A true and faithful account of the four chiefest plantations of the English in America to wit, of Virginia, New-England, Bermudus, Barbados : with the temperature of the air, the nature of the soil, the rivers, mountains, beasts, fowls, birds, fishes, trees, plants, fruits, &c. : as also, of the natives of Virginia, and New-England, their religion, customs, fishing, hunting, &c. / collected by Samuel Clarke ...

Of their Bread.

Bread which is the staff and stay of mans life, is not so good here as in

England; Yet do they account it both nourishing and strengthening. It's made of the root of a small Tree or Shrub, which is called Cussary. This Root is large and round, like the body of a small Still, and as they gather it, they cut sticks or blanches that grow neerest to it of the same Tree, which they put into the ground, and they grow: So that as they gather one, they plant another.

This Root when its first gathered is an absolute poison, and yet by good ordering it becomes wholesome and nourishing. First, they wash it clean, and lean it against a wheel, whose sole is about a foot broad, covered with Latine made rough like a greater. This Wheel is turned a∣bout with the foot, as Cutlers use to turn theirs, and as it grates the Root, it falls down into a large Trough which is appointed to receive it. This they put into a strong piece of double Canvas, or Sack-cloth, and press it so hard, that all the juice is squeezed out, and then drying it in the Sun, its fit to make Bread, which they do after this manner.

They have a Plate of Iron round, about twenty inches in the Diameter, a little hollowed in the mid'st, with three feet like a Pot, above six inches high, that they may keep fire under. They heat this Pone (as they call it) so hot as that it may bake but not burn. Then the Indians (who are best acquainted with the making of it) cast the Meal upon the Pone the whole breadth of it, and put it down with their hands, and it will presently stick together, and when they think that that side is enough, they turn it with a thing like a Battle-dore; and so turn and re-turn it till it be enough, which is presently done. Then laying it upon a flat boord, they make others, till they have made enough for the whole fa∣mily. They make it as thin as a Wafer, and yet purely white and crisp. Salt they never use in it, though probably it would give it a better re∣lish. They can hardly make Py-crust of it; For as they knead, or roul it, it will crack or chop, so that it will not hold any Liquor, neither with, nor without Butter or Eggs.

There is another sort of Bread which is mixed, being made of the flower of Maise, and Cussary: For the Maise of its self will make no Bread, it is so extream heavy: But these two being mixed, they make it into large Cakes two inches thick, which tastes most like to our English Bread. Yet the Negroes use the Maise another way. For they tost the ears of it at the fire, and so eat it warm off the fire.

The Christian Servants are fed with this Maise, who pound it in a large Morter, and boil it in water to the thickness of Frumentry, and then put it into a Tray and so eat it; they give it them cold, and scarce afford them salt to it; This they call Lob-lolly.

The third sort of Bread which they use, is only Potatoes, which are the dryest, and largest which they can choose, and this is the most com∣mon sort of Bread used at the Planters Tables.

Notes

• Bread of C••ssury.
• How its made.
• Bread of Maise, and Cussary to∣gether.
• Lob-Lolly