Though the Plantine bear not the most delitious fruit that growes on this Iland; yet, for that she is of great use, and beauty too, and for many other rarities that she excells other Plants in, I shall endeavour to do her right in my description. And first, for the manner of planting; we put a root into the ground, six inches deep, and in a very short time, there will come forth three or four sprouts, whereof one has the precedence, and holds that advantage, (as the prime Hawke does in an Ayery). And as this sprout growes, it springs from the intrinsick part of the stem, and the out-leaves hang down and rot; but still new ones come within, and rise up as the Palmeto does, like a pike, which opened with the Sun, becomes a leafe; and about the time it comes to be eight or ten foot high, the pikes, (and consequently the leaves) will be of their full bignesse, and so (as others grow) continue that bignesse, till the last sprout come forth; which is the soul of the Plant, and will never be a leafe, but is the stem upon which the fruit must grow. About the time the leaves come to their full bignesse, they rot no more, but continue in their full beauty; a rich green, with stripes of yellow so intermixt, as hardly to be discerned where they are. These leaves are the most of them above six foot long, and two foot broad; smooth, shining, and stiffe as a Lawrell leafe; and from the middle of the leaf to the end, such a fall, as a feather has, in a well shap’t plume. But, as all these leaves came out in a pike, so that pike ever bends a little towards the East, though as soon as it becomes a a leafe, chuses any point of the Compasse to leane to; and so in a due proportion, hangs round about the stem. At the time it comes to be of the full height, the uppermost leaves will be fifteen or sixteen foot high, and then you shall perceive the stem upon which the fruit must grow, more then a foot higher than the rest, with a green bunch at top; which bunch has such a weight, as to make it stoop by degrees, till it be but seven foot from the ground; and then the green leaves which held the blossome in, open, and shew the blossome it selfe, which is of a pure purple, and as big as the heart of a Stagg, and of that shape, with the point downwards, and so continues, without opening the leaves, till it be ready to fall off; and when it falls, pulls with it above a foot of the stalk that held it, which is covered with yellow blossomes. This purple blossome, when it fell, I guesse to be a pound weight, besides the stalk it took along with it. After this is fallen, the fruit growes out from that end which remained; and as it growes, turnes up towards the stalk that bears it, much like a Grapple, that holds the long-Boat of a Ship; or, as a dozen large fish-hooks tied together, turning up severall waies; each turning up of that fruit being seven or eight inches long, and as bigg as a large Battoon you walk with. In six months, this Plant will be grown, and this fruit ripe, which is a pleasant, wholsome, and nourishing fruit, yellow, when ’tis ripe: But the Negres chuse to have it green, for they eat it boyl’d, and it is the only food they live upon. Our manner of eating it, is, when it is full ripe, take off the skin, which will come off with much ease, and then the fruit looks yellow, with a froath upon it, but the fruit firme. When it is gathered, we cut down the Plant, and give it to the Hoggs, for it will never bear more. The body of this plant is soft, skin within skin, like an Onyon, and between the skins, water issues forth as you cut it. In three months, another sprout will come to bear, and so another, and another, for ever; for, we never plant twice. Groaves we make of these plants, of twenty acres of ground, and plant them at such distances, and in such rowes, as you do Cherry-trees in Kent, so that we walk under the leaves, as under the Arches in St. Faith’s Church under Pauls, free from sun and rain.
Wild Plantine.
The wilde Plantine growes much as the other does, but the leaves not so broad, and more upright, the fruit not to be eaten; of a scarlet colour, and almost three square. I know no use of this fruit or leaves, but to look on.
Bonano.
The Bonano differs nothing from the Plantine, in the body and leaves but only this, that the leaves are somewhat lesse, and the bodie has here and there some blackish spots, the blossome no bigger then a large bud of a Rose; of a faint purple, and Ash colour mixt, the stalk that bears it, adorn’d with small blossomes, of severall colours; when they fall off, there comes out the fruit, which does not turne back as the Plantines do, but stand outright like a bunch of puddings, all neere of a length, and each of them between four and five inches long. This fruit is of a sweeter taste then the Plantine; and for that reason the Negroes will not meddle with them, nor with any fruit that has a sweet taste; but we find them as good to stew, or preserve as the Plantine, and will looke and taste more like Quince. This tree wants little of the beauty of the Plantine, as she appears upon the ground, in her ful growth; and though her fruit be not so usefull a food for the belly, as that of the Plantine, yet she has somewhat to delight the eyes, which the other wants, and that is the picture of Christ upon the Crosse; so lively exprest, as no Limner can do it (with one colour) more exactly; and this is seen, when you cut the fruit just crosse as you do the root of Ferne, to find a spread Eagle; but this is much more perfect, the head hanging down, the armes extended to the full length, with some little elevation; and the feet cross one upon another.
This I will speak as an Artist; let a very excellent Limner, paint a Crucifix, only with one colour, in limning; and let his touches be as sharp, and as masterly as he pleases, the figure no bigger then this, which is about an inch long, and remove that picture at such a distance from the eye, as to loose some of the Curiosity, and dainty touches of the work, so as the outmost stels, or profile of the figure, may be perfectly discern’d, and at such a distance; the figure in the fruit of the Bonano, shall seem as perfect as it: much may be said upon this subject by better wits, and abler souls then mine: My contemplation being only this, that since those men dwelling in that place professing the names of Christians, and denying to preach to those poor ignorant harmless souls the Negroes, the doctrine of Christ Crucified, which might convert many of them to his worship, he himselfe has set up his own Crosse, to reproach these men, who rather then they will loose the hold they have of them as slaves, will deny them the benefit and blessing of being Christians. Otherwise why is this figure set up, for these to look on, that never heard of Christ, and God never made any thing useless or in vaine.
page 82.
The Blossom
Pine.