the decoction. They
purge them every tenth day. The reputation of
this medicine declined after its introduction into
Europe ; though it appears from experience, that
155
in many cases, strong decoctions of it drank plenti-
fully, and duly continued, are of very considerable
service for promoting perspiration, and sweetening
or purifying the blood and humours. Dr William
Hunter and Sir W. Fordyce revived its reputation*,
This plant is obtained in the greatest abundance in
all parts of the Mosquito Shore; and in 1769, the
British settlers exported from hence 200,000 Ibs. of
sarsaparilla +.
Ipecacuanua {.—There are several sorts of this
plant found here. The bark of ipecacuanha is said
to be preferable to its root, as an emetic 3 acting
equally well, and with equal safety, in a smaller
dose, either in powder, or infusion. The zpecacuane
radix, is.a little wrinkled root about the thickness
of a quill. The celebrated Mutiz recommends the
use of this root, as a sovereign cure for the dysen-
tery, mixed with cascarilla, and I believe a small por-
tion of opzum. There isa species of this plant very
common in the West Indies, and the southern parts
of America, which bears a red flower, has a thick
short stalk of a deep-glossy green colour, full of a
milky juice, and said to be used by the natives
for creating abortions.
* Rees’s Cyclopeedia, vol. xxxi. part 2d.
+t Edwards’ Account cf the British Settlements on the Moss
quito Shore, p. 211.
{ Ipecacoanha,
R 2
134
Yam * is a large fleshy root, eatable when boiled
or roasted, and of which there are several species, all
natives of tropical climates: they are highly useful to
voyagers, as they will, like potatoes, keep for a con-
siderable time without spoiling. It is universally
cultivated in both the East and West Indies, the
equinoctial parts of Africa, and in the islands of the
south Sea; its roots being no less grateful than whole-
some, when either boiled or roasted, and used as bread.
The root is often three feet long, as thick as a man’s
thigh, and sometimes weighs 30 Ibs. Its bark is
black, the internal part white and glutinous, becom-
ing farinaceous when drest. A favourite dish in
Otaheite is composed of this root, with the pulp of
the plantain fruit, and the kernel, or internal part
of the cocoa-nut grated. It is mealy and easy of
digestion, being both dry and palatable; and the
rocts are inferior to none now in use, either in de-
licacy, flavour, or matter of nourishment +.
The plants are propagated by the piece ; but these
must be cut so as to have a little of the skin upon
them, by which alone they germinate; for the
roots have no apparent gems, but cast out their
weekly stems from every part of. the surface alike.
They are put into holes, two or three in each, which
are dug pretty regular, and about a foot and a half
“® Duoscorea.
. 6 ~
+ Browne’s History of Jamaica, p. 359.
135
or two feet square: these are afterwards filled with
earth, and the whole covered with cane-trash ;
which serves to keep the ground cool and fresh, and
to prevent the growth of weeds, from which these
plants must ‘be carefully preserved, until they grow
sufficiently to cover the mould themselves. They
are planted commonly in August, and are generally
ripe about November or December following.
When the roots are dug up, it 1s necessary to be
careful not to wound ,them, or but as little as pos-
sible; for such as are cut throw out their sprouts
very early, and are seldom fit for any thing but
planting, if they hold out even till that season comes
on. After they are dug up, they are rubbed over
with ashes, and piled regularly on hurdles raised
above the floor, so that the air may pass freely be-
tween them: but when they are heaped in great
quantities, care should be taken to strew some ashes
between the layers *,
Potatog and Potator Siip+.—Both these plants
are now cultivated all over America, and supply the
poorer sort of people with a great part of their food
in many places ; they are hardly distinguished by
the tops, but the roots of the latter are constantly of
a yellow colour, and those of the former white : the
* Browne’s History of Jamaica, p. 360.
+ Solanum.
‘
136
plant rises equally from the bits and slips; though
generally propagated by the latter, and is cultivated
by laying a few short juncks of the stem, or larger
branches, in shallow interrupted trenches, and cover-
ing them with the mould from the banks. The
roots grow to full maturity in three or four months,
and the propagation is continued by covering the
stems, bits and smaller protuberances with mould as
they dig up the more perfect bulbs for use. The
leaves make a very agreeable fodder for sheep, goats,
hogs, rabbits and horses, upon occasion; and the
roots boiled, mashed and fermented, make a plea-
sant cooling drink *. }
Gincer +.—This grateful aromatic root had a
very early introduction into Hispaniola, and Acosta
relates that it was conveyed from the East Indies to
New Spain by a person named Francisco de: Men-
doza. Ifsuch was the fact, the Spanish Americans
must have entertained very high expectations of
profit from its culture, and carried it to a great ex-
tent ina very short space of time ; it appearing from
the same author, that no less than 22,053 cwt. were
exported by them to Old Spain in the year 1547.
Ginger is a knotty, flattish root, of a fibrous sub-
stance, of a pale or yellowish colour, covered with a
* Browne’s History of Jamaica, p: 154,
+ Amomum Zirgiber,
137
thin, dusky pellicle, which is usually taken off while
it is fresh, and before it is brought to Europe. The
plant does not appear far above the ground ; it puts
forth long green leaves, somewhat similar to those of
the leek, and its flowers are red, slightly tinged with
green.
There are two sorts of ginger, white and black ;
of which the former is the most valuable ; but the
difference arises wholly from the mode of curing ;
the former being preserved by insolation, and the
latter by means of boiling water. The Indians are
fond of ginger; they eat both the young shoots of
the leaves and the roots themselves, cut small in
their sallads and broths; and they make a very fine
sweetmeat of them, preserving them with sugar; but
in this case they must be taken up at the end of
three or four months, while its fibres ure tender, and
full of sap.
In the cultivation of this root, no greater skill or
care is required than in the propagation of potatoes
in Great Britain, and it is planted much in the same
manner, but is fit for digging only once a-year,
unless for the purpose of preserving it in syrup. In
Jamaica it attains its full height and flowers about
August or September, and fades about the close of
the year. When the stalks are entirely withered,
the roots are in a proper state for digging, which is
generally performed in the months of January and
February. After being dug, they are picked, clean-
138
sed, and gradually seethed, or scalded in boiling wa-
ter: they are then spread out, and exposed every
day to the sun, till sufficiently dried; and after
being divided into parcels of about 100 lbs. weight
each, they are packed in bags for the market: this
is called the “ black ginger.” White ginger is
the root of the same plant ; but instead of scalding
the roots, by which they acquire the dark appear-
ance of the former, each root is picked, scraped, se-
parately washed, and afterwards dried with great
care: by this operation, more than double expence
is incurred, and the market price is proportionably
greater.
Witp Pine *.—This plant fixes itself, and takes
root on the body of a tree, commonly in the fork of
the greater branches of the wild cotton tree. By
the conformation of its leaves, which have a broad
hollow base+, it catches and retams water from
every shower. Each leaf resembles a spout, and
forms at its base a natural bucket or reservoir, which
contains about a quart of pure water, where it re-
mains perfectly secure, both from the wind and the
sun, yielding refreshment to the thirsty traveller
in places where water is not otherwise to be pro-
cured tf:
* Tillandsia Mazina. .
t+ Browne’s Natural History of Jamaica, p. 194.
+ Edward’s History of the West Indies, vol. Ist; p. 565.
139
Pine Appts *.—This is a perennial root ; the
root-leaves are from two to three feet long, and
from two to three inches broad, channelled, often
a little glaucous ; the stem is short, cylindric, thick
and leafy ; the spike is glomerate, dense, scaly, oval
or conic, crowned with a tuft of leaves, similar to
the root and stem leaves, but smaller: the flowers
are bluish, small and scattered upon the common,
thick, fleshy receptacle ; the germ,.is half buried in
the substance of the receptacle, which after the
flowers fall off, increases in size, and becomes a suc-
culent fruit, covered on all sides with small trian-
gular scales, and resembling the strobile of the
genus Pinus, whence its common English name
is derived. This root is a native of the tropical
regions of America, and was found by Columbus
in all the West India islands. This has always been
esteemed the richest and best fruit in America: it
is, in general, agreeable to the stomach; but the na-
tural mellowness of its juice renders it more agreea-
ble to the natives and old standards, than it possi-
bly can be to new comers, who generally think it
too rich and cloying. The juice fermented, would
make a good winé ; it is sometimés mixed with the
rum liquor, when it ferments, and is thought to
give it a pleasant flavour}. In South America, a
* Bromelia Ananas, Linn.
+ Browne’s Natural History of Jamaica, p. 192.
S
140
pleasant drink is made of the ‘pine apple, cut in
slices, and left to steép for twenty-four “hours ‘in
water. |
Pincurn Pine Appre*.—The leaves of this plant
are five or six feet long, and the edges very prickly,
and these generally arched backwards, which makes
them extremely hurtful to either man or beast, that
may chance to fall among them ; and are, for this
reason, generally used in all the fences and inclosures
round the country +. The fruits of this plant are
separate, and each nearly of the size of a walnut ;
the pulp has an agreeable sweetness, joined with such
a sharpness, that if you make much use of it, or let
it lie for any time in the mouth, it will corrode the
palate and gums, so as to make the blood ouze from
those tender parts. The leaves of all the different
sorts of Bromelia, (but this m particular) being
stripped of the pulp, yields a strong thready sub-
stance not much inferior to hemp, which is fré-
quently made into ropes, whips, &c.; and by the
Spaniards into hammocks.
Gourp {This plant is cultivated chiefly on
* Bromelia Pinguin, Linn.
+ Browne's Natural History of Jamaica, p. 193.
t Ibid.
§ Cucurbita.
4d
account of the lignous shell of its fruit, which grows
frequently, large enough to contain between twenty
and thirty quarts. Where aloes is manufactured in
any quantity, it is commonly preserved in these
shells. They are also used to hold water and small
grain *. lll eae
Scotcu Grass ~.—This plant is cultivated, and
thrives very luxuriantly in all the low and marshy
lands of Jamaica, where itis now almost universally
used as fodder for all their stabled cattle: it is
planted near the towns with great care, and found
to be one of the most beneficial productions of the
island ; it is propagated by the joints or root, and
set in small drilled holes placed about two feet and
a half asunder; the young shoots begin to appear
ina few days, and as they grow, they spread and
creep along the ground, casting a few roots, and
throwing out fresh shoots from every joint, as they
run; they soon supply the land, and fill the field
with standing plants, the only that are generally
cut. It rises variously according to the moisture
and luxuriance of the soil, but its general growth is
from two to four feet, and is fit to cut in six months
from the first planting, and every month or six
weeks after, if the seasons are favourable, and pro-
* Browne’s Natural History of Jamaica, p. 354.
+ Panicum hirtellum, Linn.
92
142.
per care taken to keep the ground free from weeds.
An acre of good land well stocked with this plant,
in the vicinity of Kingston, is computed to bring in
above a hundred and twenty pounds a-year ; and 1s
not attended with so much expence or so many 1n-
conveniences as when cultivated with any of the
other productions of the Island; for being once
planted, it holds many years; but when the main
stalk or root grows hard and lignous, the young
shoots do not push so luxuriantly, and they are then
obliged to be planted anew; this however is very
easy, as itis done gradually, for they generally sup-
ply the pieces as they clean them, and throw up
every stubbed or failing root they find, planting a
few joints in its place*, From a single acre of this °
plant, five horses may be maintained a whole year,
allowing fifty-six pounds of grass a-day to each f.
Guinea Grass {.—This plant, like the Scotch
grass, is also much cultivated in Jamaica. It is
planted, like the other, by the joint or gem, and
also by the root ; but does not require near so much
moisture, and is reckoned a more hearty fodder §.
‘“‘ This plant may be considered as next to the sugar
“cane in point of importance; as most of the
* Browne’s History of Jamaica, p. 133.
+ Edwards’ History of the West Indies, vol. 1. p. 253.
Holcus.
Browne’s History of Jamaica, p. 366.
OA de
143.
* srazing and breeding farms thoughout the island,
“ were originally created, and are still supported,
‘“‘ chiefly by means of this invaluable herbage.
“‘ Hence the plenty of horned cattle, both for the
‘‘ butcher and planter, is such that few markets in
“ Europe, furnish beef at a cheaper rate, or of bet-
“ ter quality, than those of Jamaica *,”
* Edwards’ History of Jamaica, vol. 1. p. 253.
Lit
QUADRUPEDS.
Horse* .—This noble animal is found in consider-
able numbers in this country ; in the interior there
are dreves of them, sometimes containing three or
four hundred head. Their price is from 12 to 15 dol-
lars per head, or from £2 10s. to £23 Sterling. They
are generally small, but very sure footed and hardy,
which renders them extremely fit for those moun-
tainous lands: and their hoofs are so hard that they
seldom require shoes; but this is the effect of the
heat of the country and dryness of the land in gene-
ral. The horses found in this country are without
doubt of Spanish origin; but many of them have a
mixture of the English breed ; in consequence of
some horses of that nation having been imported in-
to the country, during the time that the British
‘were in possession of the Mosquito Shore, -
Ox and Cow+; these are to be had in great numbers
in this country : there are many large herds of them ;
and at Plantain River, on the property of General Ro-
binson, there is a herd of at least 500 head, as large
and fine, as are to be found in any part of the world.
|
* Equus. t+ Bos.
145
The breed in this country, is undoubtedly of Spa-
nish origin, and perhaps mixed with ‘the English;
‘some of which were no doubt imported into ‘the
Mosquito territory, when in’ possession of that nation.
Many of them are to be found wild in ‘the: interior.
The usual price of a tame ox, or even of a cow
with its calf, very rarely exceeds from 12 to-15 dol-
lars a-head, or about £2 10s. to £3 sterling. ~Cow
‘milk is generally very thin in those : parts’ of :the
world, and tastes frequently rancid, especially ‘when
they feed in the lower lands, where the aceacia and
the Guinea Head weed grow in plenty ; neverthe-
less, in the mountainous'situations they yield sweet
milk, and good butter is sometimes made from it.
Within the Spanish territory in particular, nature
“ has supplied a rich and almost boundless pasturage,
“and where the numbers of cattle and horses raised
“ is prodigious. “Many of the latter, so little ‘are
“ they regarded, return to a state of wildness, and
“associate in immense droves, from which it fre-
“quently becomes a task of much difficulty’ and
“* danger to reclaim them *.” ‘The British settlers,
while resident at Black River, formerly used to’ob-
tain both horses and' cattle from the Spaniards in
exchange for merchandise.
Considerable quantities of tasajo; the flesh of cat-
tle cut up into long shréds, “slightly ‘salted, : and
dried in the sun, are imported into the-island of St
* Henderson’s Honduras, p. 120,
146
Thomas from the River Plata; and from whence,
after a certificate has been obtained of its having
been landed, it is again re-exported to the Havana ;
where it.sells for 14 dollars, and even sometimes for
18 dollars per cwt.
-Tasajo are bundles of flesh, rolled up and tied fast,
which is done by slicing off all the flesh from the
-bone with a knife, in long thin narrow stripes. It
is then salted and hung up on posts, or between
two trees to dry, being left exposed to the wind and
weather for a whole week ; it is then hung up and |
smoaked for another week, and afterwards rolled up
in small bundles, which in time becomes almost as
hard as stone *, When it is to be used it is washed,
beat with a mallet, and either boiled or stewed ; it
_is not unpleasant to the taste.
Cattle, it is supposed, can be had in considerable
numbers from the Spaniards in the back country, at
the moderate price of 4 dollars per head. In conse-
quence of the scarcity of cattle on the Spanish Main
-and inthe West Indies, it is said that Messrs Cay-
an and Co. of Barbadoes, the contractors for sup-
plying the British Army and Navy with provisions,
have been compelled to send to Ireland and the
Cape de Verd Islands for cattle: the passage from
Poyais'to the Windward Islands, may be estimated
at about thirty days at farthest, and this country
* A New Survey of the West Indies, &c. by Thomas Gage,
London, 1648, p. 143.
147
could supply annually, without detriment, from
1200 to 2000 head of cattle, besides any quantity
of green turtle.
Burrato *,—TI insert this animal on the authority
of Captain Wright+. It is probably the Bison
of America. “The bunched ox, or wild bison,
“ (according to Buffon), appears to have inhabited
“‘ the northern parts of America only, as Virginia,
“ Florida, the country of the Illionois, Louisiana,
“ &c.; for though Hernandez calls it the Mewican
“ Bull, we learn from a passage of Antonio de Solis,
“that this animal was a stranger in Mexico,” &c. -
The following is a literal translation from de Solis f,
of the “passage alluded to by Buffon, who formed
his opinion from a French copy of the work. “In
‘“‘ the second court of the same house, were the -wild
“beasts, which had been presented te Montezuma,
“ or taken by his huntsmen, in strong wooden caz
“‘ ges, well arranged, and under cover ; lions, tis
‘* gers, bears, and all kinds of wild beasts, the pro-
“‘ duction of New Spain; among which the great-
“‘ est novelty was the Mexican Bull, extraordinary
“ curious, being composed of various animals,
‘ crooked, with a bunch on his back, and the
‘* shoulder curved like a camel, the flank meagre,
* Bos Bubalus, Linn.
