THE

eh ne

NATURAL HISTORY a

OF

Bea KB ADO 5.

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Nba N OOK 5.

Pn aE RE em

By the REWEREND

M. GRIFFITH HUGHES, AM. .

oe ee

Reor of St. Lucy’s Parith, in the faid Ifland, and F.R.S.

LONDON:
Printed for the AUTHOR; 1750
And fold by moft Bookfellers in Great Britain and Ireland. MDCCL. .

MissouR! BOTANICAB
GARDEN LIBRARY

= ages “
wine:

BY DIVINE PERMISSION,

~ Lord Archbifhop of CANTERBURY,

THE FOLLOWING worK 1s, -

Wilco Erb: GREATEST DUTY AND ROS SIDIS O40.

INSCRIBED, BY

HIS GRACE’S MosT OBEDIENT

AND HUMBLE SERVANT,

G. Hughes.

any ae #0 ia FO wees if ON ORO i 2

I

Oe TH EF

S

o U BescG: R'E Bakke

Thofe whofe Names are marked thus *, are Subferibers for
large Paper.

* * # & kK KX

A,
* IS Grace the Duke of St, Albans.
® His Grace the Archbifbop of Armagh,

Lord Primate of all Ireland.
His Excellency the Right Hon, the Earl of
Albemarle,
Right Hon. the Earl of Abingdon,
Right Hon. the Earl of Arran.
Right Hon. the Earl of Ancram,
Right Hon. Lord Anfon.
* Right Rev. the Lord Bifbop
Afaph.

Hon. Sir Atwil Lake.

All-Souls College, Oxford,

Mr, Francis Abbyvan,

Thomas Adams, E/q;

Mr. Jonathan Adams.
* Mr, James Adams,

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of St.

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Ht! S Moft Chriftian Mayzsty.
His Royal Highne/s the Prince of Wauzs.

Her Royal Highne/s the Prince/s of Wauzs.

His Royal Highne/s the Duke of CumBrRLAND.

fis Moft Serene Highnefs the Prince of Hesse.

His Moft Serene Highnefs the Prince of Saxz-Gorua.

His Moft Serene Highnefs the Landgrave of Hnssr-Cassst.
lis Moft Serene Highnefs the Duke of Orunans.

Mr. James Adamfon.

Jofeph Addifon,
Andrew Afflick, E/q;-
Ralph Allen, E/q;
Dr. Reynold Alleyne.
Reynold Alleyne, E/q;
Mr, James Alport.
Mr. John Alfop.
Sir Stephen Anderfon, Bart.
Henry Anderfon, E/q;
Mr, Andrews, Apothecary.
Hon. Thomas Applethwaite, zwo Books.
Mrs, Archer,
Mr, Edward Archer, jun.

John Archer, jum.

William Arderen, F. R. S.
George Armftrong, E/q;
Mr, Samuel Armftrong.

Mr.

ALIST of SEBSCRIBERS.

* Mr. William Atherly.

* Sir John St. Aubyn, Bart.

* Rev. Dr. Ayfcough, Clerk of the Clofet
to his Royal Highnefs the Prince of
Wales.

B,
His Grace the Duke of Bedford.
* Right Hon. the Earl of Burlington, two
Books. +
* Right Hon. the Earl Brooke.
Right Hon, the Earl of Bute.
* Right Hon, the Earl of Bleffington.
* Right Hon, the Lord Vifcount Boling-
broke.
* Right Hon, the Lord Vere Beauclerc, Baron
of Hanworth.
* Right Rev. Lord Bifhop of Bangor.
* His Excellency the Chevalier Bathget, bis
Imperial Majefty’s Refident at Venice,
* Right Rev. the Lord Bifbop of Briftol.
Sir John Barnard, Kut. Alderman,
Mr, Robert Babb.
Richard Lovel Badcock,
Rev. Mr, Barnard, Reéfor of Bridgetown
in Barbados,
Mr, Abraham Barnard.
Edward Barry, M. D.
James Barry, E/q;
Mr. Richard Barton, B. D,
John Bartrum.
Edward Bartrum.
Hon, William Barwick, E/q;
Mr. Samuel Barwick.
Mrs. Sufanna Barwick, Reliét of the late
Prefident Barwick.
Mr. Samuel Barrow.
Benjamin Bafwain, E/q;
Thomas Baxter, E/q;
Mr. John Bayly.
Rev. Dr. Bearcroft, Chaplain in Ordinary to
bis Majefty. |
Henry Bellingham, E/;
Mr. George Bell, Surgeon, F. R.S.
Francis Bell, E/g;
Mr. Robert Beckles.
Samuel Bedford.
John Beft, E/q;
Mr, Robert Belgrave.
William Belgrave.
Slingfby Bethel, E/g; Alderman.
Rev. Thomas Berdmore, D. D.
Mr. Ambrofe Beurer, Apothecary at Nu-
“remberg.
Mr. John Berisford.
Rev. Jofeph Bewfher, two Books.
Mr. Bickham, Engraver
Rey. Mr. Thomas Birch, 4. M. F.R.S ,

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Henry Bifhop, 2/9;
Rowliid nee E/y;
Trimmingham Blackwell, E/g;
Mrs. Prifcilla Blackman.
Jonathan Blenman, E/g; Attorney General
_ of Barbados, zhree Books.
Mr. Robert Board.
Mr. Robert Bend.
Charles Bolton.
John Bonnel, Ef; .
Mr. Booth.
Benjamin Boftuck.
Hon, William Boverie, E/g;
Robert Bouchier, E/g;
Mr, Thomas Bourne.
Mr, Thomas Bowen.
James Bowyer.
John Brace, E/q; -
Edward Brace, E/q;
Mr, Samuel Brace.
John Brathwaite, E/q;
Mr. Robert Brathwaite, juz.
Mr, John Brewtter,
Mr, 'Thomas Brewfter.
Hon, George Bridges, E/7;
Mr, Brindly, Bookfeller.
The Rev. Mr.Philip Brown, B. D.
Mr. Broome. : i
John Brougham.
Seigneur de Brummer.
William Bryant, 4. B. two Books.
Hon, James Bruce, E/g; two Books.
Henry Banbrigge Buckeridge, E/g;
Hon, Sir Thomas Burnet, Kut. two Books.
Rev. Dr. Burton. : j
Mr, Charles Barton, :
Charles Buth, E/;
Mr, Edward Butcher.

William Butcher. > Bee

James Butcher,
Mr, Butterfield, - :
Rev. Mr. Byam, Reéfor of St. John’s, An-
tigua,

; an on

His Grace thk Lord Archbifbop of Cantet-
bury, ¢wo Books.

Right Hon. the Lord High Chancellor,

fis Grace the Duke of Chaulnes, Prefident *
of the Royal Academy of Sciences in Paris,

Right Hon. the Earl of Chefterfield, «

Right Hon. the Lord Caftlemaine.

Right Rev. the Lord Bifbop of Carlifle:

Sir William Calvert, Knt. Alderman.

Hon, John Campbell, E/g;

Walter Caddle, E/q;

Thomas Cadogan, Efy;

Mr, Jofeph Calendar, :

y

A LIST of SUBSCRIBERS,

Mr. Richard Calendar.
Archibald Campbell, E/7;
John Campbell, E/g; of Red-Lion-/treet,
Holborn.
Archibald Carmichael, E/q;
Mr. John Carmady, jun.
Hon. James Carter, E/q;
Mr, Fofter Carter.
Rev Mr. John Carter, 4. M. two Books.
Mr. William Carter.
Mr. Chilcot, Organift at Bath.
Codrington Carington, E/g;
Mr, Paul Carington,
John Caffon.
William Cattel, Surgeon, two Books.

* Rev. Mr, Cauthorne, 4. M.

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Rev. Mr. Chamberlaine. \

Sir Charles Bagot Chefter, Bart.

Mr, Charles Child.

Robert Cholmondeley, E/q;

Mr. John Clark, Book/eller.

Dr. John Clark.

Mr, Samuel Clark.

Thomas Clark, E/q;

Monfieur Clement.

Benjamin Clinket, E/q;

Mr. Benjamin Cleeve, Merchant.
Abraham Chovet, Surgeon.

James Cockburne, E/g;

John Cobham, E/q;

My. Thomas Cobham.

_ Capt. William Cogan,

Dr. Clow.

Mr. Laurence Cole.

Hon, John Colleton, E/4;

James Edward Colleton, E/q;

Rev, Mr. Collins.

Rev. Mr. Giles Collins.

Rev. Mr, William Collins.

Mr. Peter Collinfon.

Mr. Samuel Cooper.

Rev. Dr. Conner, Fellow of St. Fobn’s Col-
lege, Oxford,

Mr. Samuel Cooper,..of Norwith.

Rev. Dr. Conybeare, Dean of Chrif-
Church, Oxford.

John Conyers, E/g; of Corpus-Chriffi Col-
lege, Oxon.

Mr, Mendez de Cofta.

Richard Cowlam.

Rev. Mr. James Cox, Reéfor of Suneam
in Kent.

Dr. William Cox.

Mr, William Coxal.

Mr, William Croft.

Mr. John Crew, of Crew-Hall, E/g;

Mr, Craten.

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David Crow, E/q;
Mr. Thomas Cruife.

Dz :
His Grace the Duke of Dorfet.
His Grace the Duke of Devonshire, iwo
Books. :
Right Rev. the Lord Bifhop of St. Davids.
Right Rev. the Lord Bifhop of Derry.
James Dawkins, E/q; three Books.
Mr. Michael Dale.
Mr, John Dapwell.

* Sir James Dafhwood, Bart.
* Henry Dafhwood, E/q;.

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Rev. Dr. Derham, Prefident of St. Sobn’s
College, Oxford, four Books.
Rev. Dr. Delany.
Theophilus Defbrifay, E/g;
Mr, Andrew Derry.
Ifmac Del-Peza.
Daniel Devine.
Richard Deveney.
Richard Dilling.
Thomas Dipper. |
Hon. John Dottin, E/g; two Books.
Dr. John Douglas.
Rev, Mr, Dowding, B. D. |
William Downes, E/q;
Richard Downes, E/q;
Mr. Purfer Downes.
William Drake, E/g;
Mrs, Elizabeth Drake.

‘Thomas Drake, E/g;

Mr. Andrew Derry.

Henry Drax, E/q;

Mr, Samuel Drayton.
joe Drayton,

*rancis Drayton.
William Duffy, E/q

Thomas Duke, E/q;

Mr. William Dake, two Books.
John Dunbar.
Michael Duncan.

Capt, Dunn,

Rev, Robert Dymond.

Mr. Theophilus Dymond.

Rev. Mr. Dyer.

Robert Dynwiddie, E/q;

E.
Right Rev. the Lord Bifbop of Ely.
Right Rev. the Lord Bifbop of Exeter.
Mr. Richard Eaton,

Mr,

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4 LIST of SUBSCRIBERS.

- Mr. Eafton, Bookfeller in Salitbury.

Matthew Eber, Eg;

Mr. Samuel Eburne,

Mr. Simon Edwards.

Richard Edwards, E/7; Mafter in Chancery.

Philip Edwards, Efq;

Mr. Edwards of the College of Phyficians,
two Books.

Rev. Mr. Edward Edwards, 4. M.

Philip Edwards, Eff; +: :

Mr. Richard Edwards, .

Mr. Simon Edwards. -

Rev. Mr. Robert Edwards, 4. B.

Mr. Robert Edwards.

Mr. G. D, Ehret.

Anthony Eiver, E/7; -

Richard Eftwick, Efq;

Mr. Richard Roufe Eftwick.

Rev. Mr. Evans, 4. M.

Rev, Mr. Ewyn.

F..
Rev. Dr. Fanthaw, Regius Profefor of
Divinity at Oxford.
Mrs. Anne Farrell,
Mr, John Farr.
Hon, Governor Fleming. #
Martin Folks, Ef, P. RS...
Hon, John Fairchild, Eg;
Mr, Jofeph Farley, two Books.
Robert Firchurfon, LEfg; tao Books.
Francis Find, jun, E/q;
Thomas Finlay, E/7;
Mr. Fitzherbert. é
Fon, Richard Fitzpatrick, Efy;
Mr. Fletcher.
William Fletcher.
Thomas Forbes,
Rev. Mr. Foote, L. L. B.
Francis Ford, jun. E/q;
Capt. William Fofter, tao’ Books.
Rev. Mr. Reynold Fofter, 4..M, two
Books,
Mr. Ingham Fofter.
Mrs, Hannah Fofter,
Rev. Mr. Fothergil, B.D. -
Fothergil, MZ. D.
Rev. Mr, Fothergil, 4. M.
Chriftopher Freife, E/q;
John French, Efq;
Tobias Frere, E/g;
Thomas Fox, E/b;
Jonathan Franklin, Byq;
Mr, Michael Fortune,
William Fuller,

G.

* Es Grace the Duke of Grafton.
* Right Hon, the Lord Gowran.
* Right Hon. the Lady Betty Germaine.
Right Rev. the Lord Bifhop of Gloucefter. -
His Excellency Henry Greenville, Governor

of Barbados, &c. fix Books,
Hon, John Gallop, Efq;
Mr. Gammon.
Chriftopher Gall, Eq;
Eftick Gall, E/;
Mr, William Gall,

Samuel Game.

Dr, Jofeph Gamble.
George Gafcoigne, Ej;
Mr, John Gafcoigne.
Hon, John Gibbons, E/g; two Books,
Hon, William Gibbons, Eff; Speaker of

the Affembly at Barbados, two Books. -
Hon. Philip Gibbs, Ej; :
Philip Gibbs, jun, E/q;
William Gibbs, E/z;
Dr. John Gibbs.
Mr. Jofeph Gibbs,

Rowland Gibfon, ss *
Rev, Charles Gifford, 4. M.: ‘
Mr. Thomas Gilks,

Edward Gore, Efy;

Mr. Henry Gorfely.
Richard Gofling, B/7;
Dr, Charles Goudy, Efq;
Mr, William Gough. :

Samuel Gould, Book/éller. 4
Capt, Samuel Goulding, nf
Mr. John Grant. :
Charles Gray, E/q;

Gray’s Inn Library,

George Greame, E/7;

Rev. Dr. Greene, Fellow
College, Oxford.

Mr. William Green,

John Grey, E/q;

Mrs. Elizabeth Grey,

Mr, Edmund Grey.

Mr, Edward Grey,
Rev. Mr, Walter Griffith, A.M, Sour
Books. : [

* Mr, Samuel Griffin.

Robert Grifley, WM. D.

Edward Grove, Bj/y; two Books.
William Gulfton, Eg;

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of St. John’s

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Eittst 3a
* Right Hon, the Earl of Halifax.
* Right Hon, the Earl of Harcourt.
yal * Right

A LIST of SUBSCRIBERS.

* Right Hon. the Countefi of Huntiigton.
Right Hon. the Lady Harcourt.
* Right Hon. the Lady Howe.

Right Hon. Lord Effingham Howard.
‘Right Hon. and Rev. the Lord Bifhop of
Hereford.

* Hon, Sir Edward Hawke, K. B.
Rev, Dr. Hales, ;
* Dr. Halliar, Profeffor of Botany at Got-
tingen.
—— Halfey, E/q;
* Hon, Charles Hamilton, E/q;
Mr. Richard Hamilton, Surgeon,
William Hamilton, E/g;
Capt. Patrick Hamilton, of Jamaica.
* George Hannay, E/g;
John Hannington, E/;
* Mrs. Hannington.
Mr. William Hall.
Richard Hall, E/g;
Mr. Hugh Hall.
~ Mr, Barnard Hall.
Rev. Mr. Hall, L. L. B.
Mr. Richard Halfewood.
Henry Haffel, E/7;
Rev. Mr. William Hagegat. ©
~ Mrs. Sufannah Haggat,
Mr. Samuel Hallam.
John Harrifon, E/g; two Books.
Cheney Hart, M. D:
Mr. Edward Harrifon, -

“John Hartford
Ward Harris, -E/9;
Mr. T-honwas Harris;
Mrs. Jane Harper.
Mr. John Hartford.

George Hartle.

Mr. Henry Hafiel.
John Hotherfal, E/q;
* John Hay, £.L.D.

College, Oxford.
Capt, Henry.

Mr. William Henry,
Dr, John Herne.
* Sir William Heathcote,
* Benjamin Heath, E/g;
* James Herbert, Eq;
* ThoinasHefketh; E/q;

*

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* *

Felliw of St. John’s

John Hill, E/g; Secretary to the Board of |

Trade.
* Thomas Hill, E/q;
* Mr, Benjamin Hinds. ty a ee
* Rev. Dr. Holden, Prefident: of the Eng-
lith Seminary at Paris, - ‘
William Holder, £/9;
Mr. Henry Evan Holder.
John Allen Holder.
* Robert Holdford, E/q;

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Capt. Thomas Holland; two Books.

Mr. Hollioake, Surgeon.

Thomas Horne, E/q;

Robert Hooper, Ej; :

Mr. Thomas Hope.

Rev, Dr. Horfeman.

John Hotherfal, H/g 4. abit de

Rev, Mr. Richard Hotchkifs, 4. M.. four

_ Books. ie :

Charles Grave Hudfon, Ej/g; Gentleman:
Commoner of Edmund-Hal/, Oxon.

Rev, Obadiah Hughes, D, D. two Books.

Rev. Mr. Lewis Hughs, 4. M4.

Mr, Richard Hughes, Purfer of His Ma-
jefty’s Ship the Affurance, three Books,

Mrs, Sufannah Hughes.

Mr. John Hughs, Printer...

Hugo Phyfician in Ordinary to his

Majefty at Hanover. re "

~"Hugo, Phyfician to the Houjhold.

§ Mrs. Hulfton.

Rev. Mr, Humphry Humphreys, 4. B.

* Rev. Dr. Hunt, Profeffor of Hebrew at.

