Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/36

 Rh

Though Stalks and Leaves afford no great Nourishment, yet they have sometimes kept many from starving, they are either such as are tender or succulent of themselves, or made so by earthing. They are Cichory, Selery, Endive, Sorrel, Coleworts, Mallows, of much use in the Kitchin of old, Bugloss, Lettuce, Blite, Cumfry, Spinage, Leaves of Apples, Pears, Beech, Artichokes common and prickly, Mushrooms, Purslain, on which some people have lived in desert Places, Sium, Primrose, Cefaglione or the head of the Dwarf Palm, the head of the Palm called Cabbage-tree, Asparagus-like, young shoots of Briony, black and white, Hops, Ruscus, Equisetum, which is reckon'd unwholesome, and Ferula, Sea-weeds, tender Leaves and Sarments of Vines, White thorn, and Tamarind tree leaves. I find also in want, that People have thought of young Oak-Apple, and Pear-tree-bark, as well as Fir-tree-Cones.

Many feed on Pulse, as Pease of the Garden, and wild Beans, Vetches, Orobi, Lupins, Kidney-beans, Lentils, Lotus Ægyptiaca. Many of the Seeds of Lolium or Cockle, which is plentiful when Corn is scarce, and prepar'd by being well water'd, boil'd, dry'd, and made into Flour for Bread, which has been used in scarcity of Food. Sometimes this Bread has been taken out of the Oven, soak'd in Water, and bak'd again to free it of it's bad qualities.

Poppy seeds were likewise in use of old, and Flax-seed, though thought unwholesome, also Fenugrec seeds, and Hemp-seeds, on which I have known a Woman in England feed many Months.

Not to speak of Acorns and Beech-mast, the Food of our Fore-Fathers, Dates, the Food of many people in Barbary and Arabia, Figs, Pistachias, the Sevennois in France feed on Chesnuts, the Broth or Soupe of which I have heard is very nourishing. Joachimus Struppius, in his Book abovementioned, tells us that Bread may be made of Apples, Citrons, Oranges, Pears, Sloes, Cherries, Sorvices, Almonds, Hazelnuts, Heps, Plums, Grapes, Pine-kernels, Bill-berries, Rasberries, Strawberries, Mulberries, Peaches, Cucumbers, Melons and Pompions. The Pulp of the Pods of the Carob, or Siliqua-tree, in which the Seeds lies, is also eaten in Italy, and the Bichy or Buzzee-tree in Guinea. The fruits of Arbutus, mala insana, tribulus terrestris, and Coco, are likewise fed on in the places where they grow, and the later transported for provision to other places.

All sorts of Skins of Beasts, or Leather, or Things made of them, Girdles, Shoes, Belts, Shields, &c. are soak'd, and eaten, in want of better Food: Mules Flesh, and Buffalos Flesh dry'd and powder'd, Panthers, Bears, Lions, Foxes, Rhinocerots, Bats, large Toads in New England, Wolves, Cats, Otters, Badgers and Beavers, Mice, Tatou and Opossum; Birds of Prey when young, Oxygala, sowr Milk,