+ Wright’s Memoir, p. 15.
t La Historia de la conquista, &c. de la Nueva Espana, por
Don Antono de Solis, Madrid 1684, p. 240.
T
148
“the tail large, and the ‘neck covered with hair
“like the lion; the foot cloven, and the forehead
“armed like a bull, whose ferocity it imitates with
“ equal activity and execution *.”
‘Mutes }, are sometimes obtained from the Spanish
settlers in the back country ; and are more valuable
than any other cattle in these hilly countries ; and
the most generally used both for carriage and the
mill in all mountainous estates.
_ Hocs t.—These animals, when tame, differ in no-
thing from those of the same sort, commonly seen
in Europe, being generally bred and raised in the
same manner. The Guinea Hog }, though a-small
sort, answers best in America, for it breeds a great-
er number of pigs than any other kind, and these
very rich and delicate: but the old ones are so fat,
that none, except the boars, are ever brought to
table ||.
Prcarry @, or Meaican Hog. The tusks of
* Probably the animal, which Captain Wright calls the Buf-
falo, is nothing more than the Wi/d Bull now so numerous on
the continent of America, and which are said to have sprung
from one bull and seven cows which were carried thither by
some of the first conquerors.
+ Equs Asinus Mulus, Linn.
+ Sus. :
§ Sus Porcus.
\| Browne’s Natural History of J: amaica, p. 487.
q Sus Tajassu, Linn.
149
this species are scarcely conspicuous when the’
mouth is shut; the ears are short, erect, pointed ;
the eyes are sunk in the head; the neck is short
and thick ; the bristles are nearly as large as those
of the hedge-hog, longest on the neck and back ; in
colour it is hoary, black, annulate with white ; from
the shoulders to the breast is a collar of white. In
size and figure, this animal bears an imperfect re-
semblance to the hog of China ; it has no tail. On
the back of this animal is- placed a glandulous ori-
fice, which has furnished a very common belief
that in this part of it the navel is situated. From
this gland on the back, constantly distils a thin fe-
tid liquor, which is the most remarkable peculiarity
of this species. If killed in the night, provided the
gland on the back be taken off, and the liquor which
it secretes, carefully washed away at the instant of
death, the flesh of the Mexican hog is considered
agreeable food, and is esteemed good either fresh or
salted. Though existing ina wild state, they are
susceptible of domestication, but nothing can over-
come their natural stupidity. They grunt with a
stronger and harsher voice than the hogs of Asia and
Europe ; their chief food is fruit, seeds, and roots ;
but they will devour with great eagerness serpents,
toads, and lizards ; and they display great dexterity
in tearing off the skins of these reptiles; but they
do not wallow, and become fat, like the common
hog. ‘They produce a number of young at each lit-
T 2
150
ter, aad the mother treats them with the tenderness
and solicitous care of a kind parent.
Waree *, called by some the hog of the Isth-
mus of Darien; and an opinion has been suggested,
that it may only be the European hog run wild +;
they are very fierce: and if not wounded in any
principal part, generally return with great fury upon
the assailant, who is obliged to climb into some
neighbouring tree to avoid the fury of the beast.
The approach of these animals may be heard in the
woods at a great distance, by the loud and clamorous
noise they usually make.
GIBEONITE {.—This is a small animal greatly re-
sembling, though somewhat larger than the guinea-
pig. It is plentifully found at Honduras, and easily
domesticated. The flesh of it is extolled as a pecu-
liar delicacy §. This animal is near two feet in
length; the form thick and clumsy, and bearing
some resemblance to that of a pig, for which reason
it has sometimes been called the hog-rabbit. The
head is round; the muzzle short and black; the
upper jaw longer than the lower ; and the lip divid-
ed like that of the hare: the nostrils are large, the
* Sus vie ee Stn
+ Henderson’s Honduras, p. 124.
¢ Cavia Paca—Mus Paca, Linn.
$ Hendersen’s Honduras, p. 124,
151
. whiskers long ; the eyes large and prominent, and of
a brown colour; the ears short, moderately large,
round, and naked ; the neck thick 3 the body very
plump, larger behind than before, and covered with
coarse, short, thinly scattered hair of a dusky brown
colour, deepest on the back: the throat, breast, in-
sides of the limbs and belly, dingy white; and on
each side of the body are five longitudinal series of
roundish, or slightly angular spots, situated contigu-
ous to each other. The legsare short, and the feet
have five toes, four of which are armed with strong
and sharp claws; that on the fifth toe being very
small. The tail consists merely of a small conic
projection, not more than half an inch in length.
The female is said to produce but one young at a
birth.
Inpian Conzy *.—This animal, which has some-
times been confounded with the former, is of the size
of therabbit; the body plump, and thicker behind than
before ; the head rather small and somewhat com-
pressed laterally ; snout longand rathersharp; nose di-
vided at the tip; and the upper jaw longer than the
lower ; ears short, broad, naked, and rounded ; neck
rather long, but thick; legs thin, almost naked and
blackish ; the hind legs larger than the anterior ones,
and furnished with only three toes; tail extremely
* Cavia Aguti—-Mus Aguti, Linn.
132
short, naked, and sometimes scarcely visible ; the
whole of the animal covered with hard, strong, and
shining hair, in genetal of a rufous brown colour
with blackish freckles; rump orange coloured.
Authors mention three varieties, viz. The lesser
Agouti, or cuvia aguls cunicularis; the larger
Agouti, or cavia agoutt leporina; the American
Agouti, cavia agouti Americana.
Buffon observes, that the agouti has the hair, grunt-
ing,and voracious appetite of the hog; and whenfully
satiated, hides the remainder of its food like the fox,
in different places. It takes delight in gnawing and
spoiling whatever it comes near. When irritated,
it bites fiercely; its hair stands erect along the
back, and it strikes the ground violently with its
hind feet. It does not, he remarks, dig holes like
the rabbit, but lives in the hollows of trees. _ Roots,
potatoes, yams, and fruits, are its principal food.
It uses its fore paws, like the squirrel, in carrying
food to its mouth; runs swiftly up hill, or on even
ground; but its fore paws being shorter than its
hinder ones, it is in danger of falling upon a decli-
vity. The flesh of the agouti being nearly as good
as that of the rabbit, and the skin of such a durable
quality, as to form an excellent upper leather for
shoes: the hunting of these animals is an object of
attention among the Indians. They commonly go
in search of them with dogs, or take them in traps ;
the natives know also how to allure them by whist-
135
ling or imitating their cries, and kill as many as
they please. The young agouti is easily tamed.
When in a wild state, they generally dwell in the
woods, where the female chooses the most obscure
parts, and there prepares a bed of leaves and grass
for her young. She usually brings forth two or
three at a time, and in a day or two afterwards, she
carries them in her mouth like a cat, into a hollow
of some tree, where she suckles them for a short
space of time, and they are soon in a condition to
run about and provide for themselves. They mul-
tiply as fast as rabbits, producing three, four, and
sometimes five young ones, during every season of
the year. When in a domestic state, they never
remove to any great distance, and always return to
the house; but constantly retain somewhat of their
wild disposition.
Henderson says, “ this animal, in size, form, and
“ habit, is very like the hare. It does not run, but
“‘ leaps; and whilst in the act of lstening, it rears
‘* itself on the hind legs, exactly in the same way.
“The meat of it is wholesome, but exceedingly
aay
Ticer}, called also the Jaguar or American Tiger,
The colour of this animal is a bright tawny; the
upper part of the head striped with black ; the sides
* Henderson’s Honduras, p. 123.
+ Felis Onca.
154
beautifully variegated with irregular oblong ocollar
spots; the thighs and legs are variegated with black
spots without central spaces; breast and belly,
whitish ; tail not so long as the body, above marked
‘with large black spots in an irregular manner, be-
neath with smaller spots. It grows to the size of
the wolf, and sometimes even larger. The female
is supposed to produce only two young at a birth.
The Jaguar “ often commits the most open and
“‘ daring outrages on the plantations of the settlers.
‘¢ Sheep, goats, and hogs, are the particular objects
‘“‘ of its depredations. Reports are also given, that
‘“‘ it has sometimes attacked man, but it is consider-
“ed that such are unfounded ; for it fortunately
‘ happens, that the otherwise established reputation
“ for courage in this animal is usually found defi-
“ cient in this respect *.” It runs swiftly, and by |
means of its talons, ascends the loftiest and smooth-
est trees, with a facility that 1s inconceivable, when
in pursuit of quadrupeds, that endeavour, by climb-
ing up the trees, to effect their escape.
Brack Ticer +.—This resembles the former pretty
néarly, except in colour, which is dusky, and in ge-
neral plain. The throat, belly, and inside of the
legs, are pale-ash ; the upper lip white, and furnish-
* Henderson’s Honduras, p. 120.
+ Felis Discolor. :
Vi
ed with long whiskers, and the eye-brows beset
with long hairs; at each corner of the mouth isa
black spot; the ears are sharp-pointed, and the
paws white. The tail is of the same colour with the
rest of the body. “ The Black Tiger, which is
“‘ deemed much the fiercest, is but rarely discover-
“ed *.” It grows to the size of an heifer of a year
old, and is remarkable for its strength ; its form is
rather slender. MI. de la Borde relates of the black
tigers, that they frequent the sea shore, and eat the
eggs deposited there by the turtles. They also de-
vour alligators, lizards, and fishes, and sometimes
the buds and tender leaves of the Indian fig.
Mexican Carf, or Ocelot, is common, and proves
destructive to the smaller kinds of stock, such as
poultry, &c.f It greatly resembles the common
cat, but is three or four times its size, measuring in
length about four feet, and its height two feet
and a half. In the variety of its markings, as well
as colours,.the ocelot is extremely beautiful, the
male especially. The general colour is bright tawny
above, with the breast, belly, and lower part of the
sides, together with the limbs, white. — {{ Ibid.
L 1
268
The time that elapses from the planting to the
commencement of gathering cotton, does not vary
very much from four months, or about one hundred
and twenty days... It has been observed by an ex-
perienced traveller, that cotton will grow upon every
variety of land, upon which any useful vegetable can
be cultivated *. .
Gathering the cotton is entirely done by the
hand; and demands great care in the operation, 2
circumstance which, in the natural history of cot-
ton, contributes to render its collection, free of
dead leaves, difficult and tedious +.
The quantity of cotton that can be made upon,
and collected from an acre, differs greatly. Below
$30 North Latitude, one thousand weight is consi-
dered about amedium. The relative weight of seed
and down is about three-fourths of the latter, to one-
fourth of the former; therefore, 250 lbs. of clean
cotton would be the medium produce of an acre.
A labourer will cultivate with ease; more than
twice as much cotton as he can collect. There is
no manual labour done by man, where the quantum
that is performed by different men, of equal strength,
differs so greatly as in picking cotton. The ordinary
amount allowed for a day’s work, is between fifty
* Darby’s Emigrants Guide. New York, 1818, p. 178.
+ Ibid.
269
and sixty pounds: two hundred has been collected
by one person ina day. Darby says he has seen chil-
dren collect more cotton into baskets than- they
were able to carry to the place of deposit. It may
indeed be justly considered as one of the excellen-
cies of the culture of cotton, that in its collection
no manual labour is lost. Neither age nor child-
hood, if in health, is prevented from giving its aid
in this innocent and useful pursuit. Children from
eight years old can be employed to advantage.
The bale varies in weight : 320 lbs. is a medium.
That farm produces well, where three and a half
bales of this size are made to each hand; four such
bales is an excellent crop *.
It must be understood, however, that the same
labourers raise maize, plantains, cassada, sweet po-
tatoes, yams, and other vegetables for nourishment,
From the ability of cultivating more cotton than
can be collected by the same labourers, leisure is al-
so given to cultivate vegetables for food.
I shall now bring into one point of view the se-
veral particulars attending the first cost and settle-
ment of a plantation in this sort of husbandry, and
the return which may reasonably be expected from
a small capital thus employed. I fix on a small
capital ; because I conceive that a cotton planta-
I
* Darby’s Emigration Guide, p. 178.
1 2
; 270
tion may be established on a more moderate fund
than any other *,
It is presumed that land proper for the growth of
cotton, situated near the sea, may be purchased, in
the territory of Poyais, at the present selling price
of one shilling per acre; and as it is prudent in
most cases, to change the soil after the third crop,
by replanting fresh land, I will allot one hundred
and sixty acres (a quarter section) for the first pur-
chase, in order that the planter may have room for
that purpose. Supposing, therefore, that twenty-
five acres only is planted in cotton at the same
time, the capital will be invested as follows :
Cost of one hundred and sixty acres of
land, at one shilling per acre - £8 0 0
Expence of clearing, fencing, and
planting 25 acres, at ten shillings per
acre - - - - - 1210 0
. £20 10 0
Provisions, implements, and sundry
small articles, say sil : 910 @
Total, £30 O O
The returns are now to be considered. In Poyais,
it is calculated that one acre of cotton will yield
from 200 to 350 pounds annually, and 250 Ibs.
* Edwards’ History of the West Indies, vol. 2d, p. 317.
271
may be considered the medium average, and is
safely estimated at 8d. sterling per pound. The
returns, therefore, according to this data, upon such
a plantation as we have described, will be as fol-
lows, Viz.
6250 Ibs. of cotton, at 8d. sterling per
i - - £208 6 8
Deduct incidental expences, as mate-
rials for bagging, &c. £13 6 8
Deduct wages of 8 labour-
ers, at £18 each, per an-
num - - - 104 0 0
———— 117 6 §
Remains in sterling money, £98 O O
To which may be added, the sale of
surplus provisions, as yams, plantains,
maize, cotton seed-oil, &c. say 2 9 0 O
£100 O O
Cotton is packed in the West Indies, in bags,
from 300 to 520 lbs. weight each, and the tare al-
lowed there is 3 per cent *.
In the United States, one-fourth of the amount is
allowed for the expence of cleaning cotton from the
seed, the purchase of duck and cordage, and transpor-
* Mortimer’s Commercial Dictionary, 2d edit. 1319, art.
Cotton.
— _~
2712
tation to market. “ From individual experience, the
‘* author of this treatise is fully convinced, that this
“is an ample allowance if taken generally *.” For
the territory of Poyais, the allowance I have made for
bagging, &c. will be found amply sufficient.
The quantity of oil that cotton-seed will give,
has never been determined with sufficient accuracy.
The proportion of clean cotton wool to that of the
crude mass, including the seed, has been found very
nearly to be as one to four. Persons holding cot-
ton-gins are obliged to deliver one lb. of clean cot-
ton for every four lbs. of the mass in seed, for which
the receipts are given. One hundred pounds of
seed, is allowed to produce one gallon of oil +.
From the data given above, it appears that an
active industrious emigrant, arriving in this country
with about £150 sterling, would in twelve months
create a cotton plantation, that would yield him
100 per annum, with the certain prospect of every
year being able to extend it, and so in proportion
augment his capital and income. It should also be
observed, that there are merchants, who will ad-
vance an industrious settler, such goods as he may
require, on a twelvemonth’s credit, taking his cot-
ton in payment at a fair price; and as the Indians
prefer being paid in goods to money, the emigrant
who arrives with only L.30 in his pocket, may raise ~
os Darby’s Emigrant Guide, p. 181. + Thid.
273
a similar estate, if he can get credit with the mer-
chant to the amount of L.117, 6s. 8d.: but sup-
pose he only gets it for half the sum, this will ena-
ble him to employ four labourers, and cultivate
twelve or thirteen acres in cotton, which will yield,
after making a fair allowance of L.10, for the dif-
ference between goods bought with ready money,
and those obtained on a long credit, an annual in-
come of L.40 sterling, on a capital of thirty pounds.
In Nile’s Weekly Register, published at Baltt-
more, for July 1819, is the following curious calcu-
lation: —“‘ Ten slaves, five of them capable of
“ working in the fields, the other five, women and
“ children, will produce of cotton annually, about
| Ibs. 6,500
« At this rate 100,000 would produce 835,000,000
** Which at 13 cents. pevlb. amount to D.11,050,000”
In the same work for July 1820, is the following
calculation :—“ We now proceed to state the situa-
“tion of an extensive cotton manufactory, in the
“ neighbourhood of Boston, which is in actual ope-
“ ration.
“ItcontainsMen - 14
* Women and Children 286
300
“ And produces, with the power of looms and other
“machinery, at the rate per annum of 1,250,000
“ square yards of cloth.
274
Dollars
“ Which at 25 cents per yard is - 312,500
“ Deduct 450,000 Ibs. of cotton, at 16 cents '72,000
‘¢ Annual saving of the nation by the |
‘* Jabour of 14 men and 286 women + d.246,500
“ and children,
N.B. In the above statement the expences of
the establishment is not given, but we might cal-
culate it at 40,500 dollars, which would leave a pro-
fit upon the capital (whatever that may be) of
200,000 dollars.
Let us now calculate the result of the labour of
100,000 men, women and children, in the same
proportions, and at the same kind of employment.
As 300: 240,500:: 100,000: 80,166,666 dollars.
That is to say, the clear profit of the labour of
100,000 persons, employed in the cotton manufac-
tory, would amount to above eighty millions of
dollars annually, after paying for the raw material *.