Oxford. .
Richard Hunt, E/g;
Rev, Mr. Hunter, 4. M.
Hon. Samuel Hufbands, E/9;
Richard Hufbands, E/g;

: Mr. John Huffey.

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* ake

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Robert Hutchinfon.

I. whe

St. John’s College Library, Oxford.
St. John’s College Library, Cambridge.
Mr, Richard Jackman,

William James.
Miles James, E/q;
Robert Janffen, E/q
Rev. Mr. Ibbetfon, .
Mr. Jefiries of Kingfton.

Jeffries, Engraver to bis Royal Highnefs

the Prince of Wales. : :

Mr, George Jemmet.
Hen, Edmund Jenkins, E/g;
William Jenkins, E/q; E
Edward Ince, E/q
Mr. Thomas Ince.

Dale Ingram, Surgeot.

William Innys, Merchant.
Dr, Johnfon, Refidentiary of St. Paul’s,

London.

Rev, Mr. Rowland Johnfon of Hempftead,
A.M. two Books. ~~ ‘ ‘
Mr. Richard Johnfon.

William Johnfon.
Col. John Jones, Eg; .
Benjamin Jones, E/9;
b * Rev.

ALIST of SUBSCRIBERS.

* Rev, Mr. Lewis Jones, 4. M. Reétor of
_ Mowddwy. -
*® Rev. Mr. Jones. -
* Rev, Mr. Jones, 4. M. of Elfttee.
* Rev. Mr. Jones of Jefis Col, Oxford. A. M.
* Mr. Jones of Hempitead, °
Joleph Jordan, fen. E/q;
Mr, Jofeph Jordan. jun,
Hurdefs Jordan, E/z;
* Sir Willian Irby, Bart.
Jofhualremonger, Hyg; _.
Edwatd Itonfide, E/g;

K,
* Hon. Admiral Knowles.
* Rev: Dr. Kendrick.
* Mr. John Kendtick:
- James Keith. ’
* Mrs, Kennons, tivo Books.
Henty Peter King, Efg;
* Rev, Mr. Arnold King; 4. M.
Rev. Mr. Richard King, 4M
* Jac. Theod. Klein, Resp. Ged. a fecéetis Re-
gia Societatis Londin. 8 Academe Sci-
entiarum Sodalts. ;
Mr. Thomas Knights,
Samuel Knights.
* Francis Knowles, E/q;

* His Grace the Duke af Leeds.
* Right Hon, Earl of Leicetter.
* Right Hon. Lady Luxborough.
* Right Rev. Lord Bifbop of Londoti.
* Right Rev. Lord Bifbop of Lincoln: .
* Right Rev. the late Bifhop of Litchfield,
* Right Rev. Lord Bifhop of Landatt:
_ Mr, Lafartie. :
* Sir Bibye Lake, Bari.
* Thomas Lake, E/q;
Mr; Sarhuel Lake. ©
* Hon, Lady Lambert:
Mr, Alexander Lampley,
_ John Lane; E/¥;
Rev. Mr. Langford, A.M.
Rev. Mr. Larkham, Fellow of Cotpus
Chrifti College, Oxon:
Mr, John Lawfon,
Jofeph Laycock,
Samuel Leach, -
Leach Leach. _..) ,
John Leary: ;
Capt: John Leatherhead:
Mr. Matthew Lee.
a) james heen
Henry Leflie, E/7;
Mr, Bowman Leflie:
‘Thomas Leflie, E/q;

*

George Levine. E/q;
Mr. William Levine.
Ifaac Levine, E/q;
Rev, Mr. James Lewis. x
John Lewis, B/g; Agent Victualler at Gi-
braltar,
Mr, Samuel Lewis.
Temple Lewis, E/g;
John Liyte, E/;.
Mr. Thomas Light.
Anthony Linch,
David Lifle, Hg;
Charles Long, E/q;
Mr, Charles Long.
Philip Lovewell.
Herman Louis. ©
Charles Lowth,
Samuel Lloyd.
Dr. Nathaniel Lloyd, .
Rev. Mr. Lloyd, B. D.
Dr. Thomas Lycott. ee
Rev. Dr. Charles Lyttleton, Dean of Exeter.
Right Hon, George Lyttleton, E/g;

* *

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Right Hon, Earl of Macclesfield.
Right Hon, Earl of Moréton.
Right Hon. Lord Maynard, two Books.
Right Hon. Lord Montfort.
Right Hon, Lord James Manners: '
Right Rev: Lord Bifiop of Meath. ,
His Excellency Mathews, E/g; Go-

vernor of Antigua, ean ai
Afflick Mackleur, Bf; two Books.
——— Mancumara, M.D, at Barbados,
Magdalene College Library, —
Francis M‘Mahon, E/9;
Samuel Mapp, E/g;
Thomas Mapp, E/9; ’
Dr; Martin, Dean of Worcefter.
Mr. jane Matcol.

3enjamin Maffie,

Mrs. Matfie.
Mr, John Mathal.

_ William Mafiline,
M. Matty, M. Ds ’
Mr. John Mayhew. «>
Hon, William Maynard, Bj; two Books, -
John Maynard, F/f, = | w
Jonas Maynard, E/q; ny
Mr. Mayntown, of Gray’s luz.
Richard Mead, M.D. ilies
Benjamin Mellowes, D/y; two Books,
Mofes Mendez, E/g; ;
Mr. William Meyer, Bookfeller.
Richard Meyrick, M.D.
* Owen Meyrick, Bg;

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* Fhutiia

ALIST of SUBSCRIBERS,

* Humphrey Mildmay, E/7;
» John Millington, E/g;
* Rev, Dr. Mills,
Mr. John Middleton.
Francis Miller, E/q;
Mr. Jofeph Mills,
Timothy Miller.
Elias Mivielle, E/9;
Robert Mitchell, E/g;
John Molefworth, E/g; Gentleman-Com-
moner of Baliol College, Oxon.

*

Rev, Mr. Moore, Curate of St. Sepulchre’s. |

Daniel Moor, E/g;
Humphry Moftyn, E/g,
William Moll, E/g;
Mr, Jofeph Moll.

John Monroe, ™. D.
Mr. John Mottley.

Rev. Mr, Edward Morgan, 4. M.
Rev. Mr. Thomas Morgan,
Cheltenham, two Books.

Samuel Morgan, E/q;

Mr. Lewis Morris.

Jafper Mortis, E/7;

Rev. Mr. Kenneth Morrifon,

Mr. Mountford, ‘Book/eller at Worcefter,
James Mount.

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N.

His Grace the Duke of Norfolk,
His Grace the Duke of Newcaftle.
Right Hon. the Earl of Northampton.
Right Hon. the Earl of Northumberland,
Right Rev Lord Bifbop of Norwich,
James Nath, E/y;
Hon. John Needham, E/q;
Mr. Turbeville Needham.

Samuel Newman,
New Gollege Library.
Rev. Dr. Newton.
John Newton, E/y;
Mr. Nathaniel Newton; ni Head
Mrs. Newton, Boohféller, at Manchef-

ter:

Mr, William Nibs, jun.

Benjamin Nicholls. ek
Rev. Dr, Nicholls; Chaplain io the Right

Rev. Lord Bifhop of London, ~

Mr, William Nicholls. fS
: Mordecai Nunes.

William Nut.

Samuel Nurfes.

* * *€ F KR KK F

*

Oero2
* Right Hon. Earl of Orery.

A MU of

* Right Rev. Lord Bifhop of Oxford.
* Hon. Lieutenant-General James Oglethorpe, ”

is
* Sir Chaloner Ogle, Knit.
* Rowland Oliver, E/q;
Oriel Gollege Library.
Robert Ofborne, E/q;
Samuel Ofborne, E/q;
Mr. James Ofborne, of Alban-Hall.
James Ofborne, E/q;
Mr. Thomas Ofborne, of Gray’s-Inn, Bogk-
Seller, fix Books.
John Oftraham,
* Corbet. Owen, E/q;
* Hugh Owen, AZ, D,
* Richard Owen, E/q;
* Humphrey Owen, B. D. of Jefas College,
Oxon. ‘
* Rev. Mr. Owen Owen, A. Mw
Mr. John Oxley.
Edward Oxnard,

*

Py
* His Grace the Duke of Portland.
* Her Grace the Dutchefs of Portland,
* Right Hon. Countefs of Pomfret.
* Right Rev. Lord Bifhop of Peterborough:
* Right Hon. Henry Pelham, Eg;

| * Francis Paddie, Eg;

Mr, Samuel Palmer.

| * Rev. Dr. Pardo, Principal of Jefas College,

Oxon, ;
James Parfons, 2 D. _
Richard Parrot, E/g,; :
Mr. Edward Clark Parith, Merchant.
——+ Parrot, Surgeon,

__ Samuel Parry, Attorney at Law..
William Paterfon, E/g; —
Thomas Patridge, E/g; -

Mr. Eyre Payne.

- John Payne, two Books.

homas Abel Payne.
Thomas Payne.
* Mrs. Pearfon.
* John Pennant, Eg;
* Henry Pennant, E/g;
Dr. John Penny. |
Rev Mr. Jonathan Perkins.
Rev. Mr, Richard Perry, 4. M. Student of
Chrift Church, Oxon.
Mr, Samuel Perry.
William Perry, Eg;
William Peterfon, E/g;
Mr, William Peters,

*
*

x ee

* Ret

& Rev. Dr. Pickering, Vicar of St. Sepul-_
chres.:
John Pickering, E/9s
Jofeph Pickering, E/q, wakigh fo
* Rov, Mr. Pearce, A. M. Vicar of Tilling-
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Col. Lewis Burwell,
Bak R-4+ AT -A.

Age 1.1.12. for greateft Breadth 13. 3-qrs read 14.and 5Furlongs. Page 52.for Swallows readSallows. Ibid. Hin,
EB Yeagh read Yew. Page 136. dele the Defcription of Turk’s Hess $e 139. line 18. for expands ietett Ei
ontally read expanding itfelf horizontally. Page 146. for Bee-wood Tree read Beef-wood Tree. Jbid. dele Fultic
Tree. Page 164. for Buombo read Bumbo. Page 170. line 21. for reddith, thick and fucculent. Page 189. line
12. dele red before Veins. Page 182. line 22. for {ort read {pecies. Page 186. dele. Cochineal. Page 208; line 20
for brownith read brown. Page 209. line 11. for, brownilh read brown. 210 line 8. for high read lone. Ibid 1, 33.
for high readin height. Ibid. line 36, for brownifh read brown. Page 216, line g. for roundith Pods read round Boos
Lbid. line 19. for thoug hfomewhat read though fomewhat. bid. line 18. after that Time add from. their ee
planted. Page 220. for Antegoa read Antegua. Page 221. dele Wild Penny-royal. Ibid: line 15. dele the after-b r.
Ibid. line 2.0. dele and roundifh. Page 222. line 11. for are longifh read are about five Inches long, narrow and ip
pointed. Ibid. line 23. after Colt’s Foot add and the Colour. Page 223. line 23. aftér eaves nadiomewenie ane
Adid. lines 33 and 34. for three Inches thick read two Inches thick near the Earth. Page 224. line 8. for makes
read a gieat Number: Page 226. line 16. for many leaved Flowers read rofaceous Flowers. Page 236. line for
Stalk read main Stalk. Page. 237. line 8. for Skill read Knowledge. Page 253. line 15. for coral Seaweed io) the
itiff Sea-weed. Ibid. line 20 dele Head after Brown. Ibid. inflead of rather Seed, read what are here called Seed
Page 255, for purplifh Sea Mofs, read purple Sea Mofs. Ibid. line 30. for purplith Colour read purple. Pa ve 2.58 :
line 3. after Refemblance to it add in Shape. Page 261. line 15. after reality add of. Page 262. line oir cs , :
read it fome Times. Jbid. line 14. for about the Roots of the great Feelers read where the Feelers ake ae Rife. a
line 3. after Sea add this. Ibid. after Shoals add or {nch fhallow Places. Ibid. line 28. jor which the: cal 4 d
which theydo. Page 266. line 8. for but oftener read and often Graneries near the Sea-fide.. Ibid. line en
Pounds read ten Pounds. Page 268. line 19. for Fancifulnefs read Fancy. Page 273, for Ver AT ia EL ee,
creditable, ead credible. Page 227. line 22. for brownith read brown. Page 278 ie of fir es ae oe
Spots. Ibid. line 11. for Concha Veneris Alba read the Rice Shell. Page 280, line 32. dele by which I fi sR on z
rifhment is convéy’d to the Fifh, Page 297. line 39. for langid read languid. Page 298 Plate 24 Shortt ‘be 3 ded
Plate 26. Negroes, their Numbers, Index for Page 2. read Page 14. For Plate 11. 352. read Plate 11 : I Se ae
£18 eft abou Hecon en DEN DA, Toe Wild Cane. va
5 grows to about fifteen Feet high. Its Flags refemble to thofe of the R i i
Tail, thicker than a Walkihgicaiie, ahd ftrong 3 the young Canes at eae ts pete abe Fat a ens
. into Pickles. Plate 10 *s being the Defcription of the Bay Berry Tree, is to be placed oppofite to Pher sais ck aes
‘ OSE~SHELLS, ;
ap HESE are of two Sotts, the white, and thofe tinged with a Maiden’s-bluth
ee bee mes a in great Plenty on moft of our fandy Bays.
hefe; with a Species of the fmall black Buccinum Kind, and ies
and often called Pea-fhells, are with great. A fiduity, gathered and ae: pan ; cee Pea ote bie ea
a lively Reprefentation of Rofes ; the fecond ferve to imitate the Seed and S cd ft vee nd het dies fou
flowers, and the third are of no lefs Service to reprefent thofe {mall Grnulagon Bereich bene San
fome, as well as the Summits of other apetalous Flowers, ies eS thrummy Difcus of

3 the latter are very rare to be met

THE

CON! EN FS
tea ORCS, BARS UTR
REATS of the Air, Soil, and Climate. The Refidence of Indians for-
merly in the Ifland prov’d.. The conftitutional Difference of the Inha-
bitants of hot and cold Climates ‘examined after a new and phyfical Mane
ner. Hurricanes, their Force and Effedts ; elpecially that in Barbados, in the Year
1665. compar’d with the moft remiarkable Storms defcrib’d by antient Authors ; and
probable Conjectures offer’d, that all Hurticanes, if of long Continuance, ‘begin in
variable Climates.

BOOK UW. Page 31. }
Treats of the Caufe, Nature, and Cure of the Difeafes peculiar to that, and the neigh=
bouring We/t- India Wands. The Qualities of the Waters, whether of Springs, Rivers,
Wells or Ponds. Foffils, and fubterraneous Caves. The unequal Force of the Des
luge near the Equator, and in variable Climates, prov’d, and accounted for. The
Nature of bituminous Foffils examined, with a Confutation, from their Qualities and
Situation of a late great Critic’s Hypothelis; v/z. ¢ That the Deftruétion of Sods
* and Gomorrah was not fupernatural, but occafion’d in a natural Way by feveral

© Veins of Bitumen taking Fire.’ , :

- BOOK II. Page 61.
’ ‘Treats of Land Animals, Quddrupedes, Volatiles, Reptilés, and Infeéts,

BOOK IV. Page gy. shit
Treats of Vegetables; and begins with a Botanical Defcription, as well as a ‘Phyfical
Inquiry into the Nature and Qualities of Trees, Shrubs, and Plants, hitherto known

in the Ifland, being about Four hundred in Number 3 and concludes with thofé of the
Nuciferous Kind. z z

; Pomiferous —
BO, O KS.V... Page 121495 ;
BOOK VI. Page 167.( Treats of theTrées, Shrubs, eects ie i
BOOK VII. Page 174. and Plants of the sili at oy 4 Inds
BOOK VIII Page 188. quole, an

Anomalous

Among other remarkable Plants, that call’d the Agnus Scythicus is particularly des
feribed: Likewife an Inquiry into the Qualities of the Cane-Plant, as well asa very eafy
Method propos’d to prevent the Miftakes frequently committed in fernrenting Cane=Juice,
Ge, for the Diftillation of Rami, by which means a Well- proportion’d Mulfa will res
gularly ferment: An Inquiry into the Caufe of that Diflemper in Canes, called the
Blaft ; with a probable and cheap Method of deftroying it propos’d,

BO OK _ IX. * Page 21.

Treats of the Shores of thé Ifland, with the Shells, particularly the Murex ; to-
gether with a Defcription of feveral exanguious Tribes of Animals found thétéon; efpe-
cially the Animal-Flowets; thé pale Yellow; the dark Purple fpotted with Black; afd ~
the Green. Thefe new-difcover’d furprifig Claffes of Beings, which appeat in thé ’
SHipe of Flowers, were unknown to ali formes Authors of Natural Hiftory.

BOOK. X. Page ago. Sed

Treats of the Sea-Fithes, and {everal marine Produétions; efpecially fuch as have not
been at all, or imperfectly, defcribed by other Authors: With a probable Account
of the different Sea-Curtents round this, and the neighbouring Iflands,

ASUE TH -OeRaS

a Quoted.

A. Page 1
Riftotle (2h, 257.
Athenaus 271, 274
Boerhaave fee ung t
Julius Cefar g. (note 6. ,
Cicero oe ee 921
Dee
Derham 69
Diodorus Siculus z 26
Dr. Freind 36 (note 6)
Glover 24, 56
Galen 33
Veh
Dr. Halley 5
Hoffman 46
Herodotus 9, 13
Hippocrates 32
Homer 2, 23, 71
Horace 9g, 12, 18, (note 24. ) 113,
276, 280, 310 j
Hunt Pg (note 12.)
Ifidore

1, (note 22.) 270
Julius Pollux 272

Page

M.
Manilius 276
Maundrel 50, 57
Dr. Mead © ~ 32
Milton 195 se on 78 86, 261, 300
Ovid 15, 18
; P,
Petiver 258
Pindar : 9
Pifo 12, 25, 36 (note 37)
Pliny 74, 92, 269, 2ae 273, 274
Plautus 6 (note 20)
QW
Quintus Curtius 76
R.
Ray 36, 291.
Rondeletius 27%
Rohault ; 280
Seneca ; ;
Dr. Shaw 27
Dr. Toune ; ; ;
oy. 35
Voffius
Virgil ap 27,'(note 30.) 51, 56, ge

58, 5 I
Polydore Vieil

Le Clerc \ $1 27%
Lift. Hift. Conchyl. 275, ib. 8 278 :
Lucretius 269 | Dr. Warren 345 37
Lucilius 280 | Willoughby 69

TEXTS of Scripture Cited or Illufirated.

