19+
The Hiftory of
Book* 11,
CHAP. V.
Of the manner how Sugar is made ; and of the prepara-
tion of Ginger, Indico, and Cotton.
WHen the great plenty of Tobacco made at S. Chrilio»
phers and the other Iflands had brought down the
price of it fo low, that it did not turn to accompt, it pleas'd
God to put it into the heart of the French General de Poincy,
to find out fome other wavs to facilitate the fubfiftence of the
Inhabitants, and carry on fome Trade : He thereupon em-
ploy'd his Servants and Slaves about the culture of Sugar-
Canes, Ginger, and Indico ; and the defign met with a fuccefs
beyond what was expeded.
Though it may be granted, that the Plant of the Sugar-
Cane was known to the Ancients, yet is the invention of ma-
king the Sugar but of late years : The Ancients knew no
more of it then they did of Sena, Caffia, Ambergreece, Musk,,
Civet, and Benjamin : They made no other ufe of this precious
Reed, then in order to, drink and Phyfick. And therefore
we may well oppofe all thefe things, with much advantage,
as alfo our Clocks, the Sea-Compafs, the Art of Navigation,
Profpedive-glalTes, Printing, Artillery, and feveral other ex*
cellent Inventions of the laft Ages, againft their right way of
4ying Purple, their malleable Glafs, the fubtle Machinés of
their Archimedes, and fome fuch like.
Having in the precedent Book given a defeription of the
Sugar-Cane, our bufinefs here will only be to reprefent the
manner how Sugar is gotten out of it.
That work is performed by a Machine or Mill, which fome
call an Ingenio, whereby the juice within the Canes is fqueeze
out. Thefe Mills are built of very folid and lading wood,
and are more convenient in thefe Iflands then thofe ufed to» the
fame purpofe at Madera and Braftl : Nor is it to be fear'd in
the former, as many times in the latter, that the fire (hould
get to the boiling Coppers, and fet all into a klame-, tothede-
ftrudion of thofe who are employ'd about the work ; for
the Coppers in thefe Iflands are feen to boil, yet the fire
that caufés it is made and kept in on the outfide by furnaces,
which are fo well cemented, that neither the flame nor the
fmoak does any way hinder thofe who» are at work, which
they may follow without any fear of danger or inconveniepce.
The ordinary way of turning the Mills is by Horfes or'
Oxen; but the French Governour hath one which is turn'd
by water, which falling on a wheel fets the Whole Machine
going.
"When
X