Inpico.—The plant which yields the valuable
commodity, called Indigo (probably so named from
India, where it was first known to be manufactur-
ed), grows spontaneously in this country. In the
British Sugar Islands, they reckon three distinct
species; the Wild +, Gautemala +, and French §.
* Nile’s Weekly Register, July, 1820. ,
+ Indigofera Argenta, Linn.
+ Indigofera Disperma, Linn.
§ Indigofera Tinctoria, Linn.
275 :
The Wild indigo has short crooked pods and black
seeds ; the G'watemala is distinguished by the red«
ness of the stalk, and the colour of the seeds, which
are green: the #rench is a short bushy plant, with
roundish leaves, long crooked pods, and its seeds
are yellow. ‘The first issaid to be the hardiest, and
the dye extracted from it is supposed to be of the
best quality, both in colour and closeness of grain,
but one of the other two species is commonly prefers
red by the planter, as yielding greater return ; andof
these, the Frerich surpasses the Guatemala in quan-
tity, but yields to it in fineness of grain, and beaus
ty of colour *.
“ That the richest soil produces the most lux-
“ uriant plant, and that good seasons accelerate its
“ srowth, cannot I think be doubted ; but, observ- '
“ing its long tap-root, and spontaneous growth,
‘in almost every dry and barren savannah, I am
“ convinced it will thrive on soils that are fit for
“ nothing else. The longest dry weather will not
“ totally kill it, though much water will have that
“ effect, if suffered to remain long on the plant +.”
The cultivation and manufacture are conducted
in the following manner.
The land being properly cleared of weeds, &c.
is hoed into small trenches of two or three inches in
* Edwards’ History of the West Indies, vol. 2d, p. 325.
+ Ibid.
Mm
276
depth, and twelve or fourteen inches asunder ; in
the bottom of which the seeds are strewed by the
hand, and covered lightly with the earth taken out :
a bushel’of seed is sufficient for four or five acres
of land. During the progress of vegetation, the
ground must be carefully weeded, in order to pre-
vent any mixture of herbs, which would injure the
indigo in its manufacture. In moist weather, the
plarit comes up in three or four days; and in about
two or three months after, it is fit for cutting: if
suffered to stand till it runs into flower, the leaves
become too dry and hard, and the indigo obtained
from them proves less in quantity, and less beauti-
ful ; the due point of maturity is known, by the
leaves beginning to grow less supple, or more brittle.
In rainy seasons; the cutting may be repeated every
six weeks: cutting in dry weather kills the plant,
which if that is avoided, continues to afford fresh
crops for two years. The ratoons or subsequent
growths from the plants, ripen in six or eight weeks ;
but the produce diminishes fast after the second cut-
ting, so that it is absolutely necessary to sow the
seeds anew every year.
The produce per acre of the first cutting, will be
about eighty pounds weight of what the French
call pigeon’s neck; or about sixty pounds of a
quality equal to the Guatemala. The produce in
North America is sometimes nearly as much ; but
when Fahrenheit’s therriometer falls to 60°, the re-
217
turns there are very uncertain, both in quality and
quantity ; a greater heat being absolutely necessary
both for vegetation and maceration, The yielding
for the subsequent cuttings somewhat diminishes ;
but in Jamaica and St Domingo, if the land is new,
about 300 lbs. mer acre of the second quality may be
expected annually, from all the cuttings together, and
four negroes are sufficient to carry on the cultiva-
tion of five acres, besides doing other occasional
work, sufficient to re1mburse the expence of their
maintenance and clothing *.
The process for obtaining the dye is =
conducted in twa cisterns, which are placed like
two steps, the one ascending to the other. The high-
est (which is also the largest) 1s called the steeper;
and its dimensions are about sixteen feet square,
and two feet anda halfin depth. There is an aper-
ture near the bottom, for discharging the fluid into
the second, which is called the battery or beater,
and is commonly about twelve feet square, and four
and a half in depth. Cisterns of these dimensions
are proper for about seven acres of the plant; but
if stone-work cannot easily be erected for want of
materials, vats made of brick, and plastered with a
composition of cement in the inside, may be substi-
tuted, or if constructed of strong timber, well se-
ee anette NL ETE OY Te
‘ {
* Edwards’ History of the West Indies, vol. 2d, p-. 327.
Mm 2
ais
' cured from leakage, they will answer as well. There
is also required a Jime-vat, six by eight feet square,
and four feet deep; and it may be proper to ob-
serve, that the tap or plug-hole ought to be placed
at least eight inches from the bottom, to leave suf-
ficient room for the lime to subside, before the
lime-water is drawn off into the battery.
The plants are cut with reap-hooks or sickles, a
few inches above the root, and leaving a few bran-
ches on the stem. This will draw up the sap bet-
ter, and produce a more luxuriant ratoon, than
where a naked stalk is left. During the first cut-
ting, it is usual to leave some of the most flourish-
ing stalks for seed, which ought not to be gathered
until it is well hardened in the pod. It generally
requires ten bushels of the pod to produce a single
bushel of clean dry seed, fit for sowing.
A large quantity of the plant is placed by strata
in the steeper, until it is about three parts full.
They are then strongly pressed down with boards,
which are wedged or loaded, to prevent the plants
from buoying up; and as much water is admitted
as the weed will imbibe, until it is covered four
or five inches deep, and in this state is left to fer-
' ment, until the pulp is extracted. The matter be-
gins to ferment, sooner or later, according to the
warmth of the weather, and the maturity of the
plant, sometimes in six or eight hours, and some-
times not in less than twenty. The liquor grows
279
hot, throws up a plentiful froth, thickens by de-
grees, and acquires a blue colour, inclining to violet.
In proportion as the caloric increases, azote is dis-
engaged, and the herbaceous mucilage separated,
the vegetable is decomposed, and the mixture ab-
sorbs oxygen. ‘The fermenting fiuid passes from a
green to a violet tinge, and this by degrees changes
toa blue colour. The great art of the manufacture
is to check the fermentation at a proper degree. If
the fermentation is too feeble or too brief, the plant
remains impregnated with much essential salt,
which diminishes the quantity of indigo. If it be
too long, the tender extremities of the plant under-
go a putrefaction, which destroys the colour. Some |
years ago, the following criterion was published at
St Domingo, for ascertaining invariably the correct
fermentation of the indigo. It is only requisite to
write on white paper with the matter ta be examin-
ed. If this ink be of very high colour, it is a proof
that the fermentation is not yet at its true point.
The experiment is repeated every quarter of an
hour, till it is perceived that the liquid has lost its
colour. This was pronounced an infallible index
to shew the true point of fermentation. When
these signs are perceived, they indicate the success
of the operation. At this-time, without touching
the herb, the liquor impregnated with its tincture
is let out, by cocks in the bottom, into the other
vat, called the battery.
250
In the second vat, the liquor is strongly and in-
cessantly beat and agitated, with a kind of buckets
fixed to poles, till the colouring matter is united in-
to a body ; a more convenient machine has been
constructed, in which the levers are worked by a
cog wheel, and kept in motion by a horse or mule,
A good deal of nicety is requisite in hitting this
point ; if the beating is ceased too soon, a part of
the tinging matter remains dissolved in the liquor ;
if continued a little too long, a part of that which
had separated is dissolved afresh. The exact time
for discontinuing the process is determined by tak-
ing up some of the liquor occasionally in a little
cup, and observing whether the blue focwle is dis-
posed to separate and subside.
The facility with which the grain precipitates to
the bottom of the beater, 1s an unequivocal sign
that the beating has arrived at the correct point.
The liquor being properly and sufficiently work-
ed, and the pulp granulated, it is left undisturbed
until the flakes or focwle@ settle at the bottom, when
the incumbent water is drawn off, and the indigo
distributed into small linen bags to drain, after
which it is carefully put into little square boxes or
moulds, and suffered to dry gradually in the shade,
and this finishes the manufacture.
However well drained and dried the indigo may
be, it always experiences, in the first month of its
fabrication, a diminution sufficiently evident to
231
warrant a hastening of the sale. It is customary to
pack the indigo into barrels; and thus to circulate
it in commerce. Indigo is also packed in sacks of
coarse linen, and the sack is then covered with an ox’s
hide, having the seams so hermetically sewed and
tarred that nothing can penetrate it: These packets
are called ceroons, and they are much preferable to
barrels, as they are more solid; and more convenient
for transportation. Two ceroons make the load of
amule. In this way the indigo is packed for mar-
ket in the kingdom of Guatemala, and in all parts
of Spanish America.
Indigo is commonly divided, from the colour
which it exhibits upon breaking, into three kinds,
copper-coloured, purple, and blue. Good indigo is
moderately light, breaks of a shining surface, and
burns almost wholly away upon a red hot iron. It
is quickly penetrated by water, and reduced into a
kind of paste; a considerable part is at the same
time diffused through the liquor, and very slowly
subsides: é
Berthollet speaks of the indigo from Guatemala as
the best of any; as it is‘so light as to swim on the
surface of the water; instead of sinking to the bot-
tom, as all the other kinds do. The different qua-
lities of Spanish American indigo are expressed by
the three terms, Flora, Sobres, and Cortes, whereof
the first is the best, and the last the worst.
“* To what has been said above of the nature of
282
“ the plant, suiting itself to every soil, and produc-
“ ing four cuttings in the year, if we add the cheap-
“ness of the buildings, apparatus, and labour, and
“‘ the great value of the commodity, there will seem
“‘ but little cause for wonder at the splendid ac-
*‘ counts which are transmitted down tous concern-
“ing the great opulence of the first indigo planters.
‘¢ Allowing the produce of an acre to be 300 Ibs.
“and to produce no more than 4s. sterling per
‘¢ pound, the gross profits of twenty acres will be
** £1200, produced by the labour of only sixteen
“ negroes, arid on a capital in land and buildings,
‘* scarce deserving consideration *.”
One of the greatest drawbacks formerly in the
manufacture of indigo, was the pernicious effects of
the vapour arising from the fermented liquor ; which
is now entirely removed by an improved method of
extracting the indigo by means of a boiling pro-
cess; “ By the scalding process (observes Dr Rox-
burgh) I have always on a small scale made from
“the common indigo plant, better indigo than I
‘‘ could by fermentation, and in one fourth of the
“ time ; and what is also of great importance, with-
“ out the smallest degree of the pernicious effluvia
“ which attend the manufacture of indigo by fer-
‘“‘ mentation, and moreover, the twigs and leaves
“‘ themselves of the indigo plant burn fiercely, after
* Edwards’ History of the West Indies, Vol. 2d, p. 333.
283
“having been well dried, and will carry on thé
** operation without iia any great addition of
* other fuel.”
In another place, Dr Roxbury observes, “ that
“ the Hindoos throughout the northern provinces or
“ circars, make all their indigo by means of hot
* water, and precipitate with a cold infusion of the
“bark of the jambolong tree; yet notwithstanding
“« the inferiority of this bark as an astringent, when
‘its effects are compared with those of lime water,
‘* T have always found their indigo to be cf a very
** excellent quality, and very light ; a cubic mch
“weighing only about 110 grains, and being of a
‘blue violet colour. The-superior quality of this
*« indigo must alone be imputed to the nature of this
‘ process, by which the colour, or rather base of the
“ colour, is extracted from the plant ; for their ap-
“ paratus is very inconvenient.”
“« Besides the superior quality of the indige obtain-
“ ed by the scalding process, the quantity is gene-
“‘ rally increased by it, moreover the health of the
“ Jabourer in this way is not endangered ; as in the
‘‘ fermenting process, by constarit and copious ex-
* halations of putrid miasma: the heat employed
“‘ expels most of the fixed air during the scalding,
‘‘ which renders a small degree of agitation, and
“very little cf the precipitant necessary. The
“ operation can also be performed two or three times
“ a-day upena large scale; and Jastly, the indigo
Je an
284
“ itself dries quickly without acquiring any bad
“smell, or putrid unwholesome tendency *.”—
Surely these observations deserve the most serious
attention of the planters in the British West In-
dies +!
I shall conclude my account of this valuable plant,
with an estimate of the expence of an Indigo plant-
ation, and the probable revenue arising from it, and
with observing that it is one of the articles of pro-
duce, which is most deserving of the emigrants at-
tention, irom tlie small capital required in establish-
ing a plantation, the simplicity and cheapness of the
manufacture by the scalding process, and the high
price, together with the great and constant demand
of the article; the quantity of indigo annually im-
ported into Great Britain from all parts of the world,
being, I believe, one million and a half of pounds, of
which five parts in seven are purchased of foreign-
ers, )
Estimate of the Expence of an Indigo
Plantation. Cost of 160 acres of land (a
quarter Section, ) at one shilling per acre, £8 O O
Expence of clearing, fencing and
planting 20 acres, at ten shillings per
acre, - - - - - 10 0 90
”
* Bencroft’s Philosophy of Permanent Colours.
+ Edwards’ History of the West Indies, Vol. 2d, p. 537.
285
Building a dwelling-house, cisterns, ;
tanks, &c. - 2 z 3200
#50 0 Q
Produce.
20 acres at 300 lbs each is 6000
lbs. which at 4s sterling per pound,
will give, i 2 = - £1200 0 0
Deduct the wages of 16 labourers at |
£13 each per annum, : - 208 O O
£992 0 O
Leaving a clear profit nine hundred and ninety
two pounds upon a capital of £258. But it is to
be observed, that as the settler, at the end of the
first six months, will have sold a portion of his crop,
he would only require a capital of about one hund-
red and jifty pounds, to realize an income of al-
mest one thousand pounds sterling per annum!
CoFFEE.—Its true name, according to Bruce, is
caffé, from Caffa, the south province of Narea in
Africa, where it grows spontaneously in great a-
bundance. It is a fruit approaching to an
oval or semi-oval form; smaller than a horse-
bean, and is of a tough, close, and very hard tex-
ture. When deprived of its parchment covering,
it is found to be prominent on one side, and flatted
on the other, with a large deep furrow ,which runs
Nn2
286
along the flattened side. Itis moderately heavy,
hardito break before it is roasted, and is of a pale
ereyish colour.
wil rich deep soil, frequently meliorated by show-
ers, will produce a luxuriant tree, and a great crop ;
but the beans which are large, and of a dingy
green, prove for many years, rank and vapid. It
is singular, however, that the North Americans
prefer this sort to any other *. . Coffee indeed will
thrive in every soil in the West Indies; a cold stiff
clay, and a shallow mould on a hot marle, except-
ed. In both which the leaves turn yellow, and
the trees perish, or produce ‘nothing ; but the best
and highest flavoured fruit is unquestionably the
growth of either a warm gravelly mould, or sandy
loam. Frequent showers of rain, are friendly to
its growth, but if water remains long about the
roots, the tree will decay and perish.
If the land be fresh and naturally good, coffee
plants may be set out at all seasons of the year,
even in dry weather, and they will thrive in any
situation, provided it be screened from the north
winds, which often destroy the blossom ; and some-
times, in the after part of the year when those
winds prevail most, entirely strip the tree of both
fruit and leaves,
® Edwards’ History of the West Indics, vol, 2d, p. 339.
287
‘The usual mode of planting is to sow the seeds,
or to set out the young plants, eight feet distant
from each other on all sides, which | gives six hun-
dred and eighty trees to an acre; and when young
plants are easily precured they are preferred to ber-
ries. The plants which are intended to be set out
are generally selected of about three feet in height.
They are cut off about two inches above the surface.
of the ground, and care is taken to dig them up
with the roots as entire as possible. The holes
in which they are set, are made large enough to
hold the lower part of the stem and all the roots ; and
the upper fibres are buried about two inches un-
der the surface. But although eight feet be the
usual distance of setting out the plants in all soils,
it is frequently found in rich lands, that the trees,
as they grow to maturity, become from their luxu-
riance, so closely intermingled together, as to im-
pede the free passage of the air; in such case it is
thought adviseable to cut down every second row
within ten or twelve inches of the ground, and by
well moulding the stumps, they will furnish a suc-
cession of healthy young trees, while the rows
which are left will bear much better for the room
which is given them.
In the cultivation of a young walk, the general
and most approved system is to keep the trees per-
fectly clear of suckers, and to rear one stem only
from each root. If, therefore, a healthy shoot
288
springs up near the ground, all the original plant is
cut off close above it, by which means, when the
plant is moulded, the root becomes well covered.
At the height of five or six feet, which the plants
generally attain the third year, the trees are topped.
At this height, a single stem gives from thirty to
forty-two bearing branches, and the pruning re-
quired annually, is to leave nothing but those
branches *.
From what has been said concerning the effect of
a difference of seasons, it must be difficult to fix on
the average produce of a coffee plantation by the
acre. In rich and spongy soils, a single tree has
been known to yield from six to eight pounds of
coffee: I mean when pulped and dried. In a dif-
ferent situation, a pound and a quarter from each
tree, on an average, is great yielding ; but then the
coffee is infinitely better in point of flavour. The
following is, I believe, on a medium, as accurate a
calculation as the subject will admit. Coffee trees
raised from old trees, in lands neither very poor or
very rich, bear the second year from the new growth
300 pounds weight per acre; 500 pounds the third
year; and from 600 to 700 pounds the fourth. If
the trees are raised from young plants, no produce
is to be expected until the third year from the
planting, when they will yield very little; the
fourth year about 700 pounds. The average annual
* Edwards’ History of the West Indies, vol. 2d, p. 342.