Page Page

Enefis x. 26 2 | Jobi. 19 28

Gen, xiii. 8 16 | Job viii, 11 : . gt
Gen, xiii, 10 52,53 | Job xxvi. 14 27
Gen, xxvi. 20 er Pfalm xviii, 10, 11 27
Gen, xxix, 12 : 16 | Pfalm lxviii. 13 71
Deut. xi, 10, 11. 12 20 | Pfalm civ. k.,
Numb, v. 18 15 | Pfalm exiv. 3 ts 27s
Numb. xiii. 24. 2 | Ifaiahv. 30 52 Ot tate
2 Kingssverazec a 40 | Ifaiah oh a 15 27

Nomb. xxi, 18 45

Pee oP wiht AG BS

EON A TURAL Philofophy flourifhed firft in the Eaft.
mea ae It was in great Petfetion among the Afjrians,
Chaldeans, and Egyptians ; and, if their Knowlege
of it had been faithfully conveyed to Pofterity, we
; might have expected, that the next Age of Learn-
ing in Greece would have been able to have made

greater Progrefs in that noble Science.

~

Cell at ay

e

%* ¢ But, alas! here Philofophy was forced to put

“on a poetical Drefs, adorned by the Poets, its
« Patrons, with Fables, and enlivened with extravagant Fancies. Nor
“ was hens itfelf proof againft fo prevailing a Corruption.”

‘This was the State of every Branch of Philofophy in Greece; nor did
this Study meet with much better Succefs in the firft Part of the fucceed-
ing Roman Empire. “ For while this was in its Infancy, during the Three
« firft Ages, which were {pent in conquering Italy ; Stri€tnefs of Man-
“ ners, and the Art of War, were their chief Study, and continued to be
« {o, till they were Mafters of the Eaft.” Then Oratory became their
Darling. Upon the Declenfion of the Roman Empire, the Darknefs of
Ignorance, that enfued thro’ many fucceflive Ages, {pread like Elijah’s

Cloud, and, in a Darknefs, like that of Egypt, enveloped the {mall Re-
“mains of Learning in almoft a total Eclipfe.

Nor did the Philofophical Part of it revive, or thew the leaft Spark of
its native Brightnefs, till Gadileo in Izaly, and the great Bacon in England,
became its Patrons.

A It

* Sprat’s Hiftory of the Raya! Society.

il

ip YE FOO BE.

was about this Time that Natural Hiftory, as well as every Byanch
of see cdeacel Philofophy, became the Study of great a in a
Countries, in England efpecially, and fome time afterwards i Tae
under the Protection of that great Patron of Bie es ve
whofe Princely Favours fought for, and encouraged, Men of Learning,
not in France only, but in the moft diftant Countries.

But of late Years its greateft Promoters have been the Royal Beste)
< in England, and the Academy of Sciences in France : By their es
<¢ chiefly, has the World received more ufeful Difcoveries ayd Improve
« ments in one Century, than ig had done for many Ages kefore.

“If they go on with the fame unwearied Diligence and Succefs for spe
“ Century more, what Depths of Nature will not be explored 2? What
“ Treafures of Knowlege will not be difplayed Dee

But tho’ many Branches of this excellent Study have, of late Years,
been {o laudably cultivated, to the Glory of God, and the Good of
Mankind ; yet we have Caufe to lament, that our Purfuits of this Nature
are ftill deficient.

The feveral ingenious and learned Difcoveries of Malpighi, Grew,
‘Ray, Derham, and Hales (among many others that might be added),
tho’ excellent in their Kind, are yet but fo many well-proportioned Limbs

of an unfinifhed Piece. s

Other Sciences and Arts owe their Perfection, not only to theCapacity

of the great Men who ftudied them, but likewife to the confined Nature

of the Subjects treated of.

., But as to Natural Hiftory, fo many are the Species of Animals, Plants,

and Foffils,, which are yearly difcovered, that we may juftly fay with

Pliny, Multum adbuc refiat operis, multumg; reftabit ; nec ulli nato poft

mille fecula praecluditur occafo aliquid adjiciendi. And tho’ the Study of
fo extenfive a Subject be attended with fome Difficulty, yet will it prove

no le& pleafing than ufeful.

In other Hiftorics we meet with, at leaft, a great Mixture of Pain

_with our Pleafure. If in Biography we are firft charmed with the

great Talents and amiable Character of C¢/ar, whilft in the true Intereft

-of his Country ; fhall we not be grieved to find, that his Ambition, at

laft,. proved fatal to many Thoufands of his Fellow-Citizens and Coun-
trymen ? If we are pleafed with the Life and AGtions of Epaminondas ;

. as. the fatal Cataftrophe of his laft unhappy Period draws on, can an
_ Degree of Chearfulnefs check the rifing Sigh, or ftop the falling Tear ?

- When from Biography we. purfue Mankind through the general Hi-

2 ftory of Nations, we fhall be fhocked with monftrous Examples of

Wickednefs, far overbalancin

g the few fuccefsful Inftances of difinterefted
Virtue. Tage

In

BOR 4. 3k wat &é.

In one Age we fee Epittetus banifhed, and the venerable Seneca
doomed to Death, whilft Domitian and Nero are covered with Purple.
In another Period, injured Majefty bows the Neck to relentlefs Ty-

tT anny.

If, from this unamiable Stream of hiftoric Truth, we explore its
branching Rivulets, and feek for Pleafure in our Refearches into the An-
tiquity of Nations; this Study, tho’ always harmlefs, and fometimes
ufeful ; yet, after an irkfome and tedious Purfuit, thro’ Paths rendered
obfcure and dark by Length of Time, or Ignorance, or made almoft im-
pervious by Superftition, after a Life fpent in fuch Inquiries, perhaps the
ultimate Refult will be, how precifely to determine the Day and Year,
that memorable #ra, which gave Birth to a Vimrod, who conquered fome
fmall Province, or built fome little City, and reigned its Tyrant ; or per-
haps the Period of our Labours will clofe with the diminutive Difcovery
how to fix the original Meaning of fome obfcure Sentence, or even an

obfolete Word.

Whereas, in purfuing the Study of Nature, and meditating upon the
exact Harmony fo vifible in the Works of the Creation, we are fure to
meet with untainted Pleafures ; not fuch as proceed from the Tranfports
of an heated Imagination, or a violent Paffion, but Pleafures, like that of

Health, ftill and ferene.

The Accomplifhments we acquire by many other Studies, may, by
foothing our Vanity, occafionally miflead us, and likewife byafs human
Nature with a ftrong Propenfity towards fome favourite Prepoffeffion of
the Will.

Thus the Oratory of Cicero, indued with every Power to pleafe -----
to raife or calm the various Paffions in the human Breaft ; ---- (a noble
Endowment, when employed in the Caufe of Virtue !)---- But (fuch, alas!
is the Inftability and Imperfection of human Nature) this very Talent,
which gave him Pre-eminence above other Men, became fubfervient to
indulge a Weaknefs, which we muft at once condemn and pity. To
living Cz/ar, the Orator paid the pleafing Tribute of Adulation and.
Praife: ---But, when dead, loaded him with Reproaches.

If we defcend to many other Branches of Study, and polite Literature
(efpecially in the prefent Age), we fhall find, that thefe Embellifhments
too often tend only to infpire us with a fanfied Superiority over others, and
ferve, at beft, but to fet forth and enliven fome particular Occafion or
Period of Life. Their Amufements, to make ufe of a great Writer’s
Simile, ‘ *.are likea Fountain,which, on fome gaudy Days, {pouts forth a
“ frothy Stream, but remains dry all the reft of the Year.”

But fuch are the Subjeéts of our Inquiries in Natural Philofophy, that
they are as large, and as lafting, as the Univerfe, full of inexhauftible
* Lord Vifcount Bolingbroke. : : Variety;

i

Iv:

PR REL A Ce Be
Variety, worthy (next the facred Oracles) of ‘the Attention of him, whom
God hath placed at the Head of this lower World.

By contemplating thefe Subjects, we are gradually led bom Things
vifible, to the Knowlege of him who is ‘invifible. Here we fee eco
rable Inftances of Harmony, Beauty, and Order, not to be imitated by the
moft laborious Endeavours of any human Art or Contrivance.

Thofe delighted with the Vegetable Creation may, each returning
Spring, not only be pleafed with their Profufion of Sweets, and of fuch
beautiful Colours, as excel even a Solomon in all his Glory ; but likewife
our Inquiries may now be as boundlefs as the Creation ; no forbidden
Tree checks our Curiofity ; but, with solomon, we may explore their Se-
crets, from the lofty Cedar to the humble Hyflop, {pringing from the
Wall.

When by thefe, and fuch-like Inquiries, we find in every thing a wile,
good, and ufeful Defign, it will afford us Pleafures, purer and fuperior
to thofe which the fanguine Glory of Arms, boundlefs Ambition, or fa-
tiated Avarice, can give. It will infpire us with Sentiments moft pleafing,
as moft fuitable, to that divine Image the Almighty has pleafed to ftamp
of himfelf upon the human Mind. rep

“« * What room can there be for low little Things in Minds fo ufefully
“ and fo nobly employed ? What dark and melancholy Paffions can over-
‘* thadow his ‘Heart, whofe Senfes are conftantly entertained with fo
““ many various Productions?” The leaft_ good Effect attending thefe
Purfuits ‘will be an innocent Joy.

“What Anger, Envy, Hatred, or Revenge, can long torment his Breaft,
“¢ whom not only the nobleft Objects, but even every Infect, every Blade
“* of Grafs, or Grain of Sand, can divert ?” To whom the Return of
every Seafon fuggefts a Circle of the moft innocent Amufements.

From thefe Inquiries, he will learn the infnite Diftance between his
great Creator and himfelf. “ This will teach him to worfhip that Wif
** dom by which all Things are fo eafily fuftained, and will lead him to
“ direct his Praifes aright.”

There is not the {malleft Part of this Globe left without evident Sig-
natures of God’s Goodnefs. If this little Spot we are treating of, pro-
duces not the Sapphire, the Carbuncle, ‘Topaz, or Ruby, we are not
wanting, however, in the more truly valuable Produ@ions of Nature,
which are chiefly fubfervient to the N. eceflities and Conveniencies of Life :
and even our moft barren Hills are not unferviceable : If their high
Summits want ‘their grateful Verdure ; if out of their Sides we cannot
dig Brafs ; yet it is to thefe, under Providence, we owe the former and

* Sprat’s Hiltory of the Royal Society. the

PAROOES EP FB CR Re

the latter Rain, by intercepting feveral Clouds, and watry Vapours, that:
would otherwife fly over us.

It is from the Sides of thefeHills and Mountains that the living Streams.
defcend, fo grateful and refrefhing to Men and Beafts in hot Climates. It
is likewife to their friendly Shades, that we owe the Growth of feveral
valuable Plants, whofe delicate Texture could not bear the long-continued
piercing Rays of the Sun.

But, among other providential Bleflings, the Conftancy of the Trade-
Winds is not the leaft valuable: Without this, all other Conveniencies,
fuch as Pleafantnefs of Situation, Richnefs of Soil, and feafonable Weather,
would be of no Service; fince the Return of each Day, now, by the
Breezes of this Wind, made cool and grateful, would, without this pro-
vidential Allotment, be infufferable through Heat: The tender Plant
would lofe its grateful Verdure, fade, wither, and die,

It may perhaps te {aid by fome Readers, that thefe, and fuch Re-
fleGtions, are too often interfperfed through the following Work ; and
that it would be fufficient barely to treat of the Nature and Qualities of
the Subjects in a Philofophical Light, without drawing any Conclufions
from them, though they evidently point out the Wifdom, Power, and
Goodnefs of God, in the Make, N ature, and Ufe of each Individual,

The Anfwer to fuch is eafy: That the original and true Ufe of Philos
fophy was to render Mankind good as well as learned ; by raifing their
Thoughts from Things vifible, to the invifible Author of all Perfeétion,

Shall Galen, a Heathen Philofopher, break out into Raptures of Admi-
ration, upon the Difcovery of fo many Marks of infinite Wifdom in the
Formation of the Eye? And, thall Chriftians be blamed for taking notice
of fuch Inftances of God’s Wifdom in other Parts of the Creation ?

Philofophy, when rightly applied, is of great Ufe, even in a religious
View : It was this that taught Pythagoras Integrity of Manners, and Au-
fterity of Life.

This made Empedocles prefer a quiet private Life to the Splendor of a
Crown, with all its lucrative Advantages.

This taught Socrates to die as free from Haughtinefs as Weaknefs; “and
“ the moft beautiful Lineaments, in the Chara@er of Cato, are owing to’
** this excellent Science.”

Here the great Bacon experienced more exalted Pleafures than in the
Sunfhine of a Court. It was this that not only corrected the paft Inad-
vertencies of his Life, unto which an infatuated Attachment to Grandeur
had mifled him, but likewife recalled his great Talents from meaner Pur-
fuits to their proper Objeéts ---To explore the hidden Secrets of Nature :
And, by making Experience and Reafon go hand in hand, he not only

a exploded

Vi

PORYE FLAS TB.

exploded thofe groundlefs dogmatical Opinions, which Length of Time
had rendered venerable to Ages of Ignorance ; but likewife, by number-"
lefs Experiments, both fought and difcovered feveral valuable Truths $
which, like rich Ore, had been long hid under Rubbith.

Future Difcoveries will, no doubt, in fo. inquifitive an Age as this,
bring likewife to Light many Secrets of Nature, which even ftill lie hid
in Ob{curity: But, in order to be fuccefsful in fuch Attempts ; as the
Harveft is large, and the Labourers few, every Affiftance ought to be em-
braced, even from Men of no extraordinary Talents : Thefe, like Hewers
of Wood, and Drawers of Water, may be ferviceable. It may be, per-
haps, neceflary to premife, that we are not to expect the moft exact
Performance of this Kind to be in every Part equally engaging. The
hiftorical Defcription of a Country, like its natural Appearance, muft
needs be attended with Variety. And as, in travelling over it, we muft
climb high rocky Hills, and pafs through dreary Defarts, as well as open
Lawns, and flowery Meads; fo the Reader muft not always expect to be
entertained with beautiful Images, and a Loftinefs of Style. In Variety
of Subjects, this mutt alter with the Nature of theThings to be defcribed.

For Inftance: A pompous Stile and Language would ill fit a bare
Narration of Faéts, or the Defcription of a grovelling Plant. Upon the
Whole, that Stile or Method of Writing (as a great Orator hath obferved)
is beft, which reprefents the Subject in Words moft expreflive of their
Nature and Qualities.

As I have been obliged, in the Courfe of the following Treati z
As] be reatife, t

differ in Opinion from feveral Authors, I have Sdeh eee tolls it
without fupercilioufly condemning them, or, I hope, even leffening that
Benevolence which we owe to one another ; and which is the fureft Foun-

dation of focial Happinels.

The Miftakes of many Authors, who have treated of Places not “
feétly known to them, are almoft unavoidable; and will be alwa : fo
whilft they receive their Informations from Men, who have ae
Capacity to difcern, Judgment to reprefent Things in their proper Light ;
nor are ingenuous enough to relate nothing but Truth. ee

The Miftakes, therefore, of fuch Authors, are by n |
ne ,t o means th j
of Ridicule: Juftice, Good-nature, and Colour, ought e meee
infeparable from human Kind ; efpecially when we prefume to fit es
Judges upon other Mens Works ; left we fhould rafhly pronounce that a

Crime, which, at moft, was but the Effeé of too great a Share of Cre-

dulity: A Misfortune, which Men of the greateft Veracity themfelves

_ have been often led into.

Thus

Papoks be Fe Celk:

Thus the great Boerhaave, depending upon the Information of others,
hath been induced to believe the Barbados Green Tar (an evident bitu-
minous Foffil) to be an Exfudation from a Vegetable.

No Faults, therefore, of this Kind, are, juftly fpeaking, proper Ob-
je€ts of Cenfure, but thofe which Men wilfully commit, and, by pre=
tended ufeful Difcoveries, impofe upon the Public: Thefe, like falfe
Lights, or erroneous Land-marks, are of an heinous Nature ; rife into
Crimes ; and become gradually of a deeper Dye, as their Impofitions
upon Mankind are more or lefs of ill Confequence,

Nor are thofe Men excufable, who (tho’ in Things indifferent) love to
dwell upon the Marvelous; and either furprifingly aggrandize or dimi-
nifh the Subjeéts they treat of, juft as it beft fuits with their Fancy. Here
the Vanity of being thought fuperior to thofe who went before them, as
well as more learned than their Neighbours, hath a great Share. But the
thort-lived Portion of all fuch, isa flafhy temporary Glare of Applaufe ;
which, like Lightning, whilft it fhines, deftroys. In purfuing Fame,
they fly from Veracity, its beft and fureft Pillar; and, without which,
no Charaéter can be truly valuable.

How far I have myfelf obferved thefe Rules, and avoided thefe Faults,
muft be left to the Public to determine ; as well as with what Succefs I
have, upon the Whole, through untrodden Paths, purfued my Subjeét.
And, as this, in its different Branches, required Variety of Reading, as
well as Talents peculiarly adapted to each, the learned and candid Reader
will look upon any little Inaccuracy as almoft unavoidable, and there-
fore excufable.

