grosly cut in the Edges near. The Negroes had remov'd most of these Pots to boil their Meat in. The Cave was about eight or nine Foot Diameter, roundish, and about five Foot high, it was on a sufficiently high Precipice, of nine Foot steep Ascent before one came at it. It was before opening curiously shut in on all sides with thin, flat Stones. The Ants had eat one Carcass to the Bones, and had made holes in their ends, whereat they enter'd, I suppose, to eat the Marrow.
At Guanoboa, in the time of the Spaniards, were great Chocolate or Cacao-Nut-Walks; but after that Tree was blasted, most of them were ruin'd. The Trees wild in these ruin'd Plantations, are grown in so short time monstrously, being some of them seventy Foot of good Timber. Surveyors know all the Trees by their Barks. Those that grow low and bushy in the Commons, grow high and tall in the Woods.
At Guanaboa the great Rains are in May, and continue so till October from the Sea, then their Norths come in. I saw here in the Gully, a Rock upwards of sixty Foot perpendicular heighth, being the side of a Hill, which towards the Gully was steep, it was call'd the end of the World. There is another Rock much more than twice as high, towards sixteen-Mile-Walk, in the Road from the Town near the hollow Rock.
Here, on the barren sides of small rocky Hills, I saw great variety of Gourds. They serve the Island instead of Bottles, Pails, Ladles, small-hoop'd Vessels, Coopers, Turners, and Glass-Wares. They are of several Shapes and Sizes, from small ones, of which are made Snuff-Boxes, to such as will hold four or five Gallons. All of them, except the sweet one, which is us'd for Preserves and Sweet-Meats, are purgative. The Leaves in Clysters are given in the Belly-ach. The Bottle, and other Gourds are clean'd either by lying in the Field till dry, when by cutting off the Top, the Seeds come cut, or by putting in Water, which by moistning brings the Pulp and Seeds out. If one drinks the Water that has stood in a green Gourd, 'tis very purging, but 'tis not so in one long us'd.
I saw them likewise here Preserve, or Pickle Green Indian-Bell-Pepper. Before it turns red, this Capsicum is cut and cleansed from its Seeds, then has a gentle Boil in Water, and so is put into a Pickle of Lime Juice, Sale and Water, and kept for use.
To make China-Drink. Take four or five handfuls of the Root cut in pieces, boil it in so many Gallons of Water, take it off the Fire, let it cool, and put two Pounds of clarify'd Sugar to it, let it stand, and after twelve Hours bottle it. It is of a red Colour, and a very pleasant Drink.
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