Besides these fore-mention’d Fruit-Trees there are several others that grow on this Island, amongst which is the Vua-pirup, eminent for its Blossom, which is yellow, blue, and red, and bears delicate Apples, which ripen best in the rainy Season.
Lastly, the Pekey, which three Men cannot Fathom, bears a Fruit of two handfuls bigness, having a hard thick Shell, and within four Kidney-like Kernels, each concealing a prickly Stone, which hurts the Mouths of unwary Eaters.
The Plant Carouata hath Leaves an Ell long, and two Inches broad; they are very thick and thistly from the middle, and about two Foot from the Ground grows an exceeding pleasant Fruit, yellow without and within, three square, a Finger long, and hanging oftentimes sixty in a Cluster.
Vua, a sort of Melons, green without, and within full of white Pulp and black Kernels, and hath a pleasant Juice, dissolves to Water, if cut in the middle, sweeter than Sugar, and very refreshing.
Manioch, a thick Root of the Plant Manicup, Leav’d like a Fig-Tree; being ground to Meal, it serves in stead of Bread.
Besides these already mention’d, there are several other Plants, the most usual are the great flat Beans call’d Commanda-ouassou, and the long Pease Commanda-miry.
Strange Birds.
Here are variety of Birds of several sorts, especially of Parrots, which flye in great Companies, most beautiful to the Eye, and very docible to speak, and also good for Food.
The Partridges Nanbououassou, in bigness no way inferior to a Capon, have blue Feathers, and also Lay blue Eggs.
The Ourou, resembling a Partridge, hath a Combe like a Cock, but mix’d with three Colours, viz. red, black, and white.