This I can with Truth fay, that I have not reprefented one fingle
Fact, which I did not either fee myfelf, or had from Perfons of known
Veracity. And, as to the Arguments offered to fupport any {pecula-
tive Part of the Work, thefe muft ftand or fall by their own intrinfic
Worth.

AR GIEID

Vil

E, RR ATA,

AGE 6, Line x, for indabited read inhabited, In Note (8) for bign r. bigh. p, 36. 1. 1. for Lewcoplematia t, Leucophlegmatia. p, 67. in
“the Note, for Barbades r. Barbados, P. 89. 1, 26. after fometimes dele a great deal longer, p. 116, 1,27, dele equal before Knowlege,

. 118. 1, 22. for Ten Pints r. Ten Pounds. P. 135. dele very prickly, p. 142. 1. 10, dele aving never an odd one at the End, and after -

P. P. 145. after Bay-berry add Plate X *, Pp. 146. 1. 14. for Bee-qwood e,
Becf-wood, 1, 30. dyeing delee. —p, 159. 1, 14. for its white Flowers x. the Flowers which are white, . 166. 1. 2, 2. its Leaves which
are auriculated, 1, 4. dele as it were into Ears, P. 170. 1. 34, for Capfule x. Capfula. p, 171. 1. 33. for Kitifonia x, Kitifonia, Pp. 176.
Popo r. Papaw. p. 186, dele the Defeription of the Cochineal, Pp. 192. 1, 13, after
add they are then moft generally produced, P- 202. 1. 28, for on the Main x. on the Continent

nd.

of America, _p, 205. 1. 32. for allover t Wand t, in moft Parts of ¢

peculiarly x peculiar to it,

Pe P. Pp. 280,
B. 280. 1. 27. for Echinie x, Echint, 285, 1. 15. for Couzy x, Coury, p, 290. 1.27, dele PlateXVII,
P. 206, 1, 28, for Slippine/s x. Slipperines. 1, 36, for Slippinefs r, Slipperine/iy
: : eee if
| ‘The Bay-Berry Tree dclineated in Plate to, marked thus * is to be Paged 145. Plate 24, for Page 298. read 280, Plate ry. for Page
1352. read Page 152. The Sea-Eggs mentioned in Page 279, and 280. and faid to be in Plate 26. Fig. 1. Fig. 2. as well as the Plate Fifh,
jor the flat Sea-Egg mentioned in Page 280. and 281. and faid to besin Plate 28, Fig. 3. Fig. 4. are to be found in Plate 24. Page28o0, Page
{ 280, Tine 20. dele not after were. Page g- line 40. for auétiores read acutiores, In the Addenda, Page 2. line 27. Sor nals, read AAaess
\for mopque@-, read ropoupc@-. : :
| 6S The Reader is defired Uikewife to confult the Errata at the End of the Lift of Subferiers.

‘The following Names did not come in “Lime to be inferted in the General LIS T,

Henry Bellingham, Ej; Large Paper | Edward Mears, ‘Merchant, Smail Paper.
Edward Barry, 4. D. Large Paper. Edward Meade, Ejg; Small Paper,
Thomas Litton, £/7; Large Paper. Mr. Cooper, Small Paper.
Faithful Fortefcue, Eq; Large Paper. pave

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Drawn fiom an Actual Survey,
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EBxXxPTrTLANAT I ON.
7 Tipps ee eer
forts or- a |
| Plantations of greatest Note or | aH |
\| Sugar Works of threeWindmilld 3
6 efit Mild. di |
of one Mill So ee i enene tk inttien a ieeasie agin °
B. Plantations of lefs Hote .-...-—-----% |
g. Rockd under Water ,....---------------- x
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AProfpect of Bridges Lown, in the {fla
EEE BELLE

‘PH ED

Mand of BARBADOS.

As!

BOOK L

CELE greateft Extent of this Ifland is from Lat. 7A

Farr 0}
230 |

rd yous “Difference -+'-- 13 Min.

From Longitude Weft from London -'58 : 49 3
To Longitudes~- -.-- - == - 59: O2%
= Difference of Longitude 00 : 12+
«Its greateft Length from Goulding’s Green, in St.
Lucy's Parifh, to Ananias Point, in the Parifh of
(LMAO Sd gil Ue Mot s6eae Miles.

SCS t J Opie ie bh Reese im 13

Toi Liatheadew P eswried towed vail 2h

eo oe

principal pointes) a ee ae :3 Stat. Miles.
Its firft. Appearance from the Sea to the Eaftward, is fomewhat hilly to
the South-weft, and North-weft: more level. Its Surface generally appears
covered with a grateful Verdure, which, variegated with lofty (1) ‘Trees,
and large Buildings, affords many different; and thofe very beautiful Pro-
{pects. The higheft Part of the [land is arocky Cliff, in the Eftate of
Francis Vaughan, Efq; whofe perpendicular Altitude is 9 15’ Feet the ho-
ghan, Bigs whole perp 915 Feet, the ho
rizontal Bafe being taken from:High-water Mark. golommysct 3¢
bi » vbyolo mobist sg9l9 Bas uB af Among
4 \(@2)| By lofty, Trees, we'are to;underftand tholeichiefly which are planted near Dwelling-Houfes, generally
more for Ornament than Ufe. As for large Timber-trees, fo neceflary. to makerand repair the Sugar-Mills,
and other larger Buildings, wé are’ obliged to‘ bring thefe,” at a. great’ ‘Expence, chiefly from the Iflands of
St, Lucia, and Tobago.

2 The Natural Eiffory of the —- Book. I

Among many uncertain Conjectures, thofe who derive the Name given

to this Ifland, from the Portuguefe Language, are moft properly in the

Right ; for, as they were the frft Diftoverers of the Wi ofp-India Wands (if

not of 4merica ingeneral), it is not unreafonable to fuppofe, that they might

give this, and theneighbouring Iflands, a N ame analogous to fomething re=
markable in their firft Appearance’; and nothing of this kind could be

more furprifing to Luropeans, than'to fee the Shores thaded with a kind of
Fig-trees, differing from all other Trees in the manner of their Growth ;

for;. from their Branches hang innumerable fmall Filaments growing down-

wards, till they touch the Earthy. and: then take: Root. Thofe ThreadHike
Refemblances have-been’ called} byithe'Engh/b; from the Ait Settlement of

the Ifland to this Time, the Beards of ar oh ~trees ; “ap i all_P a
litythe’ Rogtvede mishdoribidall have the fame Kifior off ei/fte em-

be OE meandered eee ho une con-

Why called junctly, Las Barbadas, i. e. the Bear déd Tlands ; for Coufa Barbada in that
Barbadas, Language fignifieth an ie eae . And, when this Ifland ‘a
“be ighabiédib ‘the Hngli/bS ik ree ined-the general: ame eiveh fc Gil

° & the. Wibisy haa a AN RRR sehNe hekaee ie

The origi- Diftin@tion-fake, obliged to be called by different Names, __If we confult
nal Names “the mole antent Hiftoriess divine on h be we fhall find, that the Ety-

of Places may, i Hee XY e

expreflive ofpmology of the original Names given to

tien Na telative Meaning, expreffive of their Nature, Qualities,
wor Quulity.” "Thuis, vas carly asthe Time of Myet\owhen the '

ee t9 view the:Land._of Ganaan, had brought from thehge:

fo large, that they bare it between Two} when'the

of the Country; they; called the Valley by the Name

of the Bunch. of: Grapes; for fo the Hebrew Word j

An unhealthy Part-of Arabia was called by the H,

maveth, and by; the rabians Ses, Hadramaut

trance of Death... And in Genefis it is faid} that the

AD ne)
Dea e Herdimen of Geriar
did ftrive with:L/aac’s Herdfmen, fayingy' The Water is ours: And he called
the Name’ of the Well py Exek, i.e. Contention, becaufe they ftrove with
him, Innumerable are the Inftances which might be produced’ fiom feve.
tal Languages, efpecially fromthe Coltie'and: Greek,to prove that feveral
Words in thofe Languages are! adapted? to’reprefent and: be: expreflive’ of
the Subjects ‘treated of. : “A pueeeiwic:
‘The Works. of Homer are’ full! of Inftances of: this Kind 5: and, amon
- many. others, that might be produced, =the original Cele called’ the Sun
Titan 3 a Name. evidently derived frony Zi, a Houlks and Tan, Fite? whith
is, very fignificant of the Notion moft Eattern Natioiis had of that:Planét: :
fo, olf what shath ‘been obferved. of ikhilar Inftances and Examples have
-any, Weight; we may, from: Parity of Reafons be Rtished With’ the’ pres
fent Etymology of the Nante given to:thisTflandy and proceed'to bhferva:
«thatthe Atmolphere is, in general, feréne and clear, feldom cloudy ; aad

froma total. Ablence of Hail, Froft oF Show, it’ is: Hever Tiablet6 thor
omny and fodden Vicitfitudes” no lels common than. projudicial in iable
, ee Chinnates,

Bokl Sland off BARBADOS. 9

Climates, either to the Southward, or to the Northward, of the Tropics.

And fuch is the Serenity and Clearnefs of the Atmofphere, that the Air The lee
is, in general, very healthy: But what chiefly conduces to its Purity, is a a
the Regularity of theTrade-Winds, which, feldom varying throughout the oF a
Year, further from the Eaft, than to the Eaft-north-eaft, and confe-

quently paffing over a vaft Tract of Water of about 3127 Miles (for about

that Diftance from us, is the neareft Point of (2) Land on the oppofite

Shore), or were it only even what lies betwixt the Tropic and our Lati-

tude, it muft neceffarily blow upon the Ifland in cool refrefhing Gales.

It is likewife no {mall Advantage, or rather Happinefs, that we have
neither Bogs nor Marfhes, to ftagnate our Waters, which, being exhaled
into Vapours, might be pernicious ; nor large Forefts of Trees, which not
only prevent the Winds in their Paflage, but likewife generate moift Air,
caufed by the great Quantity of Vapours which perfpire through their
Leaves, as well as from the fhaded moift Soil: By this means the Inha-

_ bitants are free from the Fever and Ague, fo common to the Inhabitants
of uncultivated Iflands.

As it cannot be foreign to my Subje&, I beg Leave to offer a few pro- Arguments
bable: Conjectures, to prove that the Current of the Deluge, between the ane thie
Tropics, ran from Eaft to Weft. One Argument that may be offered to pene

rove this, is the fhattered Condition of the Eaftward Side of that Chain tnge, be-
of Hills and Clifts, which are as Barriers to this Iland, from Cuckold’ ser oe
Point, to a Place called Confet’s Bay ; for, as they face the Eaft, their torn ene
State, in that Part alone, and no-where elfe, fhews, that they not only, °°"
by their Situation, firft ftemmed, but, as they were higher than any other
Part of the Ifland, they wholly bore the repeated Percuffions of the Cur-
rent in the gradual Afcent of the Deluge, as well as, during the Conti-
nuance thereof, the Force of the Tides, until they were intirely over-
whelmed ; and even then, the higher they were, the nearer their Sum-
mits would be to the Surface ; therefore the greater Arch of a Circle they
would defcribe ; and confequently, they would be more violently preffed
and torn by the Water, than Places nearer to the Centre.

This is evidently feen from the boifterous Surface of the Sea in a
Storm, whofe Violence often wafhes, or rather tears off large Pieces of
Rocks, whilft, at the fame time, the tendereft Sea Plant, at any confider-
able Depth, is not difturbed.

From hence we may obferve, that by how much the lower the level
Land, and the Valleys were, than the Tops of the Hills, by fo much lefs
they were difturbed; and confequently, upon the Decreafe of the Deluge,
the fooner, and in greater Quantity, would the Dregs and Sediment
(which trailed gently along an even Bottom) fubfide and fettle: And
from hence, in part, proceed the different Degrees of Fertility in the Soils
of Hills and Valleys (3). Another Argument, that the Current of the In-

ry undation,

(2) Portaventura in Africa. (3) The very deep Soil of moft fertile low Countries, fuch as

Egypt, may be, in all Probability, primarily owing to the fubfided Feces of the Deluge.

fen ae - The Natural Hiftory of the ~ Book L

undation, in the Time of the Deluge, ran, ‘as above defcribed,. is the:
coping Figure of the Iland, from Eaft to Welt; for, if we narrowly and -

attentively: view the feveral gradual Defcents of fo many. continued Ridges
of Rocks, like Cafcades,, declining precipitately to the Weltward {for tn-
flance, that. long Chain of Hills, from Mount Gilboa, in St. Lucia’s Parith,

to the Black Rock, in St. Michael's Parith), we cannot well otherwife con-.

chide, from the deep Soil, on the Eaftward of thefe, where the Land is. .

level ; and from the ragged, and bare-wath’d Surface, ‘to the. Weft; bur
that the latter was thus torn by theViolence-of theWaters failing over theny;-

and the fornier, the Effect of the fubfided Sediment, upon. the Decreafe -

of the Deluge. The Want of fiich a Bed of Rocks; from Black Rock to

coe Aiine's Cafile, caufed that Chafm which opéns'to the Sea thro’ Bridge-
_. Lown, oppofite to the Valley of 5. George’s. What further confirms me -

in my Opinion, and. brings what I have firft offer'd, as conjectural, toa

" greater Degree of Certainty, is the Obfervation I made upon the ruinous.
' «Tops of moft of the lofty Mountains in Worth America, as well: as-dn-
_ England. - In thofe, Norther variable: Climates, Nature felt the’ univer-
_ fal Shock promifcuoufly on every Point of the- Compafs ; whereas our
~ Hills and Clifts, which extend along the Ealt Side of the Mand, difco- -
ver no Indications, on the Weftern Sides, of any Violence receiv’d, but. ae

what was naturally oceafion’d, by the falling off of the Waters, upon the =“) °
Decreafe of the Deluge. The Gourfe of fo many deep Chafms, or abrupt
Fiffures in the Earth (call’d here Gudlies) always running from Eaft to Welt,

is likewife an additional, and even an’ unanfwerable Argument in favour, _

_ of what hath been urg’d upon this Head: And, that thefe were origi- ©

nally the Effe& of the Deluge, tho’ fince much inlarg’d by repeated wri
_.. Torrents, will evidently appear by viewing the oppofite Sides of thofe’.

deep: Chafms in the Earth, where are to be feen large Pieces of Rocks, °° —
that appear to have. been once intire, but afterwards. forcibly torn.afun- |

_ der: And as thefe, divided Rocks are-often to. be found ‘near the Heads \.. Tsoe
_or Beginnings of thefe Gullies, where the greateft Stream of colle@ed. ”

-. Rain-water, even in the greateft Flood, is too {mall and weak to be the ©

~ Caufe of fo violent a Separation ; therefore we may, with great Reafon,
conclude, that this Difunion, and torn State, was effeGted by the Guirent «

of the (4) Deluge 5 and. that its regular Courfe, to. the Weftward, between

the Tropics, was but the natural Gonfequence of an (5) Eafterly Trade-

‘Wind, which guided and byafs’d its Courfe to that Point. Former.

Wee otte: Defcriptions. of this. Ifland begin’ with barely mentioning its Difco-

very of the

_ Wet-India very by :the Portuguefe, and. the Settlement. of the FE hij *
Iflands by. : ie REET: : : © Lngujb, there,
“the Prme in. the Reign of King Yames the Firft, in the Year “16 Pleated

Ee cakby the leaft Inquiry, whether. it had been ever before inhabited, ‘and: b
the Englip. whom. It is, indeed, faid, that fome of the firft Difcoverers of this.

_} Mand‘

. (4) This Opinion was confirm’d to mi ny tha ition: or fa Basia
Phylicin, late of this Mand. ns Coneurfent Conjedture of Dr. 1Yarrén. a very ingenious

(5) The Caufe and Nature of Trade-Winds are excellently explained by the great Dr. Halley,

Book I. Mand of BARBADOS.

Tine 3 found no Inhabitants upon att: Arrival. itvavan we ought
- not to conclude too haftily, .that. there never: were any, until what. is
“offered to’ prove the contrary, be» fully confidered, : I was, indeed; once
partly inclined to that Opinion, induced ‘to. “it ‘frond the. Remateaele of
this, from the whole Clufter of IMlands, viz. St. Lucia, Dominico, Mary-
Galant; Guardaloup,, St. Chri ipopher's, Antigua, and St. Vincent ; which.

Fu

_ Jatt, tho’ neareft, ‘is about. one Wandaets Miles . diftant: And on moft

r of thefe are’ in Sight of one another, they’ ‘are more convenient for mu-

tual: Commerce in’ Time. of Peace; and’ ‘Embarkation in Time of Wat...

And what gives feveral of thefe the ‘Advantage over this Ifland, with re-
“gard: to an Indian Settlement, is their-far greater Number of | open ‘Bays

and Rivers, ftored with Tortoifes, and. almoft. an * ‘incredible Plenty of

’ Fith. ) But as we have. late Inftances of their, coming hither from | -

» Sa Vir incent’ 3, in their {mall Canoes, or Perriawgets, even. for their Plea-.

_fure, I concluded, that: they. might formerly, moré probably, come for

their Intereft 5 efpecially at certain Seafons of the Year, when the Fifh-

ing, or Game, in the other ‘Tflands, Brew. either feanty” or By, by being .
too ‘often difturbed. »

'Phefe probable Conjectures, upon a : faecher” Ingiiiry, were, corrobo=

Fated by the Suffrage of many aged Perfons; fevéral of whom were be-
tween eighty and ninety Years: old, who, not only agreed in’ their re-
“ceived Tradition, that there were Talis formerly in this Iland, but like-
wife fome of them.added farther, that their frequent Arrival to, or De-
‘parture from it, was always in. the Wane of .the Moon, for the. Benefit of
Tight » Nights ; ; and that when a Difference arofe. between them and
; # ‘the Engh, ih, the Indians retired to their Faftneffes in the Woods ; and

that in their: Way. down to their Canoes, they would artfully hide them- ©.