289
produce per acre; after that period, if the walk is
properly attended to, may be reckoned at 730
pounds; and one person is well able to take care
of an acre and a half.
As soon ds the berries acquire the colour of a
black-red on the trees, they are supposed to be suf-
ficiently ripe for picking: The labourers employed
in this business are provided each with a canvass
bag, with a hoop in the mouth to keep it open. It
is hung about the neck of the picker, who empties
it occasionally into a basket, and if he be indus-
trious, he may pick three bushels in the day. But
it is desireable he should take time, otherwise a
great deal of unripe fruit will, in that case, be mix-
ed with the ripe. The usual practice is to pick the
trees at three different stages of rypeness. One hun-
dred bushels in the pulp, fresh from the tree, will
give about one thousand pounds weight of mer-
chantable coffee.
There are two methods in use of curing or drying
the bean: the one is, to spread the fresh coffee in
the sun, in layers about five inches deep, on a slop-
ing terras, or platform of boards, with the pulp on
the ber#y, which in a few days ferments, and dis-
charges itself into a strong acidulous moisture, and
in this state the coffee is left, until it is perfectly
dry, which, if the weather is favourable, it will be
in about three weeks. The husks are afterwards
separated from the seeds by a grinding- mill, hereaf-
290
ter to be described, or frequently by pounding them
with pestles in troughs or large wooden mortars.
Coffee thus cured, weighs four per cent. heavier,
than if cured with the pulp *.
The other method is to remove the pulp imme-
diately as it comes from the tree. Thisis done by
means of a pulping-mill, consisting of a horizontal
fluted roller about eighteen inches long; and eight
inches in diameter. This roller isturned by a crank
or handle, and acts against a moveable breast-board,
which being fitted close to the groves of the roller,
prevents the berries from passing whole. The mill
is fed by a sloping trough, and the aperture of the
trough, from which the berries drop into the mill, is
regulated bya vertical sliding board. By this sim-
ple machine a man will pulp a bushel in a minute.
The pulp and the bean (in its parchment skin) fall
promiscuously together. The whole is then washed
in wire sieves, to separate the pulp from the seeds,
and these are immediately spread open to the sun to
dry. There yet remains the operation of grinding
off the parchment skin, or membrane which imme-
diately envelopes the bean, and is left after the
pulp is removed. It is done by a machine which
will also separate, at the same time, the dried pulp
Gf the former mode of curing has been adopted)
much more expeditiously than the pestle and mor-
tar.
* Edwards’ History of the West Indies, vol, 2d, p. $45.
291
The grinding mill consists of a perpendicular axis,
surrounded at some distance by a circular trough,
into which the coffee is thrown, and about a foot a-
bove the level of the surface of the trough, there are
commonly four horizontal arms or sweeps, tenanted
into the axis, and stretching some feet beyond the
trough, and on these are four rollers, fitted to run in
the trough, on the arms being turned round with
the axis, whichis done by mules, or horses yoked to
the extremity. The rollers, which are generally of
considerable weight, moving round in the trough,
bruise the skins of the coffee, so as to render them
separable by the fans, though there is always a pro-
portionleft untouched. When it appears sufficient-
ly bruised, it is taken out of the trough and put to
the fan, which cleans the coffee from the chaff, and
the seeds remaining unground are separated by sieves,
and returned to the mill, which will clear 1,500
pounds of coffee in a day.
I shall conclude by offering an estimate of the
expences and returns of a coffee plantation.
EXPENCES.
First cost of 640 acres of land, of
which 150 acres is planted in coffee, and
the same quantity in provisions, &c. £32 0 0
Clearing, fencing and planting 150 a-
cres at 10s. per acre - = «TO OO
Carry over £107 O O
Oo
292
Brought over £107 0 0
Twenty mules or horses at £3 per
head - = = = - - 60 0 0
Buildings and mills, utensils and tools 200 O O
Expence of 50 labourers at £13 each,
and 50 women and children at £6.10s
each for three years - - - 2850 0 0
. £3217 0 0
Returns the fourth year at £4 40
per cwt. of 112 lbs.
From 150 acres of young coffee may be
expected the fourth year 45,000 lbs. £1687 10 0
Deduct annual charges
for the fourth year - £950 0 O
Sacks and saddles - 40 0 0
wee JOD 0 0
Clear profit - - £69710 0
Returns the fifth and subsequent
YEAS ; VIB.
150 acres, yielding '750 Ibs. per acre,
—112,500 Ibs. at £4 4 0 per cwt. 4219 0 O
Deduct annual charges as
before - = - £950 0 0
- Sacks and saddles - 80 0 0
Repairsofmills,;&c. - 60 0 O-
————— 1099 0 0
Clear profit - - £3129 0 O
293
From which it appears that, by the fifth year, a
clear income of £3129 may be expected from a
capital of £3217. But as few emigrants can be
expected to command, or be able to afford to lay so
long out of so considerable a capital, I would recom-
mend to such as are desirous of establishing a coffee
plantation, to commence by degrees, and with some
other article of culture at the same time, as indigo, or
cotton, for instance, and employing the profitsarising
from the cultivation of one or other of these articles,
in the gradual establishment of a coffee walk.
Cacao.—-The cacao or chocolate nut is the pro-
duction of a tree, common in the West Indies and
the tropical regions of the American continent. It
is indigenous of this country; where it grows to the
height of from fifteen to twenty feet. The choco-
late-tree begins almost from the ground to separate
itself into four or five stems, according to the vi-
gour of the root from whence they all proceed:
they are commonly between four and seven inches
in diameter ; but they first grow in an oblique di-
rection, so that the branches are expanded and se-
parated from one another.
The iength of the leaf is between four and six
inches, and its breadth from three to four: it is
very smooth, soft, and terminating in a point, like
that of the China-orange-tree, but differing from it
in colour; the former being of a dull green, and
Oro 2
294
having no gloss, which is observable on the latter ;
nor is the tree so full of leaves as that of the orange.
“The cacao tree,” says Mr Edwards, “ both in
‘¢ size and shape, somewhat resembles a young black-
“heart cherry. The flower is of a saffron colour,
“extremely beautiful, and the pods which in a
“‘sreen state are much like a cucumber, proceed im-
“mediately from all parts of the body and larger
‘branches, As they ripen, they change their co-
‘Jour, and turn to a fine bluish-red, almost purple,
“with pink coloured veins. ‘This is the common
‘‘ sort; but there is a larger species, which produ- ’
“ces pods of a delicate yellow or lemon colour. * ”
The pods that contain the cacao, grow from the
stem, as well as from the branches. The colour of
the pod, while growing, is green, like that of the
leaf: but when arrived at its full perfection, it
gradually changes to a darkish red. When the
fruit is arrived at its full growth, and cut in slices,
its pulp appears white and juicy, with the seeds, or
nuts, regularly arranged, and at that time of little great-
er consistence than that of the pulp, but whiter, and
enclosed by a very delicate membrane ; these are of
an oblong figure, resembling a large olive in size and
shape, but rather thinner in proportion to its length,
and in some degree approaching to the almond or
pistachia-nut : it is larger however than either of
* Edwards’ History of the West Indies, vol. 2d, p. 363.
295
these. Each pod may contain from twenty-five to
thirty of these nuts or kernels, which are imme-
diately enveloped in a parchment shell.
The chocolate-nut, when dried, is found composed
of a thin, but hard and woody coat or skin, of a
dark blacking colour, and of a kernel within this,
filling up its whole cavity, fleshy, dry, firm, and
flattish to the touch, of a dusky brown colour, with
a mixture approaching to red on the surface, and of
a greyish brown within. It is composed of several
irregular and unequal parts, which, however, cohere
firmly enough together, and it is of a very fragrant
and agreeable smell, and of a pleasant and peculiar
taste, with something of the acerbinit. The nuts
‘quickly lose their power of vegetation, if taken out
of the capsule, but kept in it, they preserve that
power for a long time. The tree bears leaves,
flowers, and fruit, all the year through; but the
usual seasons for gathering the fruit are June and
December.
This is almost the only tree in nature to which
the enlivening beams of the sun are obnoxious. It
requires to be sheltered from their ardour; and the
mode of combining this protection with the prin-
ciples of fertility forms a very essential part of the
talents which its cultivationdemands. The cacao-
tree is mingled with other trees, which guard it
from the rays of the sun, without depriving it of
the benefit of their heat. The erythrina or bean-
296 |
tree, and the banana, are employed for this purpose.
The latter, by the rapidity of its growth, and the
magnitude of its leaves, protect it for the first year.
The erythrina endures at least as long as the cacao ;
it is not every soil, however, that agrees with it. It
perishes after a while in sandy and clayey soils, but
it flourishes in such as combine those two species *.
In Spanish America, where the cacao forms a
considerable article of commerce, its cultivation 1s
conducted in the following manner. Having chosen
a spot of level land (a deepblack mould is preferred)
sheltered round with a thick wood, so as to be well
screened from the wind, especially the north, and
caused it to be cleared from all manner of stumps and
weeds, the planter digsa number of holes at eighteen?
or twenty feet distance, each hole being about a foot
in length and width, and six or eight inches deep.
In the mean time, having selected the largest and
fairest pods of the cacao when full ripe, he takes out
the grains and puts them into a vessel of water.
Such of them as swim are rejected ; the others, being
washed clean from the pulp and skinned, are suffer-
ed to remain in the water till they begin to sprout,
at which time they are fit for planting. The plant-
er then takes the banana, or some other large leaves,
and places one leaf within the circumference of
each hole, so as to line it round; leaving however
* Depos’ Travels in South America, vol. Ist, p. 393.
297
the sides of the leaf some inches above the ground,
after which he rubs in the mould, very lightly, till
the hole is filled. He then selects three nuts for
each hole, and plants them triangularly, by making
a small opening for each with his finger, about two
inches deep, into which he puts the nuts, with that
end downwards from which the sprout issues ; and
having lightly covered them with mould, he folds
over theleaf, and placesasmall stone onthe top topre-
vent its opening. In this manner he plants his whole
walk, or orchard. At the end of eight or ten days,
the plants will generally be found to rise above the
earth. ‘The leaves are then opened, that their
growth may not be impeded ; but, in order to shel-
ter them from the sun, other leaves or branches are
placed round the hole ; for which purpose those of
the palm kind are generally chosen ; and they are
changed as often as they decay, for the space of
five or six months.
If all the three nuts placed in each hole spring up,
it is thought necessary, when the plants are about
eighteen inches high, to cut at least one of them
down. The other two, if they spread different ways,
are sometimes suffered to remain; but it seldom
happens that all the nuts, or even more than one of
them, will take root, which is the reason of plant-
ing three ina hole *.
* Edwards’ History ef the West Indies, Vol. 2d, p. £61.
298
When the bananas grow old, they should be care-
fully felled, lest the cacao-trees should be injured
by their accidental fall. They are to be totally re-
moved as soon as the erythrinas yield sufficient
shade ; this operation gives more air to the trees of
the plantation, and encourages their growth *.
Until the cacao plant attains four feet in height,
it is trimmed to the stem. If it shoots forth seve-
ral branches, they are reduced to three at equal
distances ; and in proportion as the plant increases,
the leaves which appear on the three branches are
stripped off. If they bend much, and incline to-
wards the earth, they are tied in branches, so that
the tree may not remain crooked. The branches
which are trimmed are cut at the distance of two
fingers from the tree. The suckers which spring
from the tree are also removed, as they only live
at its expence +.
In two years from the seed, the tree is above
three feet high, and spreads its branches, not more
than five of which are suffered to remain. Before its
third year is complete, it shews for fruit. The
fifth year the tree begins to bear, and the eighth
attains its full perfection : it then produces in ge-
neral two crops of fruit in the year, yielding at
each, from ten to twenty pounds weight, according
* Depons’ Travels in South America, vol. Ist, p. 396:
t Ibid. vol. Ist, p. 396,
299
to the soil and seasons ; and it will sometimes con-
tinue bearing for twenty years; but the same deli-
cacy of stamina which marks its infancy, is visible
in all the stages of its growth. It is obnoxious to
blights, and shrinks from the first appearance of
drought *,
It is necessary that a cacao plantation should
have always shade and irrigation ; the branches of
the plant should be cleared of the scurf that forms
on them ; the worms should be destroyed ; no large
herbs or shrubs should be permitted to grow ; since
the least disadvantage resulting therefrom would be
the loss of all the fruit that should fall into these
thickets. But it is most essential to deepen the
trenches which carry off the water, in proportion
as the plant increases in size, and as the roots of
course pierce deeper: for if the trenches are left
at a depth of three feet, while the roots are six
feet in the earth, it follows that the lower part of
the cacao plant is in a situation of too great humi-
dity, aud rots at the level of the water. This pre-
caution contributes not only to make the planta-
tion more durable, but also to render the crop more
productive. It is necessary also to abstain from
cutting any branch from cacao plants already ina
state of produce. Such an operation might occa-
sion the subsequent crop to be stronger; but the
ST A SSS Sesriem?
* Edwards’ History of the West Indies, vol. 2d, p 861,
Pp
300
plants become enervated and often perish, accord-
ing to the quality of the earth, and the number
of branches cut off *.
The cacao gives two principal crops ina year,
cne about St John’s day, the other towards the end
of December: The cacao also ripens and is gather-
ed during the whole year. But in all seasons, the
people of Terra Firma make it a point, as far as
possible, to collect their crops only at the decline
of the moon ; because, say they, experience proves
that this precaution renders the cacao more solid,
and less liable to spoil +:
After gathering the ripe fruit, it is opened, and
the kernels struck out with a small piece of wood,
which must not be sharp, lest it injure the grain;
they are then laid on skins kept for that purpose,
and left in the air to dry.
The good and bad cacao must not be mingled
together. There are four sorts of cacaos in every
crop; the ripe and in good condition; the green
but sound; the worm-eaten and the rotten; the
first quality is the best, the second is not bad;
but the two others should be rejected f.
Tie cacao must always be exposed to the sun,
on the fourth day after it has been gathered, and
this exposure should be daily repeated until it’ 1s
ge SR
* Depons’ Travels in South America, vol. Ist, p. 400.
+ Ibid. p. 402.
‘ie @
301
perfectly dry. When this is the case, the grains
burst on being squeezed, their shell resounds when
struck, and they no longer become heated on being
placed in heaps. If the cacao is not sufficiently
exposed to the sun it becomes mouldy ; if too
much, it withers and easily pulverises; in either
case it soon rots *,
Depons who paid particular attention tothe mode
in which this valuable tree is cultivated in the pro-
vince of Caracas, says, “‘ less expence is also required
‘for an establishment of this kind, than for any o-
“ther of equal revenue. One slave, as I have al-
‘ready said, is sufficient for the preservation and
“harvest of a thousand plants, each of which should
‘“ yield at least one pound of cacao, in ground of
‘moderate quality, and a pound and a half in the
‘best soil. By an averaged calculation, of twenty
“ounces to each plant, the thousand plants must
‘‘ produce 12 hundred and fifty pounds, which, at
“the customary price of twenty dollars per hundred,
“ produces two hundred and fifty dollars per annum
‘for each slave or labourer. ‘The expences of the
“ plantation, including those of utensils, machines,
“and buildings, are also less considerable for cacao
“than for any other produce. The delay of the
“ first crop, and the accidents peculiar to cacao, can
“alone diminish the number of planters attached to
* Depons’ Travels in South America, vol. Ist, p. 403.
Ewe
302
‘its culture, and induce a preference to other com:
“‘ modities *,”
I shall now proceed to make a calculation of the
expence and probable profit of a cacao plantation.
First cost of 320 acres (a half sec-
tion) at Is per acre, of which 80 acres
are planted in cacao—-250 trees on an
acre, : 2 - ~ - £16 O 0
Clearing, planting, and fencing 80
acres, at 10s per acre, - - 40 0 O
Dwelling-house, drying sheds, &c. 30 0 O
Expence of 20 labourers at £13 per
annum each, for 4 years, 1040 0 oO
Total £1126 0 0
Returns the fifth year.
From 80 acres of young cacao trees,
may be expected the fifth year 10,000
Ibs. which at £3 10s. per cwt. gives 350 O O
Deduct annual charges for the fifth
year, : = : - - 260 0 0
Clear profit the fifth year, £90 0 O
Returns the sixth and seventh years, viz.
80 acres, yielding 250 lbs. per acre,
20,000 Ibs. aoe - - 700 O O
* Depons’ Travels in South America, vol. Ist, p. 405.
303
Deduct annual charges, - 260 O O
2 SS ee
Clear profit sixth and seventh years, £440 O O
Returns the eighth and subsequent years, viz.
80 acres yielding 3121 lbs. per acre
—25,000 Ib. - -— = 875 0 0
Deduct charges same as former years, 260 0 O
CS a
Clear profit the eighth year, &c. £615 0 O
From the above data it appears that a plantation
of cacao, the original cost of which would be about
£1126, would yield the fifth year from its establish-
ment a clear profit of £90; the sixth and seventh
year, £440; and the eighth and subsequent years
£615. The observations I have made upon the
most economical plan of establishing a coffee plan-
tation, are equally applicable tocacao. Indian corn
might also be planted the first year, in the intervals
between the plants. Coffee is frequently, in South
America, planted among the trees of a cacao grove.
