A natural history containing many not common observations extracted out of the best modern writers / by Sir Thomas Pope Blount, Baronet.

Observations concerning SVGAR, and the SVGAR-Cane.

THe SUGAR-Cane is a kind of Reed, both pleasant and profitable, having long Stalks, a∣bout some six or seven Foot high, (if you reckon the Top-Leaves, or Branches and all,) joynted or knot∣ted much like unto the Great-Caue: The Leaves come forth of every joynt on each side of the Stalk, long, narrow, and sharp-pointed, much like unto some Flags, or Flower-de-Luces, but not so broad; and seem, at a distance, like those Sag-Beds, which grow many toge∣ther in some extraordinary Moorish or Boggy places in England; but of a more Blewish Green Colour, much like a Willow-Green. These Canes are not hollow; but the Stalk, or Body it self, is stuffed with a porous substance, moist and sweet in taste: From the Root Spring young Suckers (as they are

called) which are cut away, and serve to Plant elsewhere for increase. HVGHES's American Physician.

The SUGAR-Canes grow in both the Indies, in the Canary Islands, Portugal, Spain, Sicily, Creet, and Ciprus.

The SUGAR which comes from the Maderaes is the best: That from the Canaries next: That from Malta next: Then that which comes from Barbados, Virginia, St. Thomas, &c.

The Island of St. Thomas is quite destitute of Wheat, which if sown, turneth all to Blade, and brings forth no Ear: Nor will any Fruits here prosper, that have any Stone in them: But so abundant in SU∣GAR-Canes, and well stored with SUGARS, that forty Ships are thence loaded Yearly, with that one Commodity: For the making of which, they have there Seventy Ingenios, or SUGAR-Houses, and in each of them Two Hundred Slave••, in some Three Hundred, which belong to the Works. Six 〈2 pages missing〉〈2 pages missing〉

(says He) that Concrete consists of a very sharp and Corrosive Salt, though mitigated with a Sulphur, as it plainly appears from its Chy∣mical Analysis: For SUGAR distill'd by it self, yields a Liquor scarce inferior to Aqua Stygia: And if you distil it in a Vesica, with a great deal of Fountain-Water pour'd to it, though the fixt-Salt will not so ascend, nevertheless a Liquor will come from it, like the hottest Aqua Vitae, burning and very pungent; when therefore (says the Dr.) SU∣GAR mixt almost with any sorts of Food, is taken by us in so great a plenty, how probable is it that the Blood and Humours are ren∣dred Salt and sharp, and consequent∣ly Scorbutical, by its daily use? A certain Famous Author (viz. Simon Pauli) has laid the cause of the English Consumption on the immo∣derate use of SUGAR amongst our Country-Men: I know not (says the Dr.) whether the cause of the increase of the Scurvy, may not al∣so

be rather hence deriv'd. WILLIS's London-Practice, Pag. 372.

'Tis observ'd of Those who work much in the SUGAR-Houses, that they are very subject to the Scurvy; and that in Portugal, where there is a mighty Quantity of SUGAR Yearly spent, their chief Distem∣per is a Consumption.