* felves with Coverings of green Boughs, to elude the Search of the Exgiifh..

"Now, fince the Parents of thefe aged Perfons, who give this Account, . >

Weise cil ieaicte be old enough. to be Eye-witnefles ‘of thefe: ‘Things ; fuch, and a :
_ early a Teftimony, where’ they .had ‘no ‘apparent Tadneernent to deviate »

from the Truth, -muft, at: leaft; be allow’d to carry with it the ufual ~
_ Weight and Credit. in fie Cafes till thefe Conje@ures, ftrengthened a
» Tradition, and. confirm’ d by apparent, Fats, grow to fuch a Deere of.
Certaitity, ag to-leave every Doubt inexcufable. *

The Method: I thall take -to prove their former (6) Rehdense j in this

Ifland (which to: Pofterity may be ferviceable) will be to.make it appear, .

Beh That there are feveral Places, in this Ifland, called, to this Day,

after their Names. Secondly, ‘That in thefe ' very Places, there afe daily dug

- up.fuch. Marks: of their former Refidence, as were ' peculiar to Indians.

Thirdly, I fhall compare. thefe feyeral Bate ce: with thofe confefledly fa-

tisfactory one in. almoft pe Cat T pik he by obletvings that
“oh SD Ae

the °

(6) Tam iigendansd: in this fami: Digreffion from the Subject, a many Greek and” Roman Au- -
thors ; efpecially by the: ‘Example of ite Cafar, who, in his Commentaries, carefully traces the Origin,

ae 3 well as ceicriaes the > Magne and Cuftoms, of the different Heations whofe Porintries he treats of.

tat at ae Nor AS tea “ NEw
: od ase wien ¢

meee
*

6 0 Phe Naniral Hiflory of the . - Book :
the Indians, who inbabited this Mand; could; in‘all Probability (by reafon’

- of the great Diftariee from’the Continent), be’ no otliersthanColonies from.
-fome of the Leeward Jflands, molt probably from Sé. Vincentiss, Ste Ta 9.”

eo wad ‘or Tobago. From: either,o ‘ thefe,. according. to :their ‘Situation; with, oe
- .. ¢efpe€'to Barbados, -as well as with regard. to ‘a fafe Harbour, they muff, (~~. «
Reidone erprobably land ‘to the Weft ‘or -Weft-fouth-weft’ of this Mland. Accor bee ig
indians ink itp a8 Carlifle (7) Bay is the largeft and moft’ commadious “Harbour, . it pat
proved: is natural to fuppofe, that, they landed here, and madé-the adjacent Part. ° .",
_« of the Ifland their Place‘of Refidence:. sa Piaaey confirmed by) 0%
- the Buttings and’ Boundings’ of feveral Tenements near this Bay’; which, ~ ++,
sin very old Deeds, até faid to terminate at or within a. certain Diftance’ : :
_.. © from thé Indian, Bridge ; from which the great -Number of Houfes built... 5
; Bridge Teun about this Convenient’: Place, came foon afterwards to be’ called’ Bridge °° "33.
“ed... Tewn.* The above-mention’d Bridge’was placed over that: Part of* the © // 5» .°.
"feck, or narrow -Néck ‘of. ‘the .Biy,.- which’ divides:‘Major -Gidngy °°

Clerk's Houle from.Colonel: fohn Fairchild’s,’ The Neceflity. that the?)
| Indians, refiding’ onthe North fidé.of the’ Creek, were under to” mute’ acy yi 0".
Bridge (which in all-Likelihood’ confifted of no more tham-afew Trees, © .. +>
fell’d down, and laid acrofs this-Creek),: will appear; when we'éonfider, «. ° .:~
- that their beft, and almoft only Supply. of frefh Water, was’on thée-South.. ~~
fide of it, at a Place’ now. call’d Hlazinington’s Spring. aes eect eee 8 ey

‘The'next.-fmall Rivulet running tothe Sea-to the Leeward of Bridge’

Lown is.at prefent, as well as in many old Deeds, eall’d Indian River... Te.
was likewife at this Place that fome Indians, from St. Vincent's, landed, in’
or about the Year 1738, And as Indians are remarkably nice in chufing'a*.*’
dry healthy Situation, this, with fo few or no Footfteps of their long Abode ~

"here, gave me rom to’ believe, that they kept moving along: the Sea Shores". ° 7.”

.- fo long as they met with convenient: fifhing (8) Bays : “And as the laftof °°. -

_ ‘thefe, of any Note, to the Leeward ofthe Ifland, is: Six Mens Bay, and’. i¢) 6.

° ‘Rider’ s Bay, \et us but allow thefe-to. be then, ‘as they are; at \prefent, ‘agi 2. °°"
_* well ftored with Fith as anyother, and-we fhall foon Ax their Refidencé, © 3" S
fora while at leaft, ih this convenient-Place 3 for. thefe Indians (as:fhall. ° © *\.2.’

__ _. be prefently fhewed) were but’ ill provided. with, Tools. to fell Timber!) 9)!

_, This, join’d to their great Indolence, ‘caufed themto fearch (efpecially ins) 6

- wet Seafons) for their natural fheltering Place, the fitft convenient'Caves (°° S
and, as ‘there is ‘a very commodious one in ‘the Side of a neighbouring” Pes LL
- . Hill,called to this Day the Judien Coftle, and ‘almoft ina dire Line. * °° * «
“The Refi from Sixx. Mens Bay, and not above a Mile and an half off, in’ a’ pleafane i e6 7... ¢
Indians far- Patt of the Country, - it is'more ‘than ‘probable (efpecially as there was. | 2°
Be: ther proved. ? o, Ma sf S sabi 5 ee Ss ‘, oe ee 2 * ws ie sae : oe Pons
en eee 6 ae ere neato 8 ., bee « its : nee tag os NO ot i
' _ (7), This Harbour is call’d Carlife Bay,.'from‘a Royal Grant of this Ifland to-the Earl of Curfife> “The -
», adjacent Town, call’d Bridge Toi cov of about. belive Huitcned Hoates, all tailt oka Sane Pete Sw
» Brick, or Timber.. The other chief Towns are Speight’s Town, uftin’s' Town, and the lol Town. as 8h
°(8) As the Bays, near the Hole Town, were well ftored with Fith, this feemed to be their fécond Settle- :
ment from Indian River : But as it was neceffary, in ftormy’ Weather, to provide a Shelter higher upinthe © ° =.
"Country, T found feveral Remains of theit Abode, undet ‘the ‘Shelter of an high Cliff, in the “Eftate of | “++ Ai as

~

same 4
oe hel —_
ry ‘eas, Mee
‘

>
~

- on

| Samuel Barwick, Elq; deceafed.’ We are likewife informed by Tradition, that'five Indian. Wom oe
~* Promife of good Ulage from ‘the Hagiis, upon the Defertion of the reft of the Jadians, lived and'dite ig he. ee: se
"that Place 5.and, about twa Miles from herice, there isa Tract of Land called Lidian Wood,"or Indian Town... e

6S Ole yay owes er saat
. oe x C . a ut _
5 se “
ms a #5 Ae yd aa ~~ 23
Z pe” *
re *» ws >
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AWN

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y Hy +
C Rice sees : ee £ |
AAO OL eae ’ - 1
BABOON AIS LC SOR ace ae ee |
AS AAS INO ae a ce i
RAC ES Sea kee I
SAAN e SAS Gs Sees
SQ RACERS ES Wy
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SSS Ss SSS SSS .
ay > S=S—== s e «4
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4 *
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wee Near

“Bink ae Mand f BARBADOS

“no iced Bj inear, “anid 6 convenient), that ‘they fhould. pitch’ ‘upon. ie
bene upon feveral Accounts ° very. commepdious’ for; a as the: Mouth of it:
— the Weft;: vad, being ‘under the : ‘Shelter, ob “an Hill, was. : fecured »
| from ‘the Wirid and Rain; “and éven from Danger by: Hurricanes, and
os as ‘the® ‘Entrance, to. it is for fteep and.: ‘narrow, that,” upon Cecafion,* ‘one -
a ae “Man may: defend’ himfelf againft. an- hundred, ° it. may be: - juitly. cahet
: - their Caille,, ‘But what inade ‘this. Place: more complete: (and affords, I
hinkyas: -undoubted: ‘Pioof of theit Refidence here); is- an adjoining wey
=. Bottom whiere they: dug: a: Pond. “or Releivoir to hold: Rain-water 5:
we ° kis Place i ‘is, atid: hath: been, ‘fiitce the Memory. of: ‘the: oldeft’ ‘Neigh?
.bours alive,. ‘eall’d ‘the: Indian. Pind. “With. Part of the. ‘Clay. €9)s ), which.
* they ‘dug’ out, they; made “their Earthen-ware,. fuch »as Pots’ and: Pans ; ;

themfelves’ Gods; and: ‘worthiped : them. Among. {€veral * broken’ Fiage

-, © broken’ off; ftood upon an oval ‘Pedeftal above’ thiee Feet’in: ‘Height ;\ and
i 1. + ts) " deferib’ ‘din Plate’ .t. Pig: A “The. Heads of all: others. that cartie.
, x ». waited my Obfervation, were very ‘fmall: ‘One of thefe (which i is Becabede
ae “ * ain Plate. v: _ Fig: Ra.) ‘exceeds’ not in Weight; fifteen Ounces ; and: all, that
eae: ie have, ‘hitherto’ feen,:are of Clay buent. - Thefe Jeffer’ Adols were; in.all .

.-

en ‘. Biobability, their Péenates F made fhiall ‘for’ ‘the | Eafe: ‘and: Gonveniency ©
sae x of beisig ‘carried ‘with: them, in their feveral: Journeys 3 3 as the al Seip
Me aa y were perhaps: defigned: for fome ftated’ Places of Worhip. ter a:

Piri" The laft Proof of their. Refidence i in. this. Place,. ‘is aegreat ‘Number oi

=

and, like. the Idolaters of old; out of the fame» Materials they made’ to...

"ments, of Idols, -faid to be ‘dug up»in.this Place,- I faw, the Head-of One, Indian ee" : Sag
te which ‘alone. weighed. abovesaxty Pounds Weight. ° -This,- before. it was: eicovareds Shag 8

. * be
Re
:

as

oc pe
Be

a i os dick Stone. Hatchets and Chiffels, that are. here dug up: Thefe are re-... ie :
ep préfented: in’ ‘Plate : I, F.'3..4. and’ 5. The Ufe of: thefe’ (1, 6) Hatchets ; iniirbitthe
oth Sk and Ghiffels: was. iivall Likelihood to- cut: down ‘Timbér; to make. Huts, ae and Chit.

“where they: *had ‘not the Conveniency. of Caves; “as well as with’ the Help
2 cof ; Fire to- “fell: fome of: the: largeft ‘ ‘Kinds, to make‘ anodes,’ Thefe, I

> and then," with ‘their fecoping Onitels they, by Destees niade them hols";
‘ "st low. iste sth ry .

foe aa Having ioibied the Refidence i in ahs Place, it. tail: not be ‘trmaling

3, 'td thofe; who know: the roving: Difpofition of Indians, to: find, that*they: ..

: . moved. under the Shelter. of. ‘the Hills, and almoft always at’ ‘equal Di-’

. “ety ¢ flance fromthe Sea;" till they” came to a large convenient Cave,. iinder.an *

* Hill, called’ Mount’ Gilboa; inthe’ Eftate. of Colonel Toba: Pickering 3. e.

se where NE found, feveral’ of their broken’ ‘Images, Pipes, Hatchets, - ny

Hey © Chiffels: “And, fee this, and the: “before-mentioned Cave; were te

Z- SS 9 i55) as feveral

~ $ t
' oe es

ees 2-0) By the great” SNimbét of the *Rergaite: of Tadion Pat wilnss in , this and, and the» known Scarcity af
a tae in many, if not in. all. of the Leeward: Wands, Ti joa, no , BoUDe: but Dey were fupplied With...
ey, * Earthenware from hericé: y

of the-:moft fubftantial Infide.Part of a’Conch-fhell ;. others, of the hardeft common Stones’;. anda few; of .
* the cutting Sort of a Storié.of'an opake_ ereenith: Colour, Natiegatedl with feveral white Veins, fomewhat .,
sy geleetigg the SPPHERS Rule late: Th ww ae 5) eee <A :

ae aaa

eis “ ae ee Ye» : oe” Bee " re
- ~ a es ike. ee ee aie = See a Bee ‘ 5S!
er $ a ork Fe eg, he, oe ey eee eae tras 4

(10) some of the Hatchets, and a ‘great ‘Noahiber: ‘of the ‘Chie selpecially the: feoopinst ones,. ‘are eek dy uh

‘ Fa ee ‘after they’ were ‘roughly {quared, were half- burnt? with live Opals <* ¥ e: ee ‘

he: < a

{everal Reafons very convenient 3 + et there was one effential "Happinefs

wanting ; for, upon very, heavy: Rains, the Water in ,thefe artificial Ponds, :
being difturbed, became muddy:: _ And, .as their greateft’ native Luxury. .

_ (if it may now-a-days ‘be . fo called) was to. drink of ‘the pureft Streata, >

it. was natural and cuftomary for’ them ‘to ramble in. Search of Spring=: ».

Water, which at a little Diftance from ‘hence ‘they found.in the Eftate’.

* of. Edward Bonnet, Elgy “Here they fettled, near a {mall perennial Spring, -

_ which is the only one ‘for feveral Miles round it. . The ‘Situation of this” -_

- /-\ Place afforded another additional Conyeniency,, being, by the Goodnefs of:

the Soil, very proper to produce Yams, Plantain, and Banana Trees’; but. -
as there was no ‘Cave to afford Shelter, they were obliged to cut down |

b) ‘ ‘

_.,that there. are found, about this Place of their Refidence, fo many. Frag~

. © ments ‘of broken Hatchets, Chiffels, and. Pots... There are not only near L
--, this Place, but 'likewife at Maycock’s. Bay (11)... Yoan’s Hole, Cluff's Bay,
‘and near Scotland Church, as well as in other Places, many Tokens of .~

~ Timber to build Huts; and from thence, in all Probability, it-comes,

“yt pestteheir former Abode. “To this may be added, that there is a Tradition’ ~.

4

‘+ in’ a Family of Negroes, belonging to Thomas Tunckes; Efq; the An-. ES. &

‘eeftors of which. Family came over’ with the. ‘firft Negtoes that ever « °

~, came hither. from Guiney, that before the Country’ was cleared “from ae
An Lidian Woods, there. was an’ Indian Town near a “Pond, ‘in his: Eftatey in the.“

own.

and, when thefe Indians could not for a lon

Parith of S.Michael’s, ‘which Refervoir to this Day is called the Indian Ponds, ~

Bs.

- © Subjeétion by the WAires, the laft Attempt was fo vigorous, that it obliged

all the Indian Inhabitants. of. the ‘Town ‘to make their Efeape in their ©
“Canoes to the neighbouring Ilands; which: they all ‘didy except one ..
a _ Woman, and her Sona young Lad: « ‘The latter foon afterwards. making.
- +. chis: Efcape alfo, his Mother, ina hort time, pined to Death. Several.

«

| #-o:Earthen Veflels, ‘of : different Sizes, have been. dug ‘up near. the above-.. -
"|. mentionéd Pond, within’ thefe thirty Yeats laft paft: ‘Thefe were: ge-
~~ “nerally of a globular Figure, of a Slate: Colour, but very: brittle other=
_} wife, far furpafling the Earthen-ware made here by: Negroes; in Thinnefs,. “* -

2" dndian

‘Ware.

* Earthen- -

f Smoothnefs, : and. Beauty:

Let us now fum-up thefé Teftimonies, arid put the Contino vidint
'~ I have’ offered on this Head, upon.’ the Authority: of thefe Proofs. A
' for the firft Proof, that there are feveral Places inthis Ifland called-after

_ ‘their-Names } this, tho” the leaft, carries with ita. Degree of: Gonviction, *
+, which ‘cannot be well: gainfaid ; for, “who © will” pretend. to nite
ee’ (without -being led into:,the feveral: ‘Particulars of the: Hiftory of the.