A cacao plantation when once established, is prefer-
able to any other, on account of the great returns,
and the small annual experce of labourers.
Tozpacco,—called in Botany Nicotzana, received
its name in honour of John Nicot, of Nismes, Am-
- passador from the French court to that of Portugal,
who during his residence at Lisbon in 1560, receiy-
cO4
ed some of the seed from a Dutchman, who had
it from Florida, and part of this he sent to France.
There the plant soon became famous, as well as in
Europe, by the name of Tabac, or Tobacco, from
Tabaco, given it by Hernandez de Toledo, who
first sent it to Spain and Portugal. It was not
known in Europe til] after the discovery of America
by the Spaniards ; and is supposed by some, to have
been first imported into Great Britain in the year
1560 by Sir Francis Drake.
Tobacco requires a moderately strong, yet rich,
compact, and deep soil, and one that is not too much
exposed to moisture ; indeed, a fresh, unimpaired
spot of land, is best adapted to the culture of a plant,
which is greedy of succulence. The tobacco seed
is sown in beds; and so soon as the plants appear
about two inches above the ground, and put forth at
least six leaves, they are gently drawn, during damp
weather, and carefully transplanted into a patch of
land previously prepared for the purpose, being pla-
ced at the distance of three feet asunder. If this
operation be carefully performed, the leaves will not
undergo any alteration for the worse, but will re-
cover their vigour in less than twenty-four hours.
It is advisable to cover the plant with a banana
leaf, to protect it from the heat of the sun, and the
heavy rains. Four days afterwards it should be re-
moved, in order to replace such plants as may not
have taken root. The best time for planting 1s
either the morning or evening.
305
The weeds which spring up around it must be
carefully removed as they appear, its tops cut when
it has grown to the height of two feet and a half.
In order to prevent its attaining too great a height,
suckers are to be carefully lopped off, and all the
lower leaves, as well as those which appear like-
ly to suffer by rottenness, or the attacks of insects,
carefully removed, so as to let not more than eight
or ten leaves at most remain upon the stem. One
industrious labourer is capable of thus cultivating
2500 stalks, which ought to render a thousand
pounds weight of tobacco.
The plant soon springs up and forms on the summit
a bud, towards which the sap would direct itself,if'a
remedy was not applied. Themeansemployed with
success is to cut off the bud. The plant is then a-
bout one foot and a half inheight: This operation
is repeated when it has attained three feet. There
are some persons who repeat it, even three times.
In consequence of these operations, the tobacco be-
comes bushy, and acquires by degrees a colour be-
tween green and blue, a sign of the approach of its
maturity. It is known to be ripe by a small bluish
spot which forms itself at the point where the leaf
joins to the stem; this commonly takes place in
December. * |
* Depons’ Travels in South America, vol. Ist, p. 480.
306
The tobacco plant is allowed to remain about four
monthsin the ground. “ In proportion as it approach-
‘es to maturity, the bright vivid green of the leaves
‘“‘ assumes a darkish hue, the leaves themselves ap-
‘pear to droop and emit an odour, the strength of
“which is daily augmented. When these symp-
‘toms are evident, and particularly when the odour
“is perceived at some distance from the plant, the
“tobacco is ripe, and may be cut down *.”
All the leaves do not ripen at the same time;
because the sap is not equally distributed through-
out the plant. Those leaves only are gathered of
which the colour indicates their maturity. The
others have not yet the essential juice, and would
only yield tobacco without flavour. The gather-
ing is continued and repeated as the leaves ri-
pen +. The plants, when cut down, are placed
in heaps on the land which produce them, and
are left, for one night only, to sweat, or dis-
charge their moisture, in the open air. On the
following day they are deposited in sheds, so con-
structed as to admit the air on every side, and here
they remain, hung at a distance from each other,
till they become perfectly dry Tf.
* Mortimer’s Commercial Dictionary, 2d. Edit. art. Tobacco.
+ Depons’ Travels in South America, vol. 1st, p. 480.
+ Mortimer’s Commercial Dictionary, 2d Edit, art. Tobacco.
307
Depons however says, that “it is highly import-
* ant to the quality of the tobacco, that it should
“ not be gathered except when the sun is in full
“‘ force above the horizon; for the dews, or any o-
‘‘ ther humidity, would by fermentation injure its
“ constituent principles, and would render ineffec-
“ tive the benefits which it had already received
“from nature, and those which it might expect
* from a methodical preparation *.” The same au-
thor further observes, that it is the practice in Terra-
Firma, to arrange the plants on mats, as they are
collected, covering them at the same time, so as they
should be protected from the sun, and in this man-,
ner transported to the manufactory.
Twenty-four hours after the tobacco has been
brought to the drying sheds, it is hung up on bars,
in leaves of two and two, if in winter, and four and
four if in summer. This is done to make the to-
bacco lose, by the action of the air, its tension and
green colour, and to acquire instead a yellowness
and softness which render it more flexible. If the
weather is rainy it will require to be hung up for
three days, and sometimes four ; but if the weather
is dry, two days are sufficient +.
When the tobacco has obtained the colour and
softness above-mentioned, it is taken down, without
* Depons’ Travels in South aad vol. Ist, p. 480,
+ Ibid. p. 481.
Qq
308:
being piled up, lest it should ferment; the stalks
are then taken out, from the point, until within
four inches of the part where the leaf was united to
the stem. This must be done cautiously with the
fingers, in order to prevent. the leaf from being da-
maged. They are then laid on one side, and the
damaged tobacco and stalks on the other; care
however must be taken not to place them in heaps,
ag there is still danger of their heating or ferment-
ing:
At the same time, persons are employed to make
cords or twists of the leaves, which they divide
into balls of seventy five pounds, which after the
process of preparation, will be diminished to twen-
ty-five pounds. These operations require great ce-
lerity, because the leaves may dry, and consequent-
ly it would be more difficult to take out the stalk,
and to twist them: ,
The interior of the cord is made, like segars, of
broken or damaged leaves, which are covered with
a good leaf. As soon as the ball is of the proper
size, 1t is made anew, so that the outward end be-
comes the centre of the new ball, This is done to
prevent it from untwisting.
The balls of tobacco are then placed on beds or
layers, a foot thick, formed of the branches and
stalks, and covered with the damaged tobacco. A
covering of tobacco is likewise placed over the balls,
and kept down by weights, or skins. All this re-
quires to be done in the shade and under sheds ; it
being absolutely necessary, to guard both against the
sun and rain,
The tobacco is suffered to ferment for forty-eight
hours, if it was too dry, when the large stalk was
taken out, but only twenty hours if it was at its
proper point. It is afterwards rolled anew, so that
what was the exterior, now becomes the interior ;
and at the same time it should be highly moistened
to prevent fermentation. The balls are then re-
turned to their former place to ferment, and in this
state they are left for twenty-four hours,
When the balls of tobacco have sufficiently fer-
mented, they are exposed to the air, until they be-
come cold ; and for three or four days, they should
be wound over every morning and evening. By
this last process, more or less frequently repeated,
the visible defects of the tobacco may be corrected.
If its colour is blackish, its juice viscid, and its smell
agreeable, it is considered to be entirely free from
defect.
Lastly, the balls are unrolled, and the tobacco
made up in bundles, which are suspended in the
shade, that the tobacco may lose its superfluous hu-
midity, and acquire that colour which influences its
value in commerce. In damp weather a fire may
be lighted underneath, or such materials placed, as
will yield a thick smoke.
The exact period, that the tobacco should remain
Qq 2
310
in this state, it 1s not easy to determine, but it may
be known, by opening the cord and squeezing it. If
the juice run freely, the tobacco is not sufficiently
dry. The usual time it takes is from forty to fifty
days *,
The above 1s the usual process, as practised by the
tobacco planters on the Spanish Main, and the fol-
lowing is the mode customary in Virginia.
The planter begins to clear the ground by gird-
ling or cutting the bark of the large trees near the
ground, and grubbing up the small ones ; the ground
is rendered soft and light by repeated working.
The plants having previously been raised in a nur-
sery, after the first rains, and when the ground is soft,
are drawn, when about the height of four or five inch-
es, and carried tothe fields, where they are planted in
beds, or little mounds, at the distance of three feet
from each other; and, if a plant die, another is put
in its place. This operation is performed by mak-
ing a hole with the finger, and pressing the earth
close round the top root. The plants are drop-
ped into each hole by children. The earth is
raised round the stalk by the hoe and shovel,
three different times, in the shape of little hil-
locks ; and the last operation is performed when
the leaves are developed, and the plant has acquired
a considerable growth. In about a month they are
* Depons’ Travels in South America, vol. 1st, p. 483.
311
a foot high, when the top is pinched off, level with
the ground or bottom leaves, leaving from eight to
twelye. The young sprouts are broken off, lest
they should draw the nourishment from the leaves,
and the weeds are carefully kept down. The to-
bacco or horse worm is picked off and destroyed,
otherwise this ravenous insect would devour whole
fields in a very few days. The ground worm, which
cuts the plant beneath the surface of the earth, must
also be looked for and destroyed. The former is
the favourite food of the turkies; flocks of which
are driven into the grounds, and are more useful
than a number of hands. In six weeks more, the
plant has attained its full growth, being from five
to seven feet high, and the ground is covered with
the leaves. The change of colour of the leaves, from
green to brown, after a clammy moisture or
perspiration, indicates their maturity.
As the plants ripen unequally, they are cut as
they become ripe, Every plant is hung up sepa-
rately. After cutting, it is split three or four inches,
and cut off below the undermost leaf. This split is
placed across a small stick, an inch in diameter, and
four feet and a half long, and so close, that the plants |
touch, without pressing each other. The drying is
hastened, by making slow fires on the floor below,
After this the plants are taken down, and laid in
rows or heaps, where:they sweat a week or a fort-
night ; and in damp weather, are sorted and packed
me
a
313
up in hogsheads. For this last operation, more
skill and experience are required than for any other.
If not performed in moist or wet weather, they
crumble to dust. The ground leaves and faulty
tobacco are thrown away, as they are pulled from
the stock. The Aands or bundles are pressed down
in the hogsheads with a large beam, one end of
which is inserted with a mortice into a tree, and
on the other a great weight is suspended. The
finest flavoured tobacco is produced on a new and
kindly rich soil, with an undulating surface. The
second crop is inferior to the first, as the third is
to the second *,
* In 1621, every person on board of nine ships,
* which then arrived under the protection of Go-
“‘ vernor Wyatt, was obliged to raise a thousand
* plants of tobacco, the produce of which was near-
‘ly a hundred pounds, andthe price vaned from
eighteen-pence to three shillings currency. A
** hogshead of tobacco, weighing 1350 pounds, is
‘t considered a good crop, and sufficient employment
‘‘ for one labourer; or four plants to the pound,
* though very rich land will yield double this quan-
tity +.” In Louisiana it is calculated that 50
_ workmen ought to raise 60,000 pounds, which. at
ten dollars per cwt. would give 5357 dollars, or 107
* Warden’s Account of the United States, vol, 2d, p. 208.
+ Jbid.
313
to each hand*. tn Maryland 6000 plants are
found to produce about 1000 lbs. of tobacco +.
_ The following is a calculation of the expence and
probable profits of a Tobacco plantation:
EXPENCES.
First cost of 160 acres of land at 1s. per
acre, of which ten acres are planted in
tobacco, oe - £8 0 0
House, Sheds, &c.—- - 4 17 0 90
Clearing, planting, and fencing 10 acres,
at 10s. per acre, 6 - - 9 0 0
£30 0 6
RETURNS.
10 acres of tobacco, at 1000 lbs:
each, is 10,000 Ibs. which at 4d per
Ib. will give lee ee 106 13 4
Deduct the expence of 10 labourers,
one half women and children, at £1
each per month, for 4 months, . 40 0 O
Clear Profit, : £126 13 4
cmencieneesenns,
It is calculated that 12 labourers
will raise 15,000 lbs. of tobacco, which .
at 4d per |b. is 4 . “ £250 0 O
Deduct wages of 12 labourers, one
+ Warden’s Account of the United States, vel. 2d, p. 543.
§ Ibid. p. 159,
3l4
half women and children, at an average _ ,
of £leach per month; for 4months, 48 0 06
Clear Profit, = - (£202 0,6
In this country the Indians raise tobacco of a
very mild and excellent quality ; and there is no
doubt, if attention were paid in selecting the seeds
and soil, that a quality equal to the Havanna
might be raised:
Ricz,—Is a plant very much resembling wheat,
both in shape and colour, and in the figure and
disposition.of its leaves. The panicle which ter-
minates the stem is composed of small flowers, dis-
tinct from each other, which have four unequal
scales, six stamina, and one pestil, surrounded with
two styles; this pestil becomes a white seed, ex-
tremely farinacious, covered with two interior
scales.
It grows to the height of two feet anda half,
with a stalk not unlike that of wheat, but fuller of
joints, and with leaves resembling that of the leek.
It branches out into several stems, at the top of
which the grain grows in clusters, and each of them
is terminated with an ear or beard, and enclosed in
a yellow rough husk. When stripped of this, they
appear of an oval shape, of a shining white a1,
and almost transparent.
315
Rice is of two kinds, namely, the wet and the
dry ; the former is that which is usually grown in
low marshy grcunds. It is even customary, in less
swampy places, provided a river or stream of water
be convenient, to inundate the rice by means of
sluices, and completely to soak the herb, so soon as
it appears above the surface, as well as in its fur-
ther progress towards maturity.. The fibrous root of
the rice plant puts forth stems, which generally
gTOW to the height cf four or five feet ; these stems
are chamfered thicker and firmer than those of
wheat, and knotted with joints situated at equal
distances: the leaves are long, fleshy, and some-
what similar to those of the leek ; the flowers ap-
pear ori the tops of the stalks or stems, are of a pur-
ple colour, and grow in clusters like the flowers of
millet : to these succeed the seeds, which are of an
oblong form, white, semi-transparent, and hard, and
whereof each is enclosed in a yellowish, rough,
chamfered, angulous, shaggy shell or rind, termi-
nated by a point or spike, the whole being disposed.
alternately along the stems. ‘his is the species of
rice that is generally brought from the Levant,
The other species, called the dry rice, by reason
of its being cultivated without the aid of water, is
grown on dry lands, principally on the mountains,
and possesses a saccharine flavour not unlike that of
the filbert. The mountaineers of Cochin-China
sow their rice in dry ground, as we sow our corn,
iy 3
316
and always perform the operation at the end of the
rainy season. 7
In Mangalore, the seed is generally planted lke
pease. If the plantation be situated in low ground,
which receives the rain and absorbs the whole of it,
the seed must be planted two feet asunder, with a-
bout four grains to every hole ; but if the situation
be a sloping one, or remarkably dry, the seed need
only be eight or ten inches asunder, and planted
about the depth of three inches from the surface,
tn furrows; the land may be afterwards strewn o-
ver with what seed remains. The rice usual-
ly appears above ground at the end of five or six
days, provided the soil be fresh, but it remains
much longer when the situation is dry ; it ripens in
about four or five months. One hundred pounds
of 11ce in the husk, usually yields from 75 to 80
pounds of white rice. In India they cut it very
close to the ground ; and, from the roots, “exceed-
ingly delicate blades soon spring up, which are €s-
teemed good fodder for the cattle. |
~The method. of cultivating 1 rice in China, 1s thus
described by Mr Duhamel. ,
mo To hasten the sprouting of the 1 Tike, it is put
ae baskets, and. soaked for some days i in a stand-
ing water. 2. When” their Tice-grounds are SO
soaked with water as to be quite ‘like mud, they
are ploughed with a buffalo yoked to a plough, very
simple in its make, having but one share, one han-
317
die, and no wheels, 3. Aftera gentle rain, they
break the clods with a kind of large hurdle, drawn
by a large buffalo; the driver sitting upon it to in-
crease the weight. 4. The ground is cleared of all
stones, and whatever roots are in it are pulled up
by 2 strong harrow, with great iron teeth, This
instrument is drawn by a buffalo, and a man guides
it by the help of two handles, like those of a plough,
upon which he leans hard. The earth is like mud,
and partly covered with water during all this ope-
ration. 5. The earth is afterwards smoothed with
a harrow, which has several rows of teeth. A man
guides this harrow by its two handles, whilst a
buffalo draws it ; and as fast as its teeth form little
channels in the ground, the water runs in and fills
them up. 6. When the rice that was laid to soak
has sprouted, the seed is known to be good ; and
it is then sown by hand, very thick, and as equally
as possible. Part only of the ground is sown in
this manner, to furnish plants for the rest, The
day after it has been sown, the points of the plants
appear above the surface of the water; for the
ground is overflowed all this time with just a suffi-
cient quantity of water to cover it. And it is add-
ed, that when the plants have acquired a little
strength, they ate sprinkled with lime-water, to de-
stroy the insects, and some of the weeds that would
hurt them. For this purpose, a small basket is fas-
tened to ‘the end of a long handle, and di pt in the
| Rr2
-318
lime-water, which runs through it, and is conveyed
over the plants. And the Chinese have a great ve-
neration for the first inventor of this method, which
answers to the custom in Great Britain, of steeping
wheat in lime-water, or manuring land with quick-
lime. ‘7% Towards April, when the plants are grown
strong enough to cover the whole field, and look very
green and even, the greatest part of them is pull-
ed up by handfulls ; all the mud is carefully wash-
ed off their roots, and, being held at the same time
as even as possible with one another, they are
planted in tufts, pretty far asunder, and in a quin-
~ cunx form, in fields prepared on purpose for them.
