Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/31

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Swine fed at Crawles are in very great plenty. These Crawles, or Houses and Sties built for feeding and breeding Hogs, are kept by some Whites, Indians or Blacks. The Swine come home every night in several hundreds from feeding on the wild Fruits in the neighbouring Woods, on the third sound of a Conch-Shell, where they are fed with some few Ears of Indian Corn thrown in amongst them, and let out the next morning, not to return till night, or that they hear the sound of the Shell. These sort of remote Plantations are very profitable to their Masters, not only in feeding their own Families, but in affording them many Swine to sell for the Market. It was not a small Diversion to me, to see these Swine in the Woods, on the first sound of the Shell, which is like that of a Trumpet, to lift up their Heads from the Ground where they were feeding, and prick up their Ears to hearken for the second, which so soon as ever they heard they would begin to make some movements homewards, and on the third sound they would run with all their speed to the place where the Overseer us'd to throw them Corn. They are call'd home so every night, and also when such of them as are fit for Market are wanted; and seem to be as much, if not more, under Command and Discipline, than any Troops I ever saw.

A Palenque is here a place for bringing up of Poultry, as Turkeys, which here much exceed the European and are very good and well tasted, Hens, Ducks, Muscovy Ducks, and some very few Geese. Muscovy Ducks are here most plentiful, and thrive extreamly, they coming originally from Guinea. These Poultry are all fed on Indian or Guinea Corn, and Ants Nests brought from the Woods, which these Fowls pick up and destroy mightily.

Cattle are penn'd every night, or else they in a short time run wild. These Pens are made of Palisadoes, and are look'd after very carefully by the Planters. The Oxen who have been drawing in their Mills, and are well fed on Sugar-Cane-tops, are reckoned the best Meat, if not too much wrought. They are likewise fatted by Scotch Grass.

Turtle, (Tortoises) are of several sorts, those of the Sea call'd green Turtle from their Fats being of that colour, feed on Conches or Shell-fish, are very good Victuals, and sustain a great many, especially of the poorer sort of the Island. They are brought in Sloops, as the Season is for breeding or feeding, from the Caymanes, or South Cayos of Cuba, in which forty Sloops, part of one hundred and eighty, belonging to Port-Royal, are always imployed. They are worth fifteen Shillings apiece, best when with Egg, and brought and put into Pens, or Palisadoed places in the Harbour of Port-Royal, whence they are taken and killed, as occasion requires. They