» + Fimes): whether the Cele’ did not formerly poffefs and inhabit that Part: = <0°>.
» _ of France, called Armorica, when he. finds the moft. antient. Churches, att ght
and notable Places, retain: their. Celtic: Names to this Day ?. Or, what °-
~~. Sceptic: would be hardy enough: to difpute, -whether the Ums dug up’ a

: : ~ in England were not originally depofited. there by th Romans 2: “Such

«ihe

“ Fal hak
amoral:

. (11). There.is near this Bay 2 Very convenient. Cave foi Sheltdx in ftormy Weather. . ge
SE Ss REE CS Sg ae nee

ae, i.
a se

Le alee
eee a

eter hot mn bks
SN, Rs

g .time -be: brought into |

a, '. ip
© Bg dey

-pretend. to 'difpute’’ * ss

Book. land of BARBADOS. og

a moral Certainty commands the Affent of every unprejudiced Perfon,
The feveral Places in this Ifland called and fuppofed to be Indian Set.
tlements, confirmed by’ early Tradition, and further corroborated by
the Difcovery of feveral rude Idols, Hatchets, and’ other Tools, dug
up in thefe Places, different in Shape and, Subftance from thofe ufed
by every civilized Nation, and peculiar (after the Ufe of Iron was

' found by the more civilized) to Indians only ; thefe Things (I fay)

_ being confidered, and impartially fuffered to have their proper Weight; .
there. will, I believe, be very little occafion to multiply or add

"any further Arguments, to prove that: Indians formerly refided (for at
jeaft certain Seafons of the Year) in this Ifland. :

The Refidence of Indians being proved, it may be expected, that we

~ inquire into the Difpofition of the prefent Inhabitants. Of thefe it may The prefent
_be juftly faid, that they are generous and hofpitable, firmly attached in Beds
their Principles to: the prefent happy Eftablifhment, in Church and State.”
The Men have a natural, as well as, by the frequent Ufe of Arms, acquired Their Cha-
Bravery ; with no {mall Share of vufeful Learning, and Knowlege in Trade. oe
The Women, in general, are very agreeable ; and feveral of them might

~any-where pafs for Beauties. There are many Inftances of their prudent
Behaviour and Oeconomy, greatly affifting to improve a moderate, and

* zetrieve a broken Fortune. ore i } '

I muft here beg leave to endeavour (a Thing hitherto unattempted)

-to afcertain fome reafonable Caufe of that general Obferyation, that the
Inhabitants of hot Countries are of a more volatile and lively Difpofition,
and more irafcible in general, than the Inhabitants of the Northern Part
of the World. |» The former is evidently apparent from the more fublime »
Compofitions of almoft. all Eaftern Authors, their lively Imaginations (as a
learned (x 2) Critic hath obferved) tranfporting them, with incredibleWarmth
and Aétivity, from one Thing to another ; and thereby caufing them to

“overlook thofe Rules of Method and Connexion, that are obferved by
Europeans of a-cooler and more regular Fancy. Inftances of this we

_-have in the Works of Pindar, and throughout. the whole Book of Fob.
Nor is it with me a Doubt, whether different Climates may not caufe a
conftitutional Difference. Herodotus, as well as Cicero, was of this
Opinion. The latter fays, Videmus quam varia junt terrarum genera
.. .. ale que acuta ingenia kignant, alie que retufa : que omnia

punt ex cali varietate, & ex difparili adfpiratione terrarum. Cicero de
Div. .No. 79.

~ Idem de Fato, No. 7. Inter locorum naturas quantum inter fit videmus ;

“alios effe falubres, alios peftilentes. .. .

Athens tenue culum, ex quo auttiores etiam putantur Attici: craffum

Thebis ; itaque pingues Thebani.

And Horace, fpeaking of the Works of a dull Author, fays,

_ Beotum in craffo jurares. aere natum.

, Hor. Lib. If. Ep. I. 244.

D

But,
(12) Vide Dostor Hunt's Explanation of ob, Chap. vii. Ver. 22. 23.

i fe) The Natural Hiftory of the Book 1
But, without laying any Strefs upon: the above Inftances, it will not bg
very difficult to explain, in fome meafure, the Reafon of fo vifiblea con:
ftitutional Difference in the Inhabitants of hot and cold Climates. :

‘The confi. As (t3) Heat in the former rarefies and increafes the Velocity of the
fitional Dif’ Fluids, confequently the Particles of Blood, thus expanded, meeting in
the Inhabit- their Circulation (even in the iminuteft Veffels) no Obftacle from the
andcod external Preffure of Cold, nor any Languidnels by immoderate Heat, it
Climates follows, that as Health confifts in an equal Motion of the Fluids, and Re-

examined in

anew and ‘fiftance of the Solids, fuch an even Temperament of the Air muft

et “be more friendly to, and productive of, Health and Chearfulnefs, than in

Climates where often, by fevere cold Weather, the Globules of Blood
lofe in a great meafure their Motion, efpecially towards the Extremities
of the Body, where at fuch times they cohere in Mafies too large to pats
freely through the minute capillary Veffels. When this Harmony be-
tween the Solids and Fluids is difconcerted, then arifes, as Experience
teaches us, a fudden Senfe of Pain, which cannot be removed till the

Blood is, as it were, thawed by Heat, and fo recovers its uninterrupted

Motion : And tho’ we know not certainly how to define what the Ani-
mal Spirits are ; yet, on Suppofition that they are the moft refined and

ative Particles of the Blood, as they are with great Reafon thought to :

be, their pleafing, or painful, Influence on the Body muft, in a great
meafure, depend upon the regular or irregular Motion of their original
conftituent Fluid, the Blood : -Now, when this is checked in its Circula-
tion, either by a fudden Preffure of an heavy Atmofphere, or the Varia-
blenefs of the Winds from warm to cold; the Animal Spirits, which be-
fore were agreeably diffufed through the whole Body, by thefe fadden
{nterruptions in the Blood, their original Source, likewife become un-
able to perform ‘their Functions:; for, when Nature is impeded in any of
her Operations neceflary to our Well-being, whether natural, vital; or

animal, that mutual and infeparable Connexion. between the Mind and

the Body will appear fo vifibly, that if the latter be affe@ed with Pain, —

the neceflary Confequence of ObftruGions in the Fluids, the former foon
lofes that Chearfulnefs which is naturally lefs interrupted, and may be
_ better preferved, in Climates obnoxious to no fudden Viciflitudes of Wea.
ther, from moift to dry, from hot to cold; for an even Temperature of
the Air is‘beft adapted to fupport the (14) Body in that State which is

requifite -

‘This, in general, may be true, efpecially of thofe who are daily expofed to hard Labour, and confequently

fweat much : But, with regard to the white Inhabitants of this Mand, this fuppofed eigtiey is not fo great ;
i iluters of every

; ; f equal Degree of Heat
Cold, in a clofe Room, and a warm Bed ? However, it muft’ be owned, that fotalee Chindtcs So piss
Inconveniencies ; they are yery improper for thofe Conftitutions which Tequire much bodily Exercife 3 for

it

Book 1. Yland of BARBADOS.

requifite to the due Exertion of the Animal Occonomy, and confe-
quently, in fome meafure, of the rational Faculty.

Nor is the fudden Alteration, upon the Change of Wind and Weather,
peculiar to the human Conftitution alone ; for other Animals feel the
Viciflitudes of the Weather, efpecially in variable Climates. This is a
Remark as early as the Time.of Virgil, which appears by the following
Lines :

- . « Ubitempefas & cali mobilis humor

Mutavere vias, & Fupiter humidus Auftris

Denfat, erant que rara modo, & que denfa, relaxat.
Vertuntur [pecies animorum, & pettora motus

Nune alios, alios, dum nubila ventus agebat,

Concipiunt. Hine ille avium concentus in agris,

Ex lete pecudes, & cvantes gutture corvi. . Guo. I. 416,

But with the changeful Temper of the Skies,

As Rains condenfe, and Sunfhine rarefies ;

So turns the Species of their alter’d Minds,

Compos’d by Calms, and: difcompos’d by Winds.

From hence proceeds the Birds harmonious Voice :

From hence the Crow exults, and frisking Lambs rejoice.

Thus far have we briefly endeavoured to account, from the Nature of
the Climate, and the Mechanifm of the human Body, for that volatile
Difpofition, fo peculiar to the Inhabitants of hot Climates : That Irafci-
bility of ‘Temper, likewife, which is afcribed to them, is, in a great mea~
fure, the natural Confequence of the above-mentioned Difpofition ; for,
as Water that is already hot, will, with’ a little additional Heat, boil
over, fo when the Animal Spirits are in a high Flow, and the Will, by the
Propenfity of long-rooted Habits, unhappily affifts, and is bent to gratify
fome favourite Paffion, the Tranfition from a Degree of Sprightlinefs to
Irafcibility is natural and eafy.

If we purfue this Argument a little further, it will appear more con-
clufive by reafoning upon, and experimentally comparing the Correfpond-
ency between artificial and natural Heat, and their fimilar Effects upon
human Bodies.

This will, in fome meafure, anfwer to two different and oppofite Cli-
mates: For Inftance, If, in very cold Weather, the Inhabitants of far
Northern Countries drink fuch a Quantity of {trong {pirituous Liquors, as
will caufe a free Circulation to the Blood, before almoft congealed with
Cold, they will affume a fudden lively Chearfulnefs: Should they ftill

drink
it cannot be taken without Danger of being furfeited.; nor is it le{s improper to Perfons who labour -under
any Degree of Phrenfy or Madnefs, whofe periodical Fits, at the Full and Change of the Moon, return
here with greater Violence than in a cold Climate: Yet, tho’ we enjoy, or may enjoy here, in general, by
a regular Conduct, a more chearful Scene of Life, free from. the unequal Changes of Heat and: Cold ;°
yet it muft be owned, that we are, in a great meafure, Strangers to thofe invigorating Starts of Livelinefs,

ge me Animal Spirits diffufe thro’ the whole Body in moderate frofty Weather, and a clear Air, in
ngland.

igs

UG:

The Natural Fiiftory of the Book I.

drink on, they then hurry on the Blood, from a free to a rapid Motion :
And if thefe are the natural Effedts of {pirituous Liquors in a very od
Climate, what and how great muft they be in the oppofite Extreme r
For the Velocity of the Blood, occafioned by the Warmth of the Climate,
naturally attenuates and breaks the Cohefion of its Parts, hereby accele-
rating its Motion to fuch a Degtee, as to raife a more than ordinary Flow
of Animal Spirits : Thefe, in fuéh Cafés (as Experience teaches us), are too
often, in moft Conftitutions, accompanied with an uncontroulable Flow of
the irafcible Paffions of the Soul.

If we allow Horace to be a Judge of Nature, fuch frequent Obferva~
tions upon the Effeé of {trong Drink might give him the Hint to caus
tion us againft the Excefs of it :

Tres prohibet fupra
Rixarum metuens tangere Gratia.

Hor. Lib, II. Ode rg,

It might likewife give Birth to that frequent Cuftom of raifing Courage
in common Soldiers, who often want nobler Motives to heroic Deeds, by
giving them ftrong Liquors to heat their Blood immediately before an
Engagement, that, by the Affiftance of fuch a borrowed Flow of Animal
Spirits, they maybe the more refolute, and thoughtlefly ruth into the Heat
of Battle, and ‘there a@ with an Intrepidity fuitable to fuch dangerous
Circumftances ; for, as the fame Author elfewhere obferves,

Quis pop vina gravem militiam, aut pauperiem crepat ?

; Hor. Lib. f. Ode 18,
Who in his Gups can feel the Weight
Of Arms, or‘of a pinching State ?

Should the grave Behaviour of the Spaniards, compared with the Spright-
linefs of the French, who live in 4 colder Climate, be brought as an Ar-
gument againft what I have faid, it is eafily anfwered ; for perhaps the
too grave Behaviour of the one, and the too volatile Difpofition of the
other, may not be intirely conftitutional to either; for the one may be
partly the Effe@ of cultivated Levity, as the rigid Deportment of the

_ other in Part the Improvement of an affected Gravity.

But, however this may be, another very natural and very convincing
Reafon why the Inhabitants of fome of the very hot Parts of Spain are
more liable to be penfive, melancholy, and teyengeful, than others,
is, that the {corching Heat of the Sun is there of long Continuance :
And as Heat, in general, produces that Difpofition which is called bili-
ous, it increafes the oily Parts of the Blood, and renders them lighter,
and mote moveable, by leffening their Tenacity : Then the other confti.
tuent Parts become more piquant, and the Salts they contain are more
achive, in proportion as the blunting Oil is attenuated,

The

Book I. Jland of BARBADOS,

The greater the Heat, the longer it is continued, the more obvious
will its Effeéts be ; Livelinefs and Adtivity will be remarkable where this
Difpofition is moderate, as it isin the We/?-India Mlands, which enjoy
the Benefit of the Trade-Winds, and moift Vapours; but where fuch
Breezes are wanting, long-continued Heat, fuch as they feel in Spain, is
capable of abforbing every thin Fluid ; and, confequently, fuch a Difpo-
fition of the Juices inclines to Penfivenefs, Referve, and often deliberate
Revenge.

Add to this what I before hinted at, with regard to the We/-Indies,
that Habits, efpecially fuch as have been early indulged to our depraved
Nature, have a great Share in forming our future Condué in Life.

This leads me to obferve, that Children, in thefe We/-India Mlands,
are, from their Infancy, waited upon by Numbers of Slaves, who, in
their moft unwarrantable Condué& (unhappy for both!), are obliged to pay
them unlimited Obedience ; and as, in thefe tender Years, their natural
Appetites are flronger than their Reafon, when they have thus their
favourite Paflions nourifhed with fuch indulgent Care, it is no Wonder,
that by Degrees they acquire (unlefs happily prevented, or corrected, by
the good Examples of Parents, or Education) an overfond and felf-fuf-
ficient Opinion of their own Abilities, and fo become impatient, as well
as regardlefs, of the Advice of others.

And, as this is a Matter of Faét, unhappily verified by numberlefs
Inftances, it is not furprifing, if, in Minds thus early indulged in the Gra-
tification of their Appetites, and’ too often undifciplined by the Reftraints
of Education, we fometimes find the irafcible Paflion domineering, and
infolently triumphing, over Reafon: Nor can fuch an Influence be wor-
thy of Surprize, when we confider, that Habits and Cuftoms leave deep
Traces, and lafting Impreffions, upon the more folid Structure. of the
human Frame. :

_A notorious Inftance of this kind is mentioned by Heredotus, who fays,
that, pafling by Pelufium, where there had been fought, many Years patt,
a bloody Battle between the Perfians and the Egyptians, the Skulls of the
Slain, on each Side, being ftill in different Heaps; he found, upon Trial,
that a ftrong Blow could not eafily break thofe of the Egyptians, whereas
thofe of the Perfians, by the conftant Warmth of their Turbants, fcarce
ever feeling the Variety of the Seafons, were fo very tender, that they
did not refift the leaft Blow.

From hence Herodotus (15) juftly attributes the Hardnefs of the Eg yp-
tians Skulls to the Habit of that Nation, whofe Cuftom it was to fhave

E their

(15) Oddpa St piye cfov rvdiucv@ Re a Emxrxeapion BS yde ston mepinexupiioy yepls Exallepo i yah
wax Tastn wecevfov (xwels fF Way Mecréay entdJo Ta area, df ex mplorn xd] apXas, erépeods dG ae Aiyuafion)
ch fe PW Tepotev xcgaral ein acdevies ETH, wee, Gd Stres Ligo uérn Barser, Sie legviets* ade we Aiyorfior sre
Sire kguest, os psyis av rio rakes SrappiEciasr alziv Se rere Toe taclov (4 tue 7” Cuadiiws Eweiller) O76
Aly S70 jz airing dad masSiav oped uct, Evpcivlae res neqards, H mess # Urry mayurdjas 73 oreey" revTe JS
TET0 Hy TE Us) QuraKeERR, aA ridv Serr Atyurfiov 93 dv Tis traces iol]o garanghsadvlav dvOpdaroyy Teron je Ji) 7875
Ber abriov iqveds gopesiv Tes nepaads: Téiot de Tléponos OTs adevias goptyol, ati Tide oxintesgivos JE dpriie,
aides tidpas 7s gopsov]es. Herod. Thalia, Cap. XII. Edit. Gale. :

3

14 The Natural Hiftory of the Book L
their Heads often; and, by expofing them to the different Viciffitudes of
Wind and Weather, their Skulls grew to an extreme Hardnels. @
~The former Indians, and the prefent Englfb Inhabitants, being confi-
dered, it will not te here improper to take fome Notice of the Bee
and Difpofition of our Negroes, or black Inhabitants, employed ie cu os
The Num- vating our Land :'Thefe are between Sixty-five and Seventy thoufand, tho
ber of Ne- £.merly we had a greater Number: Yet we are obliged, in order to keep
groes in the Vi g .
Wand. yp a -neceffary Number, to have a yearly Supply from Africa.
~The hard’ Labour, and often the Want of Neceflaries, which thefe
unhappy Creatures are obliged to undergo, deftroy a greater Number
than are bred up here: Thefe new Slaves are chiefly brought from the
Their dif Kingdoms of (16) Coromantee, Angola, (17) Whiddaw, Ebo, and Anamabw.
tiveCoun- The farft of thefe, in general, are looked upon to be the beft for Labour,
Kien keing, in fome meafure, inured to it in their own Country. _
We have had likewife formerly fome Slaves brought hither from the
Tfland of Madagafcar : Thefe differ fomething from the Africans in the
Colour of their Skins, being not of a Coal-black, but fomewhat inclined
to the Tawny ; yet ftill a Degree blacker than the Indians.
It hath perplexed the Learned to find out fome natural Caufe of the
Negroes Complexion, fo remarkably differing from the reft of Mankind.
The black Some have endeavoured to account for it, from the intenfe Heat of
Colour of the Sun in thefe and fuch-like hot Climates: But this is fo far from being

Negroes

proved to true, that I have always obferved, that the Hair of thofe who are ex-
é no .
owing tothe pofed. to the Sun’s Heat, turns from a true black, to a brown reddifh

Heat of the Colour. As to the Blacknefs of the Negroes Skin, this reaches no deeper
than the outward Curis ; for, when this peels off by being fcalded, or by
any other Accident, the Part ever after remains white.

Neither can the extraordinary Curling of their Hair be owing to the
Heat of the Sun; for the (18) Indians have always lank Hair, tho’ gene-
rally expofed to its Heat.
As to the Stature and Make of Negroes, excepting that a greater
Number of them have their Nofes fhorter, and Lips thicker, than the
Whites, 1 never could find out any extraordinary Difference: They are
shape and generally ftrait-limb’d, which is occafioned, in fome meafure, by their

Stature of § i" i 6
Negroes. not lacing with Bandages their Children when young, according to the

too

_ €:6)° This Nation of Negroes, above all others, deprecate the divine Vengeance when it thunders.