A serene day is chosen for this operation, which
“must be performed as quick as possible. This
practice of the Chinese is, he thinks, with respect
to the common culture of rice, what the new hus-
- bandry is with respect to the common culture: of
wheat. 8. The rice must be watered, which is
always done in China by overflowing it. ‘To this
end, the rice-grounds are always near a-rivulet,
pond, or great pool of water, from which they are.
separated only by a bank or causeway. If the
water was higher than the rice-ground, a trench
cut through the causeway would overflow it at
once ; but as it is generally lower, or on a level
with the rice-ground, the necessary quantity 1s con-
veyed in pails or buckets, which are worked chiefly
by the help of ropes. 9. Though a man cannot
Sig
step in these rice-grounds without being up to his
knees ; the Chinese weed them three times in a sum-
mer, and that with such care, that they pull up even
the roots of every weed. 10. When the rice is ripe,
which is known by its turning yellow, like wheat,
it is cut down with a sickle, made into sheaves,
and carried into a barn, where it is thrashed with
flails, pretty much the same as in Europe; the
straw is removed with pitch-forks and shovels, and
the outer husk of the grain is taken off by beating
it with great wooden pestles, or a kind of mallet,
after which it is sifted and winnowed: and, lastly,
to get off the under husk, the grain is put between
two mill-stones, which are worked by a lever fast-
ened to. the upper one. But the two most remark-
able circumstances of this culture are, Ist, The care
which the Chinese take not to let their plants be
too close together, lest they should rob one another
of their food ; and, 2dly, Their weeding their rice
grounds three times in a summer, which ,answers
the end of the hoeings recommended for the alleys
between the beds of other grain, cultivated accord-
ing to the horse-hoeing husbandry.
In South Carolina, on tide lands, the general pro-
duce of rice-is from 1200 to 1500 pounds per acre
of clean rice; on inland tracts fram 600 to 1500
pounds*. In-Louisiana, in common seasons, the
* Warden’s Account of the United States, vol. 2d, p. 445,
320
produce per acre is estimated at fifteen barrels, each
weighing 200 Ibs. The nett value arising from
100 acres, cultivated by 50 workmen, 1s estimated
at '700 barrels, which at six dollars a barrel, gives
4200 dollars, or 84 for each hand. It is calculated
that there are 250,000 acres in Louisiana fit for the
culture of this plant, which, yielding seven barrels
an acre, at six dollars per barrel, would produce an
annual revenue of 10,000,000 dollars *. And I
may observe by the way, that there is an equal
quantity fit for its cultivation in the territory of
Poyais. Rice can be cultivated in places unfit for
any other grain, and the crop is more certain. » 4
The following is an estimate of the expence and
probable profit of a farm cultivated in rice. —
First cost of 160 acres of land at Is.
per acre, and of which 50 are planted
withtice, = = ye 0
Clearing and preparing the land at 10s ‘ ;
per acre, - - - 23. Je
House and other buildings, - 27 0 0
Returns, from 50 acres of land plant-
ed in rice, at 2000 Ibs. per acre,
—100,000 Ibs. which at 15s per cwt. 670, iy 0
¥
.. Warden s Account of the United States, vol. 2d; p. 588. ;
321
~ Deduct the wages of 25 workmen,
one half women and children, for one
yeur, - + = - «+ 240 0 0
Clear profit, £430 O O
From the above it appears that with a capital of
about £200, employed in a rice plantation, that a
clear income of £430 per annum may easily be
obtained.
—
Maize,—Commonly called Indian Corn, is 2
very productive grain; the size of its ears, when
it is cultivated on good warm soils, being, on a
medium, nearly a span Icng, having commonly
eight or more rows of grain, each of which usually
contains about thirty seeds of various colours, as
red, white, yellow, blue, olive, greenish, blackish,
speckled, striped, &c. sometimes in the same
field and same ear; but the white and yellow are
the most common ; nor does this diversity of colour
ever reach beyond the outside of the grain, the
flower of which is always white, with a little tinge
of yellow. The seeds, which are as big as large
peas, are round at the outer surface, very smooth,
and set extremely close in straight lines. The ear
is clothed and armed with several strong thick
husks, which defend it not only from unseasonable
rains, and the cold of the night, but also from
birds. It has long leaves, almost like the flag, at
every joint, and, at the top, a bunch of flowers of
various colours. . bia Ad
The leaves of this plant when cut green, afford a
good cattle-food, and the stalk and envelope of the
grain dried in bundles, are equal, for cattle and
sheep to the best hay. This grain is superior to
all others for fattening cattle, hogs, and poultry.
The flour mixed with rye, in the proportion of a
third, makes excellent brown bread, and is in com-
mon use in America. |
In Louisiana, maize was cultivated by the In-
dians for their subsistence during great part of the
year, and, after the French were established in it, be-
came an article of exportation to the sugar islands.
The mode of culture was as follows: the canes
growing naturally on the soil were cut down, and
* the trees stripped of their bark, to the height of
two feet from the ground, in the beginning of
March, when the sap was in motion: About fif-
teen days after, the whole was set on fire and con-
sumed, and the maize sown the following day in
squares of four feet asunder; the only trouble af-
terwards was to destroy the tender and brittle
shoots which spring up from the roots of the cane,
not destroyed by the fire.
In North America, the common method of pre-
paring land for Indian corn; is, in the fall, to plough
it, or what is termed flushing it: The soil is'rais-
323
ed in a rough manner by ploughing broad furrows ;
it being so thin, that it is not turned over, but
stands very much on the edge. In the latter end
of April, or beginning of May, the plan is, to list
it out, that is, crossing the field five or six feet a-
sunder, setting two furrows back to back, then
the like the other way, which forms a sort of hill
where their furrows cross each other. The practice
is then to go with a large hoe, such as that its
weight will break the clods, and also to make the
mould very fine, something similar to the manner
that gardeners prepare cucumber beds in field gar-
dens. In these hills are put four or five corns,
Reckoning four corns to one hill, four thousand
only will be required to plant an acre containing
a thousand hills, When the corn is come up, the
custom is for the labourers to go with their hoes,
and draw a little mould to the plants, destroy any. :
weeds that may appear, and. plant fresh corn, if
any be wanting, which often happens ; that done,
to plough from those hills both ways, then to go
with the hoes, and work the hills again, and to
draw the plants of aninferior kind out, leaving two
of the best on each hill, or,if the land be good,
three and sometimes four, and to transplant those
drawn out where any are wanting. Then to plough
all the land towards the plants one way; after
this, it is necessary to (what. they term) sucker
them, that is, to take off any young sprouts that
os
324
have littered, otherwise the corn will not. grow in
the ear to its proper length or size, but grow short,
what they call cobbings; this done, just before. 1t
goes into silk, they plough the land to the corn the
contrary way, which makes five times in all.
Good Indian-corn will grow from-twelveto fourteen
feet high; the white is much higher than the
yellow, but the yellow kind is by far the sweetest,
although the tops and blades are not so abundant.
As soon as it 1s formed, they begin to eat it, in
what is termed roasting ears; they boil them, and
eat the corn in the same manner as we do green
pease, with drawn butter. The blades and tops
feed the horses, cattle, and sheep; the corn feeds
both man and beast, and 1s very excellent food for
fowls, hogs, &c. -The people eat it in hominy,
mush and bread, or cakes; the homing y is made in
like manner to creed wheat buttered, by knocking
the husk off in a wooden mortar : ; the mush is
made of the flour as our hasty-pudding, and eaten
with milk or treacle. The better sort of people
make a very nice cake, with eggs and milk, ‘about
the thickness of what are called crumpets in Lon-
don; the lower class of people mix the flour with
water, make a sort of paste, and lay it before the
fire on a board or shingle to bake, and generally eat
-ithot, asit is but very indifferent food when cold :
it is called Johny cake. ;
325
*. “In Indiana, on the best lands, the average pro-
duce is said to be from fifty to sixty bushels: per
‘acre. In South Carolina, on a-good soil, well ma-
‘nured, the greatest produce is one hundred bushels
an acre; but in the middle parts, in strong dry
lands, the common ‘produce is from ‘thirty to fifty
“bushels; and, in the low country, it seldom exceeds
thirty. In America it is a common practice to
plant pease or pumpkins among the rows of the In-
‘dian'com.° ~ i
In the territory of Poyais, there are three crops
of Indian corn in the’ year, and the produce will
‘generally exceed one hundred bushels an acre.
Listimate of the eapence, and probable returns,
ofa farm, cultivated in Indian corn. :
First cost of 160 acres at Is. per
acre, of which 50 acres are planted in
Indian corn, - - - - 8 0 0
f Clearing and fencing 50 acres at 10s. |
per Fete bs - - - - 29 0 0
~ Building a farm-house - ° 12 0 0
Two horses, with harness and plough 12 0 Q
) Cows and hogs, poultry, seed corn,
ec. citar y ¥ ee ils 13 0 0
os 2
326
Returns from 50 acres of land, plant- :
_ed in Indian-corn, at 100 bushels per
acre, and at 4s. per bushel = - 1000 0 0
There will at least be another crop
in the year, which ought likewise to —
produce . = - - 1000 0 O
2000 0 O
Deduct the wages of 12 labourers,
one half women and children - Il4 0.0
Se | a Ge
Clear profit - - £1886 0 O
From the above it appears, that a capital of less
than £150 employed in the cultivation of Indian-
corn, would produce an income of £1886!! The
returns and price are both estimated /ow, and there
is no danger of the price being reduced from the
largeness of the quantity produced, as a ready mar-
ket can at all times be found for it at Jamaica, and
the other British West India islands, where im-
mense quantities are consumed in feeding the ne-
groes ; and the planters upon seeing that they could
obtain a regular supply, would soon abandon the
raising of provisions, employing their slaves in the
cultivation of the more valuable products of sugar
and coffee.
As the large profits arising from such a farm, and
on so small a capital, may startle some of my read-
327
ers, I beg leaye to observe, that one hundred bush-
els per acre, is a frequent crop in Louisiana, and
sells there for a dollar, or 4s. 8d. per bushel, and
allowing for three crops in the year in the territory
of Poyais, it would make the returns 300 bushels
per acre per annum. The best plan, however,
would be to clear and prepare one hundred acres,
planting fifty of them zn rotation. Twelve labour-
ers would be found to be quite sufficient for the
cultivation of such a farm. |
ce Leary
MANNERS AND D CUSTOMS.
NATIVE. INDIANS, | ?
' Tue Natives are composed of two distinct breeds :
the one, of the original Indians ; the other, who are
called Samboes, a mixture of these with Africans
of the Samba country, occasioned, as is ‘supposed,
by a Dutch ship full of that people having been
cast away, many years ago, to the southward of
Nicaragua, from whence ‘the negroes travelled to
the Mosquito territory, where, after several rencoun-
ters with the natives, they" had “wives pe ground
allotted them *, = ‘ feat cats
The Mosquito Indians sae formerly, yee power-
ful-andnumerous; but they were much reduced,
some years ago, by the small-pox. What: their’
present number is, however, tho’ ‘since that visita’
tion, 1t-must have considerably increased, itis not~
possible to ascertain with any degree of accuracy.
; 3 ed as oF ‘ > anak -&
es) Bc tal aa qe & : | AFP 4
yer eam Er as ig ge Te / « eit Lose See
* Edward's Hist. s ah West ee 7 5th, p. 210, req
“ Henderson's ‘Honduras, Pe 178, 4 cpt al
a right’s : hig ihe 28. | junta
= 2 » Span.
nas soot = HE oe Rte RE oh goede
+ . #y es ee oF Gece on
329
Both tribes are well made, strong, and rather tall:
the former have the colour of the thin Dutch cop-
per, and. long straight hair ; the Samboes are of all
shades between the Indian and the black, and their
hair, in proportion as they approach the latter, par-
takes of the wool. . The features. of the whole na-
tion indeed are rather agreeable : their foreheads are
high, their noses inclining to the aquiline, their
teeth good, and their eyes and hair black. The |
women are frequently handsome.; their children,
when young, are particularlyso. Their habits and
intercourse with each other denote much affection ;
the old and the young being found in continual
association *. ,
The conduct of the people gives a very favour-
able idea of Indian nature. _ They are seldom guilty
of positive.evil, and often rise to positive good, when
this latter quality. does not require much exertion of
mind. They possess modesty, docility, good faith,
a. disposition . to frendship,, and gratitude. They
have good capacities, a great desire for information,
are, ingenious in.learning any mechanic art, and set:
about what they undertake with a good will t,a cir--
©. Henderson's Honduras, p. 216.
+ The following fact is illustrative of this feature of
their character. ‘ There was a proposal from a Spanish mer-
‘chant, at that time, to cut a road from Black River. on the
«« Mosquito shore into the province of Comayagua, which would
“bea ready way to and from the South Sea, and would be «
350
cumstance unknown to any of those Indians who
are in an abject state of submission to their fellow-
creatures. They are hospitable to each other; are
extremely attached to the British, of whose justice
and magnanimity they entertain a most exalted o-
pinion. A tradition has long prevailed amongst
them, that the grey-eyed people, meaning the
English, have been particularly appointed to pro-
tect them from oppressicn and bondage ; and they
may enviably be classed with the very few tribes
whose liberties have remained uninterrupted by
European aggression on this side of the Atlantic *.
The Samboes inhabit the country from Sandy
Bay to Potook ; they are tolerably numerous, ra-
ther indolent, most of their labour being performed
by their wives. There is no mode of ascertaining
their number ; but Captain Wright, writing in 1808,
says, from many circumstances, it may be inferred,
that 500 men might be induced to follow an army,
“means of the merchants going and coming with safety ;
“thereby preventing the Dutch from carrying on that valu
“able trade to Truxillo Bay, which they had so long mono-
“polized. The Popyya (or Poyai) Indians, accordingly cut
‘¢ the road, and drew their trade, as was intended, to Black
“River ; which hath thereby increased the profits of our come
‘merce to a prodigious degree.”
West India Pilot, p. 31.
* Edwards’ Hist. of the West Indies, vol, 2d, p. 210. App.
Henderson’s Honduras, p. 212.
M. S. Memoir.
331
without injury to their own country. They are
particularly useful as woodsmen, skilful in hunt-
ing, striking fish, managing batteaux, canoes, dorys,
and pit-pans, either in rapid rivers, or high surf
beaches. ‘They have an idea, that in whatever ser-
vices their friends or relations may lose their lives,
or die a natural death, that all such must be paid
_ for, and it has been regularly demanded, even in
battle; when satisfactory answers have not been
given, they have been known to retreat in a most
dangerous and disorderly manner ; as, on the con-
trary, if they had been promised payment, they
might have materially assisted in defeating the
Spanish dragoons, in the plains of either Matigul-
pha, or Watigulpha *.
They have no modes of public arenes nor
could any particular forms of religious persuasion
be found to prevail amongst. them. ‘They are not
idolaters, but worship a God, or, as they say, a
first and good principle, whom they allow to be the
God of their friends the English. Like all other
nations, however, in an early stage of civilization,
they are subject to the general superstitions as to :
the existence of devils, the chief one of whom they -
call the Woolsaw, or evil principle, witchcraft, &c.
They have a kind of priest called Sookie, a person of
* Wright’s Memoir, p. 26.
i a
332
high importance, and whose occult skillis ever regard-
ed with the deepest and most implicit veneration *.
In common with most, if not with all Indian
tribes, polygamy prevails, and a plurality of
wives is the privilege of every husband in the
Mosquito nation; but perhaps it has seldom been.
indulged, in equal extent, in any country. Many
men here claim from two to six wives ; few can be
found satisfied with one: their late King surpassed
all his subjects in this respect, he claimed no less
than twenty-two! His Mosquito Majesty might
very well have exclaimed with honest Launcelot—
‘“* Alas! fifteen wives is nothing.” At the same
time, it may be observed, that this circumstance is
attended with far less inconvenience than might
possibly be found annexed to it in most other situ-
ations ; the numerous claimants for the affection or
favour of their lord never discovering the least
jealousy or hatred towards each other +.
The females, as in most Indian nations, are taken
for wives at a very tender agé, frequently when
they have scarcely attained their tenth year. The
contract for their destination in this respect is, not
uncommonly, formed, at the hour of their birth,
* Henderson’s Account of Honduras, p. 222.
The Columbian Navigator, Directions for the Coasts of Ter
ra Firma, &c. p. 23.
+t Henderson’s Honduras, p. 222.
333
with the husband and the parents of the parties.
From what would seem so premature an engage-
ment, that which usually discovers itself in this sex,
in such circumstances, must be expected tohappen—
an early appearance of advanced years, It is like-
wise observed, what is a natural consequence of the
above, that the comparative difference in the dura-
tion of life in the sexes is very. considerable.
