The negroes were gathered around the ox, with large swabs upon long sticks, with which they incessantly «basted» it, with a liquid prepared for this purpose and standing in large kettles on either side of the trench. (fieryfoodscentral.com)
Once they collect enough nectar, they heat it in large kettles where it's stirred by hand until it cools and crystallizes, leaving behind a rich brown sugar. (rodaleinstitute.org)