_ (17) The Whiddaw and Angola Negroes are generally circumcifed.
«© (18) The Jndians, tho’ they refemble A4u/attces in Colour, yet they are a diftinct Race, and far from
deriving their Origin from a Mixture between a white Man and a black Woman ; for fuch a Mixture,which
are called Adu/atioes, hath always very curled Hair, the Indians always lank and ftrong. A AMulatto Woman
cohabiting with a d/ack Man, and the Children of thefe with Blacks likewife, their Defcendents, in three or
four Generations, will gradually lofe their Copper-colour Complexion, and Length of Hair ; the former
being almoft abforbed in the natural Blacknefs of the Negro Hue, and the latter lofes its borrowed Length,
becoming weak, fhort, curled, and woolly : Likewife, on the contrary, if a Mulatto Woman is married
to a white Man, and their Children continue to marry white People, their Complexion will be fo far bleached
in about fix or feven Generations, as to terminate in what we call in England a Nut-brown Complexion. A

| few Generations further will lofe all Diftinctions in Colour, and the Quality of their Hair ; fo that the Whites

the Tndians, and the Blacks, differ not accidentally, but originally and really: And therefore, as thofe
Men who pretend to account for the Origin of the Blacks, or Indians, -bring neither Proof nor Authority
to ftrengthen their Opinions, thefe muft be looked upon at beft but uncertain Conjectures.

Book 1. land of BARBADOS. ce

too ufual Cuftom of a few of the white Inhabitants here, as well as the
almoft univerfal Cuftom in moft Northern Countries, which not only
prevents the free Circulation of the Blood, but is often the Caufe of unna-
tural Diftortions of the Body.

The Negroes in general are very tenacioufly addicted to the Rites, Negroes
Ceremonies, and Superftitions of their own Countries, particularly in fronsly a4
their Plays, Dances, Mufic, Marriages, and Burials (19). And even er Sa
fuch as are born and bred up here, cannot be intirely weaned from thefe monic of
Cuftoms : They ftand much in Awe of fuch as pafs for Obeah (20) Negroes, gate
thefe being a fort of Phyficians and Conjurers, who.can, ‘as they believe,

not

(19) There are but few Negroes who believe that they die a natural Death, but rather that they are
fafcinated, or béwitched. The Bearers, in carrying the Corpfe of fuch a one to the Grave, when they
come oppofite to, or in Sight of the Houfe of the Perfon who is fuppofed to have bewitched the Deceafed,
pretend to ftagger, and fay, that the Corpfe is unwilling, and will not permit them to carry it to the
Grave, until it is fuffered to ftop near, or oppofite to, that Houfe : After this is complied with for a few
Minutes, the Corpfe is, as they think, appeafed, and then the Bearers, without Difficulty, carry it to the
Grave. If likewife, in digging a Grave, they find a Stone which they cannot eafily get out, they imme-
diately conclude, that the Deceafed is unwilling to be buried there ; therefore they dig elfewhere, until
they find a Place more propitious to the fuppofed Inclination of the Dead. Moft young People fing and
dance, and make a loud Noife with Rattles, as they attend the Corpfe to its Interrment: Some Days after,
efpecially on their Feafts, they ftrew at Night fome of the drefled Victuals upon the Graves of their
ceeeatea: Parents, Relations, or Friends. Something like this Cuftom was obferved by the Romans, in their
Feafts called Silicernia, at which Times there was a Repaft prepared for the Dead, at leaft in Honour of
them, and laid on their Graves. ‘This appears from the following Words of Ovid de Fa/tis, Lib. IL. 5339
&e.

Eft honor & tumulis. Animas placate paternas,
arvag; in extinétas munera ferte pyras.
Parva petunt manes. Pietas pro divite grata eft
Munere. Non avidos Styx habet ima Deos.
Tegula projeétis fatis eft velata coronis ;
Et fparfe friges, parcag; mica falis.

Tombs have their Honours too 3 our Parents crave
y Some flender Prefent to adorn the Grave.
: Slender the Prefent, which to Ghofts we owe :
Thefe Pow’rs obferve not what we give, but how: t
No greedy Souls difturb the Seats below.
They only ask a Tile with Garlands crown’d,
And Fruit, and Salt to fprinkle on the Ground.

(20) Thefe Obeah Negroes get a good Livelihood by the Folly and Ignorance of the reft of the Negroes.
I fhall here infert one Inftance of their pretended Method of curing the Sick, which was performed upon
a Negro Woman ; who, being troubled with Rheumatic Pains, was perfuaded by one of thefe Obeah
Doétors, that fhe was bewitched, and that thefe Pains were owing to feveral Pieces of Glafs, rufty Nails,
and Splinters of {harp Stones, that were lodged in the different Parts of her Body ; adding, that it was
in his Power, if paid for it, to cure her, by extracting thefe from her through her Navel. Upon the
Payment of the ftipulated Pramium, he produced his Magical Apparatus, being two Earthen Bafons, a
Handful of different Kinds of Leaves, and a Piece of Soap. In one of thefe Bafons he made a ftrong
Lather, in the other he put the bruifed Herbs ; then clapping thefe with one Hand to the Navel, and
pouring the Suds by Degrees upon them, he ftroked the Parts moft affected with the other Hand, always
ending towards the Navel: In a fhort time after, thrufting his Finger and Thumb into the Cataplafm of
Herbs, he produced feveral Pieces of broken Glafs, Nails, and Splinters of Stones (which he had before
artfully conveyed among the bruifed Herbs). As fuch a great Number extracted, was looked upon as an
extraordinary Inftance of the Doétor’s great Skill, he unluckily demanded a farther Reward than what was
ftipulated : But as the Woman’s Husband was one of thofe very few, who had no Faith in fuch pretended
Cures, being accidentally knowing in fome of their Secrets, inftead of an additional Reward, he made
him by Threats refund the Money he had already received, bidding him, if he was a Conjurer, find
out by his Art fome Means of getting it again reftored to him.

Their Method of clearing themfelves from imputed Crimes hath a near Affinity to the bitter Water
ufed among the ‘feos. In the latter Cafe, the Prieft took fome of the Duft of the Floor of the Taberna-
cle ; and, mixing it with Water, he gave it to the Woman fufpected of defiling her Husband’s Bed, faying
unto her, If thou haft gone afide to Uncleannefs with another, inftead of thy Husband ; then this Water,
that caufeth the Curfe, fhall go’ into thy Bowels to make thy Belly’to fwell, and thy Thigh to rot: And the
Woman fhall fay, Amen, Amen.- In like manner, the Negroes take:a Piece of Earth from the Grave of their
neareft Relations, or Parents, if it can be had ; if not, from any other Graye. This being murals rere

ater,

16 The Natural Hiftory of the Book I.

not only fafcinate them, but cure them when they are bewitched by ren
Their Su- And if once a Negro believes, that he is bewitched, the Notion is foftrongly
rftition, ay Pa 2 cae ine :
m" tiveted in his Mind, that, Medicines {eldom availing, he ufually lingers
till (21) Death puts an End to his Fears, :

The Capacities of their Minds in the common Affairs of Life are but
little inferior, if at all, to thofe of the Europeans. If they fail in fome
Arts, it may be owing more to their Want of Education, and the De-
preflion of their Spirits by Slavery, than to. any Want of natural Abili-
ties; for an higher Degree of improved Knowlege in any Occupation
would not much alter their Condition for the better.

That Slavery not only deprefles, but almoft brutalizes human Nature,
is evident from the low and abje@ State of the prefent Grecians, when
compared with their learned and glorious Anceftors.

Our Slaves, in their Mirth and Diverfions, differ according to the feve-
ral Cuftoms of fo many Nations intermixed : However, all agree in this

Their Cu- One univerfal Cuftom of adorning their Bodies, by wearing Strings of

ftom of — Beads of various Colours, intermixed fometimes by the richer fort of

wearing 5 : ot ee

Strings of Houfe Negroes with Pieces of Money. Thefe Beads are in great Num-

pee Se bers twined round their Arms, Necks, and Legs. This Cuftom is not

and Arms. peculiar to the Inhabitants of Africa ; for we find it by the moft antient
Account to be common in all Eaftern Nations, efpecially among the
Fewifb Women, as early as the Patriarchal Age: And their Fondnefs for
thefe Ornaments came at laft to fo great Excels, that we find it among
the Crimes reproved by the Prophet L/aiah.

That they were likewife in Ufe among the Greeks, is evident from a
Piece of Painting of above Seventeen hundred Years old, now in the
curious Collection of Dr. Mead, where the Graces are reprefented in a
Dance, having their Legs adorned with Bracelets, : iti

Thefe Slaves, in fome of their rude Dances to (22) Mufic ftill ruder,
ufe Gefticulations very unfeemly and wanton ; at. other times, they have

eu -a. fort
Water, they drink it, imprecating the divine Vengenace to infi@ an immediate Punifhment upon them ;
but in particular, that the Water and mingled Grave-duft which they have drank (if they are guilty of
the Crime) may caufe them to fwell, and their Bellies to burft. Mott of them are fo firmly perfuaded that
it will-have this Effect upon the Guilty, that few, if any (provided they are confcious of the imputed
Crime), will put the Proof of their Innocency upon the Experiment. This Cuftom, with the Ufe of Brace-
lets, and the Circumcifion of fome Nations of Negroes, are the almoft only Inftances of this kind, wherein
T find that thefe Inhabitants of Africa agree with the former ews, except that they likewife, in faluting their
Friends and Acquaintance, often call them bythe Name of Brothers: This feems to be analogous -to the
Cuftom of the antient Fews, who included Confanguinity, as well as Fraternity, in that Relation, We are
Brethren, fays Abraham.to Lot ; whereas he was only his Nephew. So Facob told Rachel, that he was her
Father’s Brcther. ‘The wearing of Ear-rings among the richeft of the Negroes, is likewife agreeable
to the Cuftoms of fome of the antient Fews and Carthaginians : The former we find breaking their Far
rings to make the molten Calf: and Plautus, in his Play called Penulum, taking notice of fome Ge
thaginian Slaves, fays, that their Hands fhould be without Fingers ; one would think, becaufe they wore their
Rings, in their Ears Re ep a O
(21), When thefe Negroes die a natural Death, or efpecially when they deftroy themfel i
that they fhall return to their own Country. It would be too grofs to patie Ghee they bee i Beal
and to live there in their mortal Bodies : Therefore. we muft conclude, that they have fome Notion of th
Immortality of the Soul ; and what they mean by their own Country is, that they fhall, after this Lif .
enjoy the Company of their Friends and Relations in another World. rae “Ke,
(22) The Inftruments they generally make ufe of in their Dances, are a Banjau, a Gambay,.and a

Drum, which they likewife call a Pump. ‘The latter is made of an hollow Trunk of
Feet high, and about a Foot in Diameter, the Dimenfions of the Whole, more or et ees phon Np

over

Book L Lland of B AR B A D O S: Lz

a fort of Pyrrhic, or a Martial Dance, in which their Bodies are ftrongly
agitated by skipping, leaping, and turning round,

Since I have made this Digreffion to treat of the Manners and Cuftoms
of thefe Negroes, it may perhaps be expeéted, that I fhould confider the
feveral Arguments for and againft making our Fellow-creatures Slaves.

But, without engaging in a Controverfy foreign to my Defign ; If we
agree with the Civilians of the moft polifhed and learned Nations, shavery con-
they are of. Opinion, that the Power of making Slaves is, and hath aia
been, a natural Confequence of Captivity in War. As to the Slavery of
thefe African Negroes, this Hardfhip is not fo unfupportable to them ; for
they are very little better than Slaves in their own Country.

However, I will not prefume to determine how defenfible this Cuftom
may be under a Chriftian Difpenfation ; but thus far may be faid, in
favour of it, that by the beft Accounts we have from the Coaft of
Guiney, antecedent to our. purchafing any Slaves, the feveral different
Nations were fo very favage and barbarous, that they were at continual
Wars with one another, and the greateft Mercy that was fhewn to the
Conquered was to be put to fudden Death. Hence the Trees along the
Sea-Coafts were daily to be feen horribly adorned with the Limbs and
Heads of their vanquifhed Enemies. ’

Upon the Truth of this Suppofition, proved by repeated credible At-
teftations, that thefe_4fricax Nations were, and are, fo inexorable to their
Captives taken in War, will it not, with the fevereft Cafuift againft the
Purchafe of Slaves, be of fomeWeight to confider, that if they are bought,
and tranfported into Chriftian Settlements (without laying any Strefs upon
taking away by this Means the Guilt of Murder from their Conquerors,
or the Benefit that arifes to Mankind from their Labour), at leaft a few,
among many Thoufands imported, may probably come to a better Know-
lege of their Duty to God and Man.

I barely mention this Argument, and leave it to ftand or fall by its own
Weight : Though to bring thefe in general to the Knowlege of the Chri-
ftian Religion, is undoubtedly a great and good Defign, in Intention
laudable, and in Speculation eafy ; yet I believe, for Reafons too tedi-
ous to be mentioned, that the Difficulties attending it are, and I am
afraid ever. will be, unfurmountable.

The only Happinefs, even in Temporals, that thefe poor Creatures meet
with, is when they fall into the Hands of Mafters influenced by the Prin-
ciples of Humanity, and the Fear of God: By thefe they are treated
(though often their ill Behaviour deferves the contrary) with great Lenity.
So true is the Saying of the Poet, in the moft literal Senfe :

F ---Ingenuas

over with a Goat’s or Sheep’s Skin. Jfdore, in his Origines, defcribes the Symphonia to be hollow like
a Drum, and covered with Leather, which was beaten, or played upon, with a Stick or Quill.

From hence we may conclude, that the laft-mentioned Inftrument, in Ufe among our Negroes, hath a
great Refemblance, if it is not the fame, with the Symphonia of the Antients ; for this W</f-Jndia Inftru-
ment is always played upon with a Stick, or the Fingers.

18

Their Igno-
rance in
Religion
compared
with fome
other Na-
tions,

The Natural FHiiftory of the Book. I.

~----- Ingenuas didiciffe fideliter artes

Exmollit mores, nec finit effe feros. ae
eee | Ovid. de Ponto, II. 9. 47-

T’ imbibe foft Arts, and yield to Learning’s Sway,
Soon wears the Edge of Savagenefs away.

On the other hand, when they are fo unfortunate as to have Owners
unpolifhed in their Manners, and infatiable of Riches (who, like the
Egyptian Tyrants, require Brick without Straw, or, more literally, exa&
fevere Labour from an hungry Belly, or a naked Back), they have f{carce a
Gleam of Reft from hard Toils, and heavy Stripes, but whilft Sleep, with
its fhort Interval, eludes the painful Scene, which muft again be renewed
with the returning Dawn.

- Such Task-matfters (23) confider not, that Compaffion to the Mifera-
Ele is a juft Debt ; and that this humane Difpofition, as Cicero juftly
obferves, is not the Inftitution of worldly Policy, is not the bare Effeét
of any particular Cuftom, but the univerfal Voice of Nature, whofe
Dictates the Brave, the Generous, and the Good, in every Age, and in
every Nation, hear and obey: For, although God fuffered the Children
of I/rael to be made Slaves in Eg ypz, till fuch wholfome Severity recalled
them to their Duty ; yet he brought Plagues upon the Eg yprians for their
Cruelty and Inhumanity towards them.

The obvious and natural Inference that we may and ought to draw
from fo many complicated Scenes of Mifery, in the Condition of fo
many Thoufands of our Fellow-creatures (who are continually liable to
the Infults of the Imperious, and the Lufts of the Debauched, and whofe
own and their Childrens Childrens inceffant Labour will never be at an
End, but with their Lives), is gratefully to acknowlege the Happinefs of
living where neither our Lives nor Fortunes are at the Mercy of any
tyrannical Oppreffor.

How happy, I fay, are we, when compared with the feveral Nations
above-mentioned, whofe Ignorance in all Knowlege about Religion is fo
great, that, in their original native Country, their Adoration is often
paid to Grocodiles, Rivers, Snakes, and certain coloured Fowls !

Howfoever ridiculous the Cuftom of the Eg yptians may appear in
worfhiping Beetles and Crocodiles, yet there is fome Shadow of Reafon
at leaft of Excufe, to be given for this their Extravagancy ; for, as fhe
Paflion of Fear is almoft univerfally predominant, as thefe Beetles came
fome Years in great and numerous Swarms from Affyria into Egypt, and
almoft.

(23) It feems by the following Paffage from Florace, that the Treatment of the Romans of their Slaves

was not lefs fevere, than that of the prefent Age ; for the Poet, puttin, Mena, P, A
mind of his former Slavery, defcribes him thus : at z Hehe Freed-man, ie

Tbericis perufte funibus latus,
Et crura dura compede. Hor. Epode 4.

Book I. land of BARBADOS. 19

almoft covered the Face of the whole Land, and, like their kindred
Locufts, devoured every green Thing; and as the Crocodiles proved
often very deftruétive to their Herds; the Egyptians therefore built Tem-
ples and Altars to thefe, and worfhiped them, in Hopes, that either they,
or the fuppofed Deity, who prefided over them, would be more propi-
tious, and lefs hurtful, to them for the future.

It was upon the fame Principle that the polite Romans deified Fevers,
and dedicated Temples to them. But it is hard to conceive, that there
was any Good to be hoped, or Evil be dreaded, from an harmlefs black
Snake, which was one of the Objeéts of Worthip among thefe Slaves, or
from a parti-coloured Fowl, which was never thought by any other
Nation to be even ominous, much lefs to have Qualities that would
render it, to a reafonable Creature, the Object of divine Worfhip.

Here we fee the Effect of unaffifted Reafon ; and that it cannot, to the
Bulk of Mankind, under fuch Circumftances, be a fufficient Guide to a
reafonable Service towards God..

Indeed, fuch a Religion is fo void of improved Reafon, and {pecula-
tive Thinking, that it furpaffeth the groffeft Apoftafies of the’ Jews, in
their Imitation of the Egyptians, Syrians, and (24) Phanicians, fo much
complained of by the Prophets J/aiah and Exebiel.

From the Difpofition and Manners of the Inhabitants, the next Thing The Nature
that will naturally fall under our Confideration, will be the Nature of the°! %* 5°!
Soil. ‘This chiefly is black, in low deep Lands, in fhallower Parts fome-
what reddifh, on the Hills frequently of a whitith chalky marly Nature,
and, near the Sea, generally fandy. F

By fuch Variety, Providence hath wifely adapted different Soils to the
different Nature of the feveral Kinds of Trees, Shrubs, and Plants.