A singular custom is scrupulously observed by
the women of this nation, At the time of partu-
rition, a habitation is prepared for them in the deep-
est recesses of the woods, to which, with a female
assistant, they retire, and where they remain seclud-
ed from every eye fora stated period, This past,
a public lustration of themselves and their offspring
must take place previously to their being again ad-
mitted to the society of their relatives and friends +.
They have one law against adultery which has
something curious init. ‘The fine imposed on the
offender is, that he pay the injured husband an ox.
This penalty the head-man of the particular tribe
to which the adulterer belongs, is strictly bound,
by long custom, to see punctually complied with,
or one of his own cattle may be taken as a lawful
indemnity. Should the latter happen, the chief
then exacts, as an equivalent for what he loses by
* Henderson’s Hondurag, p. 223,
ap iene
et 2
334
the offence, a stated period of servitude from the
offender *.
They have given sufficient proof of bravery by
their many expeditions against the Spaniards in the
Bay of Honduras, Carpenter’s River, Cocly, across
the continent, &c. and in which they have seldom
failed of success. About the year 1709, the Spa-
niards, for the first and last time, attempted to re-
turn their visits, with a tolerable armament ; but an
inferior number of those brave unconquered Indians
lay in their canoes till they could cut them off
from the shore, and then attacked them fairly on
the open sea, destroying all of them but one man,
whom they allowed to go back with such news as
cured the Spaniards of invasions +.
Their dwellings are formed ina style of the rudest
simplicity, being little more than a number of rough
poles placed perpendicularly in the ground, and
roofed with the leaves of the palmetto tree. They
are usually large, and left entirely open at the sides.
The floor is of clay, and in the center of it is the
fire-place. Four or five of their houses are gene-
rally within call of each other, and such little ham-
lets are scattered all over the country. These ha-
bitations seldom contain more than one apartment,
and this commonly affords accommodation to seve-
* Henderson’s Honduras, p. 223.
+ M.S. Memoir.
335
val families, The bed of each, a mat, is placed on_
what is called a barbecu, a frame made of sticks,
and raised a few feet from the ground. This, with
a few earthen pots for cookery, are the chief articles
of furniture *,
Remains of some of the old Mexican customs may
be observed among them, and several kinds of
stone and earthen vessels, and utensils embossed
with figures, are foundin many parts of the country
buried in heaps, (probably at first with other things
that have since decayed), which seems to indicate
their having been, formerly, in a greater state of
civilization than at present; but that to the sole
resolution of defending their liberty, (which they
have truly done) they sacrificed every thing else.
The chief arts now among them are, making very
durable cotton cloth, and thread or twine of silk
grass for nets, and hammocks, lances, harpoons,
bows, arrows, and canoes of all sorts and sizes. As
in all other countries in a similar stage of civiliza-
tion, where the subdivision of labour has not been,
at least to any extent, introduced, every man is a
tailor, hunter, fisher, and an extremely good
swimmer. Yet those white men who have lived
some time according to nature, and, by going with-
out clothes, have arrived at the same use of their
® “Henderson’s Honduras, p: 218,
(Qe aed
336
limbs as 1s possessed by the Indians, are not infe-
rior to them in athletic accomplishments *,
They wear little clothing ; seldom any thing more,
both men and women, than a small kind of wrap-
per, which reaches from the lower part of the waist
to the middle of the thigh, The women decorate
their persons with a profusion of beads, to which
species of finery, like most, if not all Indian tribes,
they are passionately attached, and very commonly
paint their faces and necks with a kind of red ochre,
which is found in their country. Their children go
entirely naked ; and, when young, are always borne
on the back of the mother. All offices of the do-
mestic kind are exclusively performed by the fe-
male : the male would be degraded by such ser-
vices Ff.
These Indians may, in one respect, be thought to
resemble the zmprovisatori of some other countries ;
their metrical effusions being entirely spontaneous,
and usually thrown into a kind of measure, which,
if it be rude and uncultivated, possesses, neverthe-
less, something peculiarly soft and plaintive to re-
commend it. ‘The subjects which call forth their
poetical effusions are chiefly of the latter descrip-
tion f.
* M. S. Memoir.
+ Henderson’s Honduras, p. 217.
+
Se
\ TE 2.
337
They are very fond of European commodities, in
the cheice of which they are influenced either by
their real utility or gaudiness. Fire arms and edge
tools they have now been so long used to that they
could not do without them. They take nothing
else in payment for what they earn or sell, money
not being current among them *.
The chief things they traffic with are, tortoise-
shell, canoes in the | rough, horses, horned cattle,
green turtle, turkies, fowls and parrots; and they
hire themselves out to hunt, strike fish, or navigate
small craft along the shore, and even the bars of the
rivers, which last requires great skill, and in the
performance of which they are particularly dexter-
ous. But getting tortoise-shell istheir grand employ-
ment from the age of fifteen to twenty. Peruaguas
(large canoes,) with about twelve men in each, are
employed on this from April to August. If they
have formed any plan of an expedition, they choose
this time to execute it, and therefore set out and
keep together till it is over, otherwise they straggle
from the first, and spread all the way from Blewfields
to Baca del Drago+. The produce of their labour
usually amounts to upwards of ten thousand pounds
of shell.
They all talk a little English ; but their own lan-
eae aD
e M.S. Memoir.
+ Ibid.
335
guage is peculiar to themselves, as are some of their
customs ; to none of which however are they attach-
ed from any feeling of bigotry or superstition.
Upon any other account, however, than as they
illustrate the manners of the people, they do not
seem deserving of attention. But, altogether, they
are so superior to the neighbouring Indians, that
their denominating these last wild, as the ancient
Greeks called all the rest of the world barbarians,
is no great comparative impropriety. |
339
COMMERCE.
Tye Geographical position of this hitherto ne-
glected country, being in the vicinity of some of
the richest provinces of Spanish America, at near-
‘ly an equal distance between the southern part of
the United States on the one hand, and the new
Republic of Columbia on the other, being also
within a convenient distance of the West India Is-
lands, and close to the British Territory in Yucatan ;
together with the immense variety of exceedingly
valuable commercial commodities, which are the
® natural productions of the soil, present of themselves,
B even independent of the operations of the planter
§ or cultivator, a rich field for successful commercial
B industry.
It is well known, that although the Spanish pro-
vinces alluded to, are abundantly supplied with
the precious metals, and with other commodities
almost of equal value, (such as indigo, cochineal,
&c.) they are in want of almost every article of
NW British manufacture ; and although the recent poli-
§ tical changes which have taken place in Guatemala
Band Mexico, may, if completed, lead to a more li-
B beral commercial policy, in so far as relates to the
Uu
340
introduction of European goods, it is not probable
that the ancient duties, and restrictive regulations,
will be so completely withdrawn, as to admit, by
the Gulf of Mexico or Spanish ports in the Bay
of Honduras, a supply of European goods, nearly
sufficient for the demand, in the interior provinces
of Mexico, and in the rich kingdom of Guatemala.
It therefore is evidently through the Territory of
Poyais, possessing a south-western boundary, which
reaches to within a short distance of the Pacific
ocean, with rivers navigable a considerable way in-
to the interior, and also trading paths, leading into
the centre of the neighbouring provinces, that not
only the latter kingdom, but also the south-eastern
provinces of the Mexican empire, must be supplied
with the merchandize of Europe ; more particular-
ly, whenever the navigation of the Gulf of Mexico
shall be interrupted by hostilities between the Un-
ited States and Spain, or any other power ; an event
which even at present is perhaps not far distant.
The advantages of this trade, even in its present
state, are well known, and appreciated in the West
Indies ; and it has been computed, that even in the
uncivilized state of the country, and independent
of the native consumption, manufactured goods to
the value of upwards of fifty thousand pounds pass
annually into the Spanish American provinces,
through this territory alone, yielding under every
disadvantageous contingency, a very large profit to
S41
the adventurers ; and there is no doubt, that this
trade, protected by a wise and liberal policy on
the part of the Government of Poyais, may be car-
ried to an extent, much beyond any calculation
which can at present be formed, and that it will
amply remunerate those who may become interest-
ed.
Notwithstanding, however, the great value of this
trade, and the great length to which it may ulti-
mately be carried, it can only be considered in a
secondary point of view, when put in present com-
petition with the immense gain which may im-
mediately be derived, from the numerous and valu-
able commercial commodities which are the natural
production of the territory itself, and which, inde-
pendent of the labour of the planter or agriculturist,
present an inexhaustible source of prosperity, to the
intelligent and industrious European, aided as he
will readily be, by the labour of a faithful, docile,
and peaceable native population.
For immediate exportation to Europe and the
States, and in return for the capital which may
be employed, or for the European goods which may |
be imported for the native trade, or the supply of
the settlers, the country abounds in mahogany of
the finest description, and of every size ; and as the
good qualities of this useful, durable and beautiful
timber, are every where becoming better known
and appreciated, the consumption both in Europe
Uu?2
and in the States, is rapidly increasing, not only
for the purposes to which it has hitherto usually
been applied, but also for ship-building ; and how-
ever the heavy duty in Britain may, if not removed
or modified, affect the sale of the low qualities, ma-
hogany will always form a leading article of export
to Great Britain, as well as to the United States
and continental Europe..
Dyewoods, such as logwood, fustic, Nicaragua
wood, yellow sanders, &c. will likewise form not
the least valuable part of a general cargo; there are
besides, a great quantity of other exceedingly useful
and beautiful woods ; ; such as cedar, Santa Maria,
rosewood, zebrawood, lancewood, somewood, and
many others ; which, as their inestimable qualities
(some of them have already been mentioned), be-
come more generally known, will be everywhere
eagerly demanded.
The medicinal gums and drugs, which are so
plentifully dispersed throughout the country, and
which can be collected in great quantity at
a very small expence, will also form no incon-
siderable part of the exports ; amongst these are, the
balsam capivi, dragons blood, gum copal, gum ani-
me, caoutchouc, or gum elastic, and many others :
Sarsaparilla, the consumption of which as a medi-
cine, is rapidly increasing over all Europe, may also
be procured in great quantity; and even so long
ago as the year 1769, above two hundred thousand
343
pounds of this valuable drug, was in that year ex-
ported * principally to England, and there is no
doubt that double, or perhaps triple that quantity,
might now be annually collected. Many medicinal
barks and woods may also be found in this coun-
try, and would liberally repay the researches of a
good medical botanist.
Vegetable oils will likewise, in a very short
time, become a considerable part of the exports
from this territory ; castor oil, palm oil, and many
others, could be prepared in great quantity; and
the experience derived from the success of former
settlers, or adventurers, who made considerable for-
tunes by the preparation of thiscommodity, proves
that it is one which well deserves attention.
Amongst other articles, a quantity of beautiful
skins and furs, will be procurable by barter or pur-
chase, from the natives and the surrounding tribes,
such as leopard, tiger, antelope, and other skins,
besides small peltry. Cow, ox and horse hides, will
also ultimately be obtained in sufficient quantity to
become worth shipping.
The great variety of timber with which the fo-
rests abound, affords abundant materials for the ma-
nufacturer of pot and pearl ashes; and the im-
mense ridges of pitch pine, which in endless tracts
are interspersed all over the country, supply an in-
exhaustible fund of tar, pitch, turpentine rosin,
* Dryan Edwards’ History of the West Indies, 5th Edition,
ae
B44:
&c. “ the trees being so redundant with these li-
“ quors, that when put into the deepest rivers,
‘“‘ they instantly sink *.” The expence and trouble
of preparing these articles, in a country where pro-
visions are abundant, and where labour can be had
on moderate terms, is well known to be trifling ;
besides, the manufacture of these articles will in
some measure be connected with the preparation
of lumber, for the supply of the British settlements
in the West Indies, a most important branch of
trade to be hereafter mentioned, and which with the
raising of provisions for the same destination, will
no doubt meet with the decided support and encou-
ragement of His Highness the Cazique of Poyais. °
Tortoise-shell, and turtle, will always form a-
nother exceedingly valuable article of export ; and
it will no doubt be the policy of the Government of
Poyais, to protect and encourage the turtle fishery
on its own shores, as much as possible. The
hawksbill turtle, from which the shell is procured,
xs very abundant on the coast ; and even so far back
as the year formerly mentioned, upwards of ten
thousand pounds weight of tortoise-shell, was sent
to the mother country, by the British settlers, in
that year +. - Now, when a method has been disco-
vered for preserving the flesh of the turtle for ex-
portation to Europe, it has, (even independent of
* Wright’s Memoir. _
+ Bryan Edwards’ History, 5th Edition.
345
the shell,) become another article to be added to
the list of exports, and an additional source of pro-
fit to the merchant:
Methods will no doubt be discovered, to preserve
for exportation in a similar manner, many of the o-
ther luxuries with which this territory is so liber-
ally supplied ; and as the quantity of fish on the
shores, and in the bays, lagoons, and rivers, is most
abundant, and salt can be produced in any quan-
tity, a very lucrative fishery, with a market ata
very short distance, might unquestionably be estab-
lished. Oysters of the most delicious quality, |
could be exported to any extent required, and o-
ther descriptions of provisions will, it is probable, be
in course of a little time prepared for foreign mar-
kets. :
There are undoubtedly many other very valuable
articles of merchandize, which, independent of a-
griculture, are the natural production of the soil; but
to notice each of them at length, would extend the
present chapter beyond the limits assigned. It
may however be proper to notice, that the terri-
tory does not exclusively depend upon foreign or
inland trade, for a supply of the precious metals, or
for the valuable dyes mentioned at the commence-
ment of this article. There being, as has been for-
merly stated, not only gold mines in the territory,
but gold dust is also found in the rivers. Moreover,
indigo is an indigenous plant, of the same kind, as
346
that from which the finest indigo of Guatemala is
produced ; and the cochineal insect, both as re-
gards food and climate, will doubtless thrive equal-
ly well in this country, as in the neighbouring pro-
vinces, where it is produced in such abundance:
-Annatto or nankeen, and several other dyes, are
also the produce of this territory ; and it has been
said, that on a part of the coast is found, a small
shell-fish, which affords the true Tyrian dye.
Pimento, ginger, Guinea pepper, and many o-
ther spices, are also natural productions of the coun-
try ; and, together with fruits, such as lemons,
oranges, limes, cocoa-nuts, tamarinds, and various
preserves, will undoubtedly in a short time become
very valuable export commodities.
The ready supply of the British West India Is-
lands with provisions, lumber, &c. isa matter of
such immense importance to Great Britain, and is in
every pointof view, somuchconduciveto the welfare
and prosperity of Poyais, that it will undoubtedly
meet the particular attention, support, and encou-
ragement of both Governments.
To the intelligent and industrious European set-
tler, in Poyais, it presents an inexhaustible field for
his most active exertions, with the certainty of am-
ple and immediate remuneration for the labour and
capital which he may be able to bring forward.
To give some idea of the immense amount of
the supplies required for the British settlements in
347
the West Indies, and the consequent extent of the
demand which may be expected for the produce
of Poyais, it appears unnecessary to state any thing
more than the following list of the quantities of pro-
visions, lumber, &c. which were imported into and
for the consumption of Jamaica alone for one year,
viz. from the 29th day of September 1815, to the
29th day of September 1816, agreeable to a gene-
ral return, which has been laid before the Honour-
able House of Assembly of that island. These sup-
plies consisted of 60,947 barrels of flour; 4,875
barrels, 7,485 bags, and 7,198 kegs of bread ; 2,942
tierces, 1,740 barrels, and 2,849 bags of rice;
52,190 bushels, 1,578 bags, and 16,043 barrels of
corn and meal ; 497 barrels and 800 bags of pease ;
1,972 hhds. 7,109 casks, 3,358 boxes and 778
quintals of dried fish ; 534 tierces, 19,170 barrels,
and 991 kegs of pickled fish ;, 40,204 barrels of her-
rings 3 9,375,943 staves and heading ; 10,071,830
shingles ; 9,192,775 feet of timber ; together
with 2,035 horses,.6,211 mules, 501 asses, and
5,675 cattle. This list does not include beef, pork,
butter and other articles ; and according toa return
made a few years prior to the one above stated,
these three necessaries amounted to the great quan-
tity of 97,750 barrels of beef and pork, and 64,009
firkins of butter. It must however be observed,
that the last mentioned supplies, were not for the
use of Jamaica alone, but for the British West In-
XX
348
dia Islands, generally, with the exception however
of the conquered Islands of St Lucia, Tobago, and
Trinidad. The supplies requisite for Jamaica a-
lone, being so extensive, it may fairly be calculated,
that. for the consumption of the whole British pos-
sessions in the West Indies, together with the Bri-
tish continental colonies of Berbice, Demerara, Es-
siquiba, and Balize in Yucatan, two or perhaps
three times the amount of provisions furnished to
Jamaica in 1816, are necessary, with at least three
or four times the quantity of lumber ; and these im-
mense supplies are even independent of what is re-
quired for the islands and settlements belonging to
other powers, in that quarter of the globe. With-
out going farther into this subject, however, it is
hoped enough has been said to prove, that a market
exists in the immediate neighbourhood of Poyais,
capable of consuming the utmost quantity of lum-
ber and provisions, which can (at least for several
years to come,) be exported from that Territory,
and consequently, that instant remuneration is pre-
sented for such labour, and capital, as may be en-
gaged, either by the merchant in preparing lumber,
or by the agriculturist in raising provisions; or,
what is likely to be still more profitable to early
settlers from Europe, the conjoming together these
two.important sources of gain. The country, pos-
sessing rivers navigable a considerable way into the
interior, and being abundantly supphed with
549
streams of water, every facility is presented for e-.
recting at a very moderate expence, saw-muls, in
the centre, as it were, of the immense pine forests,
so plentifully interspersed all over the country ;
while, at the. same time, the rafts of prepar-
ed lumber, and such other more valuable timber
as might be ready for exportation, could, with the
greatest ease imaginable, be floated down to the
shipping port, or eventually, put zmmediately on
board the small traders, usually employed in na-
vigating the Gulf of Mexico, and Carribbean sea.
