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 Drink.

Their Drink is of sundry sorts.* 1.1 The first, and that which is most used in the Island is Mobby; a Drink made of Potatoes; thus,

They put the Potatoes into a Tub of water, and with a Broom wash them clean; Then taking them out, they put them into a large Brass or Iron Pot, and put to them so much water as will only cover a third part of them, then covering the Pot close with a thick double cloth, that no steam can get out, they stew them over a gentle fire, and when they are enough, take them out, and with their hands squeeze and break them ve∣ry small in fair water, letting them stand till the water hath drawn all the spirits out of the Roots, which will be done in an hour or two. Then they put the Liquor and Roots into a large linnen Bag, and let it run through that into a Jar, and within two hours it will begin to work: and the next day it's fit to be drunk; And as they will have it stronger or weaker, they put in a greater or a less quantity of Roots.

This Drink being temperately made, doth not at all fly up into the head, but is sprightly, thirst-cooling drink. If it be put up into Runlets, it will last four or five dayes, and drink the quicker. It is much like Renish Wine on the Must. There are two several layers wherein these Roots grow; The one makes the Skins of the Potatoes white, the other Red, and the Red Roots make the Drink Red like Claret Wine, the o∣ther white. This is the most general Drink used in the Island, but it breeds Hydropick Humours.

Another drink they have which is much wholsomer,* 1.2 though not alto∣gether so pleasant, which they call Perino, much used by the Indians, which is made of the Cussavy Root. This they cause their old toothless women to chaw in their mouthes, and so spit into water, which in three or four hours will work and purge it self of the poisonous qua∣lity. This Drink will keep a moneth or two, and drink somewhat like our English Beer.

Grippo is a third sort of Drink,* 1.3 but few make it well, and it's rare∣ly used.

Punch is a fourth sort,* 1.4 which is made of Water and Sugar mixt toge∣ther, which in ten dayes standing will be very strong, and fit for La∣bourers.

A fifth is made of wild Plumbs which they have in great abundance upon very large Trees. These they press and strain, and they have a ve∣ry sharp and fine Flavour: But this being troublesome in making is sel∣dom used.

But the Drink made of the Plantane is far beyond all these.* 1.5 These they gather when they are full ripe, and in the heighth of their sweet∣ness, and peeling off the Skin, they wash them in water well boiled; and after they have stood a night, they strain it, and bottle it up, and at a weeks end drink it. Its a very strong and pleasant Drink, as strong as Sack, and will fly up into the head, and therefore must be used mode∣rately.

The seventh sort of Drink they make of the Skimmings of their Sugar, which is exceeding strong, but not very pleasant: This is commonly, and indeed too much used, many being made drunk by it. This they call Kill-Devil.* 1.6

The eighth sort of Drink they call Beveridge, made of Spring-water,

White-Sugar, and Juice of Oringes. And this is not only pleasant, but wholesome.* 1.7

The last and best sort of Drink which the World affords, is the incom∣parable Wine of Pines. And this is made of the pure juice of the fruit it self without mixture of Water, or any thing else, having in it self a natural compound of all the most excellent tasts that the world can yield. I'ts too pure to keep long. It will be fine within three or four dayes. They make it by pressing the Fruit, and straining the Liquor, and keep it in Bottles.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Potatoes used for Bread. Their drink Mob∣by, how made.
• * 1.2

  Perino how made.
• * 1.3

  Grippo.
• * 1.4

  Punch.
• * 1.5

  Plantane drink.
• * 1.6

  Kill-devil. Beveridge
• * 1.7

  Pine-drink the best of all.