Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/82

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not only devour'd and took at Bay the Cows, but Asses, Colts, &c. did much mischief in the night. On the first Discovery of the West Indies, Dogs were very much used by the Spaniards to hunt the poor Indians, who had escap'd them over Rivers or into Woods; and their Voyages or Relations tell us there was a certain share of Booty due to the Master of the Dog, upon such Excursions, I think about half of what was given to a Man.

Ants are said to have killed the Spanish Children by eating their Eyes when they were left in their Cradles in this part of the Island: this is given as one Reason why the Spaniards left this part of the Country, where they had first settled, and built the Towns of Sevilla and Melilla. Sir Thomas Lynch, when Governour of Jamaica, sent to the old Spanish Inhabitants of it on Cuba, to know what Reason they had to leave it, and go to the South-side; the answer they made was, that they left it because their Children died there, that there were abundance of Ants, that there was no good Port, and that it was out of the Road for the Trade of Cartagena, and Santo Domingo. How troublesome Ants may be to Men and Women, much more to Children, may be seen in the Relations of Africa, particularly by Denys and Carli, who tell us that when the Ants set upon a House, the Inhabitants are forc'd to run for it. I once went to visit Mr. Rowe, a sick Person at St. Jago de la Vega in Jamaica in a morning, and found him more than ordinarily discompos'd, for that the Ants by eating in the night some of the joints of his Bedstead, his Bed of a sudden had fallen to the ground; but of this and their wonderful Actions, I shall have occasion to Discourse hereafter. In the Northern side one tried to kill them with a Train of Gun-Powder, but could not. If you thrust an Animals Thigh Bone into one of their Nests, they will be all kill'd by the Wood-Ants for love of the Bone.

Ginger is planted in this North-side of the Island in holes four Inches deep, made with Houghs in clear'd Ground, six Inches asunder one Root from another. They put into each hole a small piece of a Root, and cover it with Earth, in twelve Months it covers the Ground, so that a Hough cannot be put where the Races or Roots are not. At twelve months end, when the Stalks and Leaves are withered, 'tis Hough'd up, clear'd of its Fibrils, Stalks and Strings, by a Knife, or the Hand, then wash'd in fair water, put in a Basket about a hundred Pound at a time, and boil'd in a Kettle for a quarter of an hour, then expos'd to the Sun and dried. Though Rain comes, it hurts it not; this is the Black Ginger. Fresh Roots must be boil'd in fresh water.