fectly cured. The Clay used for Sugar is ordinary pale Clay expos'd to the Air, then mixt with Water to the consistence of a Syrup, afterwards it is strained through a Colender, and powred on the Pots where it stands till it sinks the Sugar in them pretty low, sometimes half in half. No quick Lime is used in double Refined Sugar the second time. The Molossus dropt from once Refined Sugar is called Bastard, it is boil'd up again, and clay'd to make it white. Four Gallons of Molossus yield three of Rum, but in England four, because of the Fermentation, which in Jamaica being brisker from the heat of the Air, evaporates more of the Spirits. Three Loaves of once refined Sugar, make two of double refined. The small quantity that is sent into England is beaten to pieces in a wooden Trough. Claying Sugar, as they report here, was first found out in Brazil, a Hen having her Feet dirty, going over a Pot of Sugar by accident, it was found under her tread to be whiter than elsewhere. A Refining-House is worth six thousand Pounds, of which there are but two in the whole Island, one at the Angels and this here. The Stoves are belt arched. Pots for refining Sugar are made at Liguanee, though more brittle and dearer than when brought from England, but they are made here to supply the present need of the Planters; the Clay of which they are made, is dug up near the place.
I have seen Sugar made at several Plantations; they make it by bruising the Canes between Iron Rollers, in a Mill drawn by Oxen, the Figure whereof is to be seen in Piso, and several Authors. The juice is conveyed into the Boiling house, where in a Cistern is mixt about two handfuls of Lime, with One hundred and fifty Gallons of juice, and then both are let into six Coppers one after another, where it is boiled and scumm'd. The Scum is conveyed to the Still-house, only that of the fifth Copper is put into a Jar, that it may be again boiled, in the first Copper, because it is purer than the rest, and so will yield Sugar. In the sixth, with a little Oil or Grease, to lay its huffing and boiling over, it is boil'd up to Sugar, and so cool'd in Troughs, and carried into Pots, where, by a stick run through it, a hole is made, whereby the Molossus is drained from it, and leaves the Sugar white. This Molossus mix'd with Water, as well as scum or juice from bad Canes, is carried into the Distilling-house; where, after Fermentation, when it begins to subside, they in the night time distil it till thrown into the Fire it burns not: this in the day time is Re-distilled, and from Low-Wines is call'd high Wines or Rum.
Every several Soil requires a several Temper, as a Lye of Ashes with Lime or Lime-water, &c. which is mixt in the fourth Copper. For this reason the Overseer always gives notice to the Sugar-boilers
