Part 29

Iron, in abundance, and as good bog Iron as any in the World.

Copper. It is reported that the French have a Copper Mine at Port Royal, that yieldeth them twelve Ounces of pure Copper out of a Pound of Oar.

I shall conclude this Section with a strange Cure effected upon a Drummers Wife, much afflicted with a Wolf in her Breast; the poor Woman lived with her Husband at a Town called by the Indians, Casco, but by the English, Famouth; where for some time she swaged the Pain of her Sore, by bathing it with strong Malt Beer, which it would {94} suck in greedily, as if some living Creature: When she could come by no more Beer, (for it was brought from Boston, along the Coasts by Merchants,) she made use of Rhum, a strong Water drawn from Sugar Canes, with which it was lull’d a sleep; at last, (to be rid of it altogether) she put a quantity of Arsnick to the Rhum, and bathing of it as formerly, she utterly destroyed it, and Cured her self; but her kind Husband, who sucked out the Poyson as the Sore was healing, lost all his Teeth, but without further danger or inconvenience.

{95} An ADDITION of some RARITIES overslipt.

The Star Fish, having fine points like a Star, the whole Fish no bigger than the Palm of a Mans hand, of a tough substance like leather, and about an Inch in thickness, whitish underneath, and of the Colour of a Cucumber above, and somewhat ruff: When it is warm in ones hand, you may perceive a stiff motion, turning down one point, and thrusting up another: It is taken to be poysonous; they are very common, and found thrown up on the Rocks by the Sea side.

Sea Bream, which are plentifully taken upon the Sea Coasts, their Eyes are accounted rare Meat, whereupon the proverbial comparison, It is worth a Sea Breams Eye.

{96} Blew Fish, or Horse, I did never see any of them in England; they are as big usually as the Salmon, and better Meat by far: It is common in New-England and esteemed the best sort of Fish next to Rock Cod.

Cat Fish, having a round Head, and great glaring Eyes like a Cat: They lye for the most part in holes of Rocks, and are discovered by their Eyes: It is an excelling Fish.

Munk Fish, a flat Fish like scate, having a hood like a Fryers Cowl.

Clam, or Clamp, a kind of Shell Fish, a white Muscle.

An Achariston, For Pin and Web.

Sheath Fish, which are there very plentiful, a delicate Fish, as good as a Prawn, covered with a thin Shell like the sheath of a Knife, and of the colour of a Muscle.

Which shell Calcin’d and Pulveriz’d, is excellent to take off a Pin and Web, or {97} any kind of Filme growing over the Eye.

Morse, or Sea Horse, having a great Head, wide Jaws, armed with Tushes as white as Ivory, of body as big as a Cow, proportioned like a Hog, of brownish bay, smooth skin’d and impenetrable; they are frequent at the Isle of Sables, their Teeth are worth eight Groats the Pound; the best Ivory being Sold but for half the Money.

For Poyson.

It is very good against Poyson.

For the Cramp.

As also for the Cramp, made into Rings.

For the Piles.

And a secret for the Piles, if a wise Man have the ordering of it.

The Manaty, a Fish as big as a Wine pipe, most excellent Meat; bred in the Rivers of Hispaniola in the West Indies; it hath Teats, and nourisheth its young ones with Milk; it is of a green Colour, and tasteth like Veal.

{98} For the Stone Collick.

There is a Stone taken out of the Head that is rare for the Stone and Collect.

To provoke Urine.

Their Bones beat to a Powder and drank with convenient Liquors, is a gallant Urin provoking Medicine.

For Wound and Bruise.

An Indian, whose Knee was bruised with a fall, and the Skin and Flesh strip’d down to the middle of the Calf of his Leg; Cured himself with Water Lilly Roots boyled and stamped.

For Swellings of the Foot.