The next thing that comes in order, is Drink, which being made of severall materialls, afford more variety in the description. The first, and that which is most used in the Iland, is _Mobbie_, a drink made of Potatoes, and thus done. Put the Potatoes into a tub of water, and, with a broom, stir them up and down, till they are washt clean; then take them out, and put them into a large iron or brasse pot, such as you boyl beefe in, in _England_; and put to them as much water, as will only cover a quarter part of them; and cover the top of the pot with a piece of thick canvas doubled, or such cloth as sacks are made with, covering it close, that the steam go not out. Then make a little fire underneath, as much only as will cause these roots to stew, and when they are soft; take them out, and with your hands, squeeze, break, and mash them very small, in fair water, letting them stay there, till the water has drawn and suckt out all the spirit of the roots, which will be done in an houre or two. Then put the liquor and roots into a large wollen bag, like a jelly-bag, poynted at the bottom; and let it run through that, into a Jar, and within two hours it will begin to work. Cover it, and let it stand till the next day, and then ’tis fit to be drunk. And as you will have it stronger or smaller, put in greater or lesser quantities of roots; some make it so strong, as to be drunk with small quantities. But the drink it selfe, being temperately made, does not at all flie up into the head, but is a sprightly thirst-quenching drink. If it be put up in small casks, as Rundlets, or Firkins, it will last foure or five daies good, and drink much more sprightly then out of the Jar. I cannot liken it to any thing so neer, as _Rhenish-wine_ in the Must; but it is short of it in the strength of the spirit, and finenesse of the tast. There are two severall layers, in which these roots grow; one makes the skins of the Potatoes white, the other red: And where the red roots grow, the _Mobbie_ will be red like _Claret-wine_, the other white. Though this be the drink most generally used in the Iland, yet I cannot commend the wholsomnesse of it; for, the most part of the roots have a moyst quality in them, and are the cause of Hydropicke humours. Mr. _Phillip Bell_, then the Governour of the Iland told me that when he was Governour of the Ile of _Providence_, that there chanc’d some Spaniards to land there, and tasting of this drinke, wondred that any of those that continually drinke it were alive; so unwholsome and Hydropicke he conceived this drinke to be. [Sidenote: _Perino._]