Page 314
An.1686
Plantain-fruit and Drink.
a change they eat a roasted Plantain, and a ripe raw Plantain together, which is instead of Bread and Butter. They eat very pleasant so, and I have made many a good meal in this manner. Sometimes our English take 6 or 7 ripe Plantains, and mashing them together, make them into a lump, and boyl them instead of a Bag-pudding; which they call a Buff-Jacket: and this is a very good way for a change. This Fruit makes also ve- ry good Tarts: and the green Plantains sliced thin, and dryed in the Sun, and grated, will make a sort of flour which is very good to make Puddings. A ripe Plantain sliced and dried in the Sun may be preferved a great while; and then eats like Figs, very sweet and pleasant. The Darien Indians pre- serve them a long time, by drying them gently over the fire; mashing them first, and moulding them into lumps. The Moskito Indians will take a ripe Plantain and roaft it; then take a pint and half of Water in a Calabash, and squeeze the Plantain in pieces with their hands, mixing it with the Water; call Mishlaw, and it's pleasant and sweet and nourishing; somewhat like Lambs-wool (as 'tis then they drink[it all off together : this they call d) made with Apples and Ale: and of this Fruit alone many thousands of Indian Families in the West Indies have their whole subsistence. When they make drink with them, they take 10 or 12 ripe Plantains and mash them well in a Trough: then they put two gallons of Water among them; and this in two hours time will ferment and froth like Wort: In 4 hours it is fit to drink; and then they bottle it and drink it as they have occafion: But this will not keep above 24 or 30 hours. Those therefore that use this drink brew it in this manner every morning. When I went first to Jamaica I could relish no other drink they had there. It drinks brisk and cool, and is very pleasant. This drink is windy; and so is the fruit eaten raw: but