Plate XXII
Industry of the Floridians in Depositing Their Crops in the Public Granary
There are in this country many islands that produce an abundance of various fruits which they harvest twice a year. These fruits the Indians take home in boats. Then they stack them up in storehouses which are simple yet large and built of mud and small stones. They are roofed with thick branches and soft earth, suitable for this purpose. Usually, these storehouses are built under a hill or rock close to a river. In order to prevent the fruit from rotting, the sun's rays must not penetrate the building. Apart from the fruit, the Indians put there other food that they wish to keep. They go and take it whenever they need it without any disagreement among themselves. It could be wished that such a lack of avarice prevailed among Christians and then their minds would be less tormented.
All transcriptions are taken from Discovering the New World, Based on the Works of Theodore de Bry, edited by Michael Alexander (New York: Harper & Row, 1976).