A. very moderate capital, in the hands of an in-
telligent and industrious person, is adequate to such
an undertaking, which of itself, would be a sufli-
cient foundation for more extensive operations,
leading in the end to affluence and prosperity ; and
if combined, as it might easily be, with the raising
of stock, growing of Indian corn, &c. a very rapid
fortune might be accumulated. The native In-
dians are well known to. be excellent axe-men, and
their labour could be obtained for very moderate
wages, the greater part of which would be paid in
trifling articles of European manufacture or pro-
duce, which could be purchased or imported for
very little money.
In addition to the saw-muills which are now a-
bout being erected, and to those above-mentioned,
the construction of a few powerful steam saw-mills:
in the vicinity of the principal shipping ports, for
Ke
350
the purpose of preparing timber of every descrip-
tion, not only for foreign markets, but also for sale
to the settlers, and for ship-building, would un-
doubtedly, under proper management, yield an im-
mense return to any commercial company of suffi-
cient capital for the undertaking; and as such es-
tablishments would contribute to the general pro-
sperity of the state, there is no doubt, on these per-
sons becoming to a certain extent interested in the
soul, the government of Poyais would give them e-
very possible facility and encouragement.
Although the demand for the markets of Europe,
and for the use of the settlers, will undoubtedly
be considerable, it is by exporting to the West In-
dia Islands, as already stated, that the merchant
must in the first instance look for a steady demand
and ready market, for every description of lumber
and provisions,
The soil and climate being so well adapted for
the production of Indian corn, (which can be rais-
ed at three different periods within the year) it
will perhaps be the interest of the early settler to
pay immediate attention tothe extensive growth of
this article ; and when this valuable commodity, to-
gether with rice, pease, and other pulse, is fully cul-
tivated; when the immense savannahs or plains
are stocked with the numerous herds of cattle
which they are capable of rearing, and when pro-
per establishments are formed for curing provisions
351
and fish for exportation, it may be hoped that the
assertion made some years ago in the British Par-
liament, ‘‘ that the produce of the soil of the United
States, was necessary to the. existence of the Bri-
lish West Indies,” can no longer be repeated with
the least appearance of truth,—a circumstance de-
voutly to be wished by every person interested in
the welfare of Great Britain,
Although these matters are unquestionably of vital
importance, in the first instance, it is not to them
alone that the intelligent settler in Poyais must inthe
end look for remuneration, or to increase the value
of his property ; neither must the commercial man
consider them the only commodities which are of
importance to him; on the contrary, the soil and
climate being well adapted for the cultivation of
all and each of those valuable commercial articles,
which have rendered the West Indies so important,
there is no doubt that the agriculturist will, while
he pursues the objects pointed out for more im-
mediate attention, keep steadily in view, and gra-
dually adopt, to a certain extent, the culture of the
valuable articles alluded to, more especially coftee,
cotton, tobacco, cocoa, &c. and although the cultiva-
tion of the sugar-cane, and the manufacture of sugar
and rum, will perhaps require a larger capital than it
may be in the power of the generality of settlers
to advance at the commencement, or that it may
be prudent in them to divert at first, from the
[Sy hee
Je 2
more immediate raismg of stock and corn, there is
no doubt, asa planter’s means increase, he will find
it his interest to introduce gradually and slowly by
degrees, the cultivation of those more valuable
commercial commodities which constitute the
wealth of the West India planter. Some years
previous to the removal of the English settlers
from Poyais, several sugar plantations had been form-
ed at Black River, and the sugar and rum which
they produced was very generally deemed equal to
the produce of Jamaica *, and Captain Wright, in
his Memoir, goes so far: as to say that, from his
own personal knowledge, together with what he
had learned by reading and reflecting on the sub-
ject, corroborated by “many a long and prolix con-
“ versation with aged natives,” this country, if pro-
perly cultivated, would be able .“ to supply the
‘“‘ whole world with rum, sugar, coffee, -cacoa, and
“ molasses }.” fiw
Although these commodities, —_ parent for
sale, will not at first be considerable in amount, they’
will no doubt gradually be brought forward for ex-
portation ; and they will consequently extend the
operations of the merchant, affording him addition-
al materials for an extensive trade with Continental
Europe, and North and South America, and» the
* Flenderson’s Honduras, p. 39, 40.
t Wright’s Memoir, p. 29. . 1 00 open
335
ready means of paying for the merchandize requi-
site, for the valuable trade mentioned at the com-
mencement of this chapter.
It would, perhaps, be premature to speculate
upon the consequences to Poyais, which in a com-
mercial point of view, must inevitably follow the
opening a communication between the Atlantic
and Pacific oceans. ‘The practicability of such a
measure has never been doubted, and that it will
ultimately take place through a part of the Mosqui-
to Territory, or in its immediate neighbourhood, un-
der its controul, seems to be a prevalent opinion.
—Asa commercial depot, and otherwise, Poyais
will undoubtedly derive incalculable benefit from
the commencement and completion of such a mea-
SUIC.
The late act of Parliament for the regulation of
the trade, between America and the British West
Indies, gives every requisite facility and encourage-
ment to the commercial operations of Poyais, whe-
ther as regards the trade to the British settlements
in the West Indies, or elsewhere: and as the esta-
blishment of free-ports, in that part of the world,
by a neutral government, and under wise regula-
tions, is a matter of such immense advantage to all
parties, there is no doubt, equal facilities will be
allowed by the United States, and the other go-
vernments of America and Europe.
It will perhaps be the policy of the government,
354
and the interest of the merchants of Poyais, to en-
courage as much as possible, the employment in
the first instance, of British built vessels, together
with such Americans as may be requisite for the
trade with the United States, more especially, as
the construction of a sufficient number of vessels for
the protection of the coast and neighbouring seas,
from the depredations of piratical vessels, and for
other purposes, together with the building of small
trading craft, may perhaps at first be sufficient em-
ployment for the dock-yards about to be establish-
ed. There is no doubt, however, that as the coun-
try affords abundant materials of almost every des-
cription, ship-building will ultimately become a
very profitable and important branch of trade.
To those persons who, from limited means or
otherwise, are obliged, in the first instance, to con-
fine themselves to a small share of the country trade,
the wants of the settlers and natives present a
ready market for any quantity of small wares, such
as hardware, cloathing, &c. of every description ; in
exchange for which, they will receive tortoise-shell,
gums, dye-woods, gold dust, &c. and by care and
industry, their operations will gradually and quick-
ly increase with their means.
In short, it is hoped, that considering the exten-
sive trade which may ultimately be carried on with
the European Colonies in the West Indies, as well
as with Great’ Britain—The United States—Mex1-
359
co,—South America and Continental Europe,——the
advantages to be derived from the establishment of
free ports, (especially whenever the navigation of
that part of the globe shall be disturbed by belli-
gerents)—the relative position—valuable natural
productions—fine climate, and internal capabilities
of this neglected country,—enough has been said
to prove the great encouragement, and manifold
advantages, which must be derived from commer-
cial establishments in the Territory of Poyais : and
now, that the well known political circumstances
are removed, which have hitherto retarded the ad-
vancement of this fine country, in civilization and
in the scale of independent states, there seems no rea-
son whatever to doubt, that, protected by the wise
and vigorous administration, sound policy, and
comprehensive views of His Highness the Cazique
of Poyais, this beautiful country will rapidly ad-
vance in prosperity and civilization, and will be-
come, in every point of view, and within a very short
period, not the least considerable of those ‘‘ radiant
realms beyond the Atlantic wave *.”
* Edwards.
Elo, 14S.
BTA GOAT ER GVETETE OOOO HO4008
Leith. Printed hy Win. Reid,
y
:
4
D
SOME ACCOUNT
OF THE
MOSQUITO TERRITORY;
CONTAINED IN A MEMOIR,
WRITTEN IN 1757, WHILE THAT COUNTRY WAS IN POSSESSION OF THE BRITISH,
AND NOW, WITH PERMISSION OF THE AUTHOR’S FAMILY,
FIRST PUBLISHED FROM THE ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT
OF THE LATE
COLONEL ROBERT HODGSON,
FORMERLY HIS MAJESTY’S
SUPERINTENDANT, AGENT, AND COMMANDER IN CHIEF
OF THE MOSQUITO SHORE,
BEFORE ITS ANNEXATION TO THE CROWN OF SPAIN,
“To YOU, the Genius of these emerald shores,
‘* ‘With liberal hand, extends her ample stores.”’
Lines addressed to Poyais.
SECOND EDITION. ~
EDINBURGH :
SOLD BY WILLIAM BLACKWOOD, & ALL THE BOOKSELLERS.
Wez2.
ra =
sh
(TeMoiis ue
a dine
PREFACE.
In order that the reader of the following
Memoir may be convinced of the authenti-
city of its statements, respecting the many
pre-eminent advantages of the Mosquito
shore, it will be necessary to mention a few
particulars relating to the Author.
His father, Capt. Hodgson, of the 49th rest.,
was in habits of friendship and confidence
with Sir William Trelawney, Governor of
Jamaica; by whom, in the year 1740, he was
sent to the Mosquito Shore to take posses-
sion of that country, in the name of the King
of Great Britain; and it was accordingly
ceded to his Majesty, represented by Capt.
Hodgson, who was appointed Superintendant
i
v1
of the Mosquito Shore, by the Governor of
Jamaica, and resided there for some years.
It was at that time considered a dependency
of Jamaica. The chief settlement of the
British was at the town of Black River, on
the north part of the shore, where was also
the seat of government.
After the death of Capt. Hodgson, his
son, Robert Hodgson, Esq. of the 49th regt.
obtained from the British Government, the
situation of Superintendant, Agent, and
Commander-in-Chief on the Mosquito Shore.
At the time of his soliciting the appointment,
a handsome compliment to the public vir-
tue of his father, was paid by Mr. Wood,
then Under Secretary of State, in a letter to
his widow; in which he observes, that her
husband’s exertions had been of great ad-
vantage to the public, with very little to
himself.
Robert Hodgson, Esq. remained Superin-
tendant for nine years; during three years
of which period he made many voyages along
the Mosquito Shore, in order to invéstigate
different parts of the coast, and pursued his
Vil
excursions inland among the Indians, to at-
tach them more effectually to the British
interest. ud
In taking possession of the Mosquito shore
in 1740, the British were actuated by a be-
hef that it ought to be considered an inde-
pendant country, never having been conquer-
ed by any nation, but remaining in the pos-
session of the Aboriginal Indian tribes: the
Spanish crown, however, obtained it at the
peace of 1783 ; though it was not finally eva-
cuated by the British settlers, till a separate
convention in the year 1786 rendered their
farther occupation of it impossible.
To those who doubt the desirableness of
the Mosquito Shore as a residence, let it be
observed, that the first superintendant, Capt.
Hodgson, spent most of his life there; his
son did the same; the chief proprietor
resident on the shore at the time of the
cession, William Pitt, Esq., of Black River,
did the same; his children, and the other
settlers, who were compelled by the Spanish
Convention to abandon their possessions
there, evacuated the shore with great regret.
rad
Vill
To those who are disposed to undervalue
the importance of the Mosquito Shore, let it
be observed, that it offers a fertile soil, and
a genial climate, to such as merely wish to
obtain. a refuge from poverty; since the
necessaries of life may be obtained there in
the greatest abundance, and of the most
luxurious kinds.
But it farther holds out the prospect of
facilitating navigation and commerce in the
highest degree, by an easy junction of the
Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, along the line
of the river San Juan, through the lakes of
Nicaragua and Leon, whence to the Pacific
is a level waggon-road of about twenty miles.
It will, I am persuaded, confer an. addi-
tional interest in the perusal of this Memoir,
if I annex a short Preface by the Author of
the Memoir.
1X
PREFACE OF THE AUTHOR.
Whoever may happen to read the follow-
ing sheets with any attention, will of course
be desirous of knowing how the person who
wrote them became enabled so to do. On
this account most of his voyages are sub-
joined*, which, though chiefly upon service,
were undertaken voluntarily, with a different
view to that of private interest. |
But as, while flattering himself with the
hopes of being sometime or other of use
there, he was endeavouring to explore this
almost unknown part of the worid, he lost
the opportunity of being known himself; of
him let it suffice to say, he was a gentleman,
and in the army.
* The account of Mr. Hodgson’s Voyages has been omitted, not
being material to the present purpose.
¥
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SOME ACCOUNT
OF THE
MOSQUITO TERRITORY.
Tue Mosauito Sore lies between 16° 10’
and 10° 25’ N. latitude, and between 83° 55”
and 87° 50’ W. longitude: the sea coast (in
a general view) forms. an angle, somewhat
obstuse, at Cape Gracias a Dios, in latitude
15° 0’ and longitude 83°55’. From this cape
the extent westerly is 85 leagues, and south-
erly 95, making in the whole a coast of 180
leagues; the westerly extremity is Cape
Honduras, latitude 16°, and the southern
boundary is that branch of the lake of Nica-
ragua, called Nicaragua River, in longitude
84° 10’.
ie
The reason for ascertaining these bounds,
is, that the Mosquito Indians have, ever
‘since the country was known to Europeans,
possessed and used this tract, without any
other people whatsoever interfering with
their native right of doing so; they having
never been conquered by any, nor ever having
been friends with any but the British, who
have likewise spread almost from one end to
the other of it ; under their protection, white
families having lived as far westerly as Roman
River, (where they still employ many ne-
groes;) and their hunters used to go to Cape
Honduras. But the most westerly settlement
is now at Cape River, and the most southerly
at Punta Gorda, the inhabitants of which
employ both themselves and their slaves as
far as Nicaragua. The chain of little settle
ments between these places will be best
shown by the table of them; and, though
some of them have notoriously been esta-
blished above a hundred years, no power has
yet attempted to disturb them.
It is not easy to determine with certainty
the inland boundaries; but the situations
'3
of part of the inhabitants will assist us in
forming some judgment thereof. Many of
the Mosquito Indians live at least a hundred
miles aback from the sea, up several of the
rivers, and above two hundred miles up the
river at Cape Gracias a Dios. The British
have lived several miles up Roman river ;
above a hundred up Black river; about a
hundred up Cape Gracias a Dios river;
seventy-five up Blewfield’s river ; and several
up Punta Gorda river, and this without the
least molestation: for between all these and
the Spaniards (who live at more than double
the distance) there is much uninhabited land,
and several tribes of friendly Indians who
are in alliance with the Mosquitoes. But,
till the inland country is fully known, no
bounds can properly be fixed, but by imagin-
ary lines of certain bearings, latitudes and
longitudes, though indeed, near Cape Hon-
duras, there is a river and a lagoon that go
some way up the country, along which might
be part of the western limit, and the north
side of the lake of Nicaragua might be the
southern one; but these two limits should
14
not meet, because they would include some
of the Spanish Indian settlements, and go
beyond a chain of mountains, which, I be-
lieve would be found a natural south-west
boundary, as I am informed they divide the
continent in that direction; though, as it
might be a century or two before the British
subjects and the Spaniards met, what each
might then possess would perhaps settle the
boundaries in an eligible manner.
The British settlers are decreasing —
for the old standers, loath to leave so fine a
country, concerning which they had indulged
the most flattering hopes, are at length dying
off, while the total neglect of encouragement
prevents the arrival of any new comers.
The settlers are mostly traders with their
dependants and servants, and live scattered,
as chance, inclination, or private interest
directs. Their number, as called over. and
counted, is as follows, (exclusive of the
military.)
Population of the British Settlements on the Mosquito shore in 1757, exclusive of the Aborigines.
MULATOES & SLAVES.
WHITES. MESTIZOES. NEGRO. || INDIAN. a
PLacEs OF ABODE, aan RAI |e ee 3
re . 2 W
ad |ele| Elz] slgislzl2] 5 | 3
= Te | we = |S |e re simile & =
Cape Gracias a Dios, eeeeeooeseceegeeoe 2 ee 3 ee ee ee 98 34
eG BEE Ae, RO, Arcee.
BLATIO MANS, so..ecesceccessesdesssonssssanee
4:
rs)
1
Pearl Key Lagoon,.......sceeseseel 2 poe] ee
3
2
ll
GO~Z © S| Male.
poet
Go Co
os
w”
yd
a
pant
AS)
o>)
Cae: Utes RE Sie ee eee
BC WAECIOS, ...0s'..cde.--onyeshanes estes coals
WPtinta, Gloria, .