1 rt ts, Where

(24) Thefe, among the many Apoftafies of the J/-aelites, mentioned by the Prophets, ‘are elegantly de-
feribed by the great and ingenious Mr. Adi/ton, who, {peaking of the Egyptian and Syrian Idols, fays, j

For thofe the Race of Mrael oft forfook

Their living Strength, and unfrequented left
His righteous Altar, bowing lowly down

Lo beftial Gods ; for which their Heads as low
Bow’d down in Battle, funk before the Spear
Of defpicable Foes. Wath thefe in Troop

Came Afhtoreth, whom the Pheenicians cal’'d
Aftarte, Queen of Heav’n, with crefient Horns ;
To whofe bright Lmage nightly by the Moon
Sidonian Virgins paid their Vows and Songs :
In Sion, alfa, not unfung, where flood

Her Temple on th’offenfive Mountain built

By that uxorious King, whofe Heart, tho’ large,
Beguil’d by fair Idolatreffes, fell

To Idols foul. Thammuz came next bebind:
Whofe annual Wound in Lebanon allur’d

The Syrian Dam/els to lament his Fate

In am’rous Ditties all a Summer’s Day ;

While fmooth Adonis from his native Rock

Ran purple to the Sea, fuppos'd with Blood

Of Thammuz yearly wounded : The Love-Tale
Infected Sion’s Daughters with like Heat ;
Whofe wanton Paffions in the facred Porch
Ezekiel faw, when, by the Vifion led,

His Eyes furvey’d the dark Idolatries

Of alienated Judah, ——— Paradife Loft, Lib. I. Ver, 432.

20-

Ti he Natural Hiftory of the Book I.

Where the Soil is black, as it imbibes the Rays of the Sun, and
refle&ts few or none, there the circumambient Air is not near fo hot as
where the Soil is fandy, or gravelly ; for moft, if not all Bodies, reflect
the folar Rays, in proportion to their refpective Denfity and Smoothneds ;
fo that by how much the more folid and polifhed the Particles of a fandy
or gravelly Soil are, than black Mould, by fo much the more intenfe
will the Heat of their Reflexion be. <i

It is owing to thefe refleéted Rays, and the Want of Moifture, that the
Blades of Canes, as well as other Plants, are more apt to fcorch in fandy,
or gravelly, than in a black Soil: And, as the Fertility of this, as well
as others of the #¢/-India Ilands, depends upon {eafonable Rains, the
long Chains of (25) Hills, interfperfed with deep Valleys, are therefore
providentially fituated to the Eaftward of fome Parts of the Iland, to
intercept the Clouds and Vapours: For, if the Wind, at Eaft, drives
before it even a thin fcattered Cloud towards the Welt, this, as long as it
is not augmented. by adventitious Exhalations, will hover in the Air ; but
as foon as it comes oppofite to,, and as low as thefe Hills, the impelling
Force of the Wind at Eaft, and the Refiftance of the now clofe oppofite
Hills will compel thefe thin watry Veficles to coalefce and affociate into
Drops ; by which means this thick Collection of Water becomes fo denfe,

‘that its Gravity is greater than the Strength of the Air in that Situation

can uphold, and it defcends therefore in refrefhing Rain ; but, when the
Colleétion of Vapours is not fo great as to form Clotds, and if thefe are
not raifed before the Cold of the Evening above the Height of the Hills
and Clifts, being then deftitute of their chiefeft Caufe of Expanfion, I
mean the Heat of the Sun, they then are compreffed, and defcend in foft
Mifts upon the Earth ; yet in far greater Quantity, for the Reafons above-
mentioned, upon the Sides of thefe refifting Hills to the Eaftward. It is
partly from hence, and not intirely, as fome imagine, from the fuperior
Excellency of the Soil, that particular Parts of Sz. Fofeph’s and St.
Andrews Parifhes yield a more certain, and often better Increafe, than
moft other Parts of the Ifland.

This is fo remarkably true in general, that it hath been obferved, that
as long as the Wind blows oppofite to one Side of the high Mountains,
near the Ganges, they have no Rain on the other Side, the Clouds being
intirely broken by the Refiftance of thofe very high Hills. And, as the
Winds in and near England blow near half the Year from the Weftward
Points, it muft follow, that the Clouds and Vapours are, in a great mea-
fure, carried that Way : If thefe, as in England, are in their Courfe inter-

cepted

(25) That a long Chain of Hills is very ferviceable to intercept the Clouds and 7
early as the Time of A%o/es; for, in his Defcription of the Lana Canaan, he ee eae aE
Yael, The Land whither thou sf in to poffefs it, is not as the Land of Egypt, from whence ye came out, wh :
thou wateredft thy Seed with thy oot, as a Garden of Herbs ; i.e. In Egypt (as the learned Dr. Shane Here
Travels, obferves) the Zgyptians, for want of feafonable Rains, were obliged to water their Grou a a
artificial Canals, which received the Waters upon the Overflowing of the Nile. But the Land hie is b
2 Poff ike a soe of jee a oa bik a peal Water of the Rain of Heaven; a Land Me bab

ora thy Goa careth for: The Lyes of the Lord t, od are always upon it fr SH of Bian fi
the End of the Year. Deut. xi. 10, 11, 12. ys upon it from the Beginning of the Year even unto

Book I. Iland of BARBADOS, | 24

cepted by high Hills, they become more denfe, and confequently break into
Rain or Mift. If they meet with little or no Refiftance, many of thefe thin
fcattering Clouds pafs over an open champaign Country. It is, I believe}
owing to this chiefly, that Picardy in France is lefs fupplied with Moifture,
and confequently wants that grateful Verdure fo remarkable in Exgland. -

That thefe Hills are ferviceable in ftopping the flying Clouds from High Lands
paling over the Ifland, is what is daily confirmed by Experience ; fore meee
that Part of the Ifland called The Thickets, in St. Philip's Parith, being Clouds.
low Land, and having no Hills, nor high Clifts to the Eaftward, to make
any Refiftance to thefe Clouds, is often fcorched with great Drought, ©
when the middle and more hilly Parts of the Ifland are replenifhed with
Rain.

It muft not from hence be concluded, that fuch Countries are intirely

deftitute of Rain, becaufe they have no Hills or Clifts to the Eaftward.
I mention thefe only as Helps, to prevent fome low Clouds and Vapours
from pafling over them ; for, if the general Caufe of the Defcent of Rain
was the Refiftance made by the Hills and Mountains, there would be
little or no Rain at a great Diftance from Land, which we are fure
there is.

It will likewife perhaps be furprifing to thofe unacquainted with the
Nature of the Soil of fome Parts of this Ifland, to hear, that in the moft
hilly, which is called Scotland, confiderable Quantities of Land fhould
tun away (as it is here termed), and become Part of a neighbouring Eftate.

Sometimes large Pieces of Ground planted with Canes, and even The Soil in
Land with Plantain and Banana Trees growing upon it, have flid down riny See

to the Valleys from the Sides of the Hills. This happens in very rainy flides ee
Seafons ; for, as the Soil upon thefe Hills is commonly not above Hight ae sie ies
or Nine Inches deep, and of an oozy and foapy Nature underneath, it meetaneye
eafily feparates from the next immediate Subftratum,- which is of a flip-
pery Chalk, flat Stones, or loofe Gravel.

When the Soil flides in large Pieces, its Motion is lefs violent, than
when it is confined in narrow Chafms in the Meeting of two Hills, efpe-
cially if the Situation be very fteep ; for there the Colle@ion of Water
being confiderable and heavy, inftead of gliding {oftly between the two
Strata, it breaks out in different Places at once, and then runs down the
Precipice a mingled Torrent of Earth and Water.

A remarkable Inftance of this kind happened fome Years ago in S¢.
Andrew's Parith, where a large Garden, the Soil of a Potato-Garden,
with its growing Produce, flid from the Side of a neighbouring Hill, and
tichly covered the next Neighbour’s Land, fituated in the Vale below.

Another Inftance, fimilar to this, happened at an Eftate, now in the
Poffeflion of the Reverend Mr. Reynold Fofer, where the greateft Part of
a poor Tenant's Land, with all its Produce growing upon it, firft cracked,
and then flid over the Clifts into the Sea ; but during the long Continu-
ance of the fame Rain, in a few Hours afterwards, the adjoining Land of

G Mr.

22 | The Natural Hiftory of the Book I.

Mr. Fofter, being then planted with Canes, came tumbling pe, and
richly fupplied the Place of the Soil fo lately wafhed off, and there re-
mained. :
The Violence with which the Land moves at fuch times, may be guef-
fed at likewife from the following Inftance : A Cabbage-tree, of about
Thirty Feet high, moved Roots, Soil, and all, feveral Feet from the Place
where it grew; it moved in an upright Pofture, and remained fo upon
the Settlement of the Soil, and continues to this Day to grow and flourith.
This Tree is to be feen at Banana Hole, an Eftate in Sz. Fo/eph’s Parifh,
belonging to Mrs. Warren, at the Black Rock.
However fertile thefe hot Climates are, if refrefhed with feafonable
Dews and Rains, and with the warm enlivening Rays of the Sun; yet it
will {carce appear credible, at leaft to the Northern Inhabitants of the
World (where the Vegetable Creation languifhes for near half the Year ;
and, when the Sun fheds its benign Influence, is comparatively weak and
faint), that in an Ifland, containing not above 106470 Acres of Land,
there fhould ever have been near 70,000 b/ack, and 30,000 white Inha-
bitants ; though at this Time, indeed, as I have obferved before, th
Number is not quite fo confiderable.
The reat What I fhall add will ftill appear more incredible (though upon good
i Axe) ° ° 7
the Land, Grounds I affirm it); That if all the Valleys, and other Places fhaded
from the Wind, were to be planted with Plantain, Banana, and Caffado
Trees, and the open level Land with Yams, Potatoes, Eddoes, Corn and
Pulfe (efpecially Pigeon-peas), and a fufficient Number of Cattle was
kept to provide Manure, this fmall Ifland alone, without any foreign
Affiftance, would, in feafonable Years, produce a Sufficiency of fuch
Food to maintain more than the (26) Number of its prefent Inhabit-
ants. ; i
abe pune From hence we may learn not to wonder at, nor disbelieve what is faid
of the Chil. in Scripture of the Fertility of the Holy Land, and the numerous Armies
ore ee brought into the Field by the Children of I/rac, Though their fettled
ble. Kingdom from Dan to Kade/b, upon the Northern Boundaries of Arabia
Petra, wasnot above One hundred and Twenty Miles long, and in Breadth,
from
(26) Romulus allowed every Roman but Two Acres of Land (which were much lef than th i bs
fure) in even a Winter Country. How much more fruitful an ee in this Ifland is, hanes
will appear by the following Calculation : An Acre of Land defigned for Yams hath generally three thoufand
one hundred Holes dug in it. This planted in the Beginning of July, with Five hundred Weight of {mall
Yams, _ will come to their Maturity, and be fit to be dug up the latter End of December or th
Beginning of ‘Zanvary, and will yield Two Pounds and Three Quarters Weight of Yams from every Hol :
‘This is a Computation fo very fmall, that the Inhabitants often dig Four, Five, or Six Pounds, more a whic
Ihave mentioned: However, by this very low Calculation, anAcre.thus planted (befides the fmall Yam ie
Seedlings, equalling the Weight of what was planted) will produce a Sufficiency for Five Men a hole
‘Year, allowing each Man Four Pounds of this kind of Food a Day ; fo that Twenty-feven thoufand A aK
*of the prefent beft Cane Land, planted in Yams, would produce yearly a Sufficiency of this kind sae
above Allowance, for One hundred and Thirty thoufand Men, which is above the Number of its mitre
Inhabitants. After the above-mentioned Quantity is fubtracted from the Whole, there will remai S pene
nine thoufand Four hundred Acres, which (except what the Buildings, Orchards, and other Conk eventy-
take up) may be planted, fome in Corn and Pulfe, and the reft left for Pafturage, which ‘Guanticy willie
more than fufficient to raife Cattle for Manure, and other Ufes : Befides, there might be Taifed Be tHe

moft barren Part a great Number of Sheep and Goats ; and the whole Land, th: i
would be open for other Provifions, fuch as Potatoes and Pulfe, for above Six Months Ay ie auel aed

Book I. land of BARBADOS.

from the Mediterranean Sea to the Defart on the Eaft, about Eighty ; yet,
when Yoab numbered the Children of I/rael, they were found to be
Thirteen hundred thoufand fighting Men, befides Women and Children.

The great Fertility, and prodigious Growth, of Vegetables in warm
Climates, when compared with the Northern Parts of the World, is
almoft incredible ; at leaft, it will appear to be fo to thofe who are unac-
quainted with the Nature .of Vegetation. \

This will be made more evident, when we come to defcribe the Plan-
tain-tree, and the great American Aloe; nor will it be le& agreeably
furprifing to find, that thefe hot Climates are far from being uninhabita-
ble ; for the Heat is daily cooled by the conftant Breezes of Wind, which
at the Sun’s firft Rifing gently fan the Air, and increafe in Strength in
proportion to the active Influence of the Sun’s Heat, till towards Even-
ing, when the folar Heat is abated, thefe refrefhing Gales, generally fpeak-
ing, die away.

The Conftancy, Regularity, and Gentlenefs of the Wind, efpecially in
what we call the Winter Months, the Serenity and Clearnefs of the Air,
the continued Verdure of Trees, diverfified with Variety of Objects of
Art and Nature, all terminating in and furrounded with the Sea, may
be compared, with fome {mall Allowance, to Homer’s beautiful Defcrip-
tion of the Plains of Memphis, near the Acherufian Lake.

: ”
Ou mgelos, ux” ctp sete morus, bre el onp@e*
"AAW ater Zepupoto Aujuaverovlas anras
> \ Suen b > t ? ‘
Queavos avinaw averveey cvbpaaouse

Stern Winter fmiles on that aufpicious Clime > ~

The Fields are florid with unfading Prine.

From the bleak Pole no Winds inclement blow ;

Mold the round Hail, nor flake the fleecy Snow :

But from the breezy Deep the Bleft inhale
The fragrant Murmurs of the We eftern Gale. Pops.

The beautiful Profpeéts from feveral Hills to the Vales below, efpeci-
ally from the Top of a {mall Hill, near the Honourable Fobn Dottin’s
Eftate, from another in Batten’s Eftate, and from Brigs’s Hill, are not
perhaps inferior to that fo celebrated Profpe& from the Top of Mount Tabor
towards the fpacious Valley of E/draelon, and the Mediterranean Sea.
__Nor ought we here to negleé& the Defcription of Hachleton’s Clift,
where Nature at one View difplays a great Variety of furprifing Profpedts.
Here the high impending Rocks yield a dreary rueful Appearance : The
feveral deep Chafms below, over which they projeét, are imbrowned with
the thick Foliage of lofty Trees. The adjacent fteep Declivity is crouded
with irregular Precipices, and broken Rocks ; the whole View terminating
in the tempeftuous Sea, over whofe craggy Shores the foaming Waves
inceffantly break.---All folemnly awful, if not horrifying Scenes! except
when the Eye is relieved by a Glimpfe, or fometimes a full Sight, of the

neighbouring

23

24

The Natural Hiftory of the Book I.

neighbouring Plantations. To complete this uncommon Contraft, adeep
rapid River runs through the Valleys at the Bottom of thefe Precipices 5
which, tho’ in the dry Seafons it is almoft without Water ; yet eae the
rainy Months of June, July, and Auguf, it often overflows its higheft
Banks ; and its then irrefiftible Courfe may juftly be {aid to anfwer
Florace’s Defcription of the River Tiber in a Storm.

oc Rae ss = = ~ Cetera Fluminis
Ritu feruntur, nunc medio alveo
Cum pace delabentis Etrufcum
In mare ; nunc lapides ade/as,
Stirpe/q; raptas, & pecus, & domos
V olventis una, non fine montium
Clamore, vicineg;, five,
Cum fera diluvies quietos
Lrritat amnes.

Like Tiber’s {mooth and glafly Face,
When gently rolling to the Main ;
Life fometimes glides with a foft Pace,
Unvanquifh’d with the Edge of Pain.
Like Tiber, oft ’tis in a Roar,
When his rough Billows lath the Shore ;
Rocks, Trees, and Cattle, down are borne,
And Domes from their Foundation torn ;
Huge Mountains found, as well as Woods; _
And all around the Plains are Floods.

As the above-mentioned ftupendous Clifts are intirely impaflable
for many Miles, except by Three narrow Chafms hewed through the
Rocks, where Ten Men can refift a Hundred ; this, with their Vicinity to
the Sea, reminds me of Mr. Giover’s beautiful Defcription of the Streights
of Thermopyle.
- + - = - There the lofty Clifts

Of woody Octa overlook the Pals ;
‘And far beyond, o'er half the Surge below,
_ Their horrid Umbrage caf. - - - = Lzonipas.

_ This Place is ftill more melancholy, if we caft our Eyes upon the
feveral Catacombs, which on our firft Settlement in this [land were du
out of the Rocks in the Side of this Clift, where lie the Remains &
Hele who, like the Patriarchs of old, procured to themfelves Places of
Relt a

‘The Antients, efpecially Ariforle, were of Opinion, that the Tora
Zone was uninhabitable, by reafon of its fuppofed great Heat; but.
when we confider the almoft conftant Regularity of the Trade-Winds 7

and

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Book I. land of BARBADOS. 25

and Weather, and the quick Return of Night, with its moift Vapours,
we cannot be at a Lofs to conceive how thefe otherwife hot and fultry
Regions, near the Equator, are by this Means rendered not only habi-
table, but pleafant ; and, as the Inhabitants are not liable to fudden The Mand

Changes from Heat to Cold, they not only enjoy a great-Share of Health, ppeiny
but likewife live to an advanced old Age. from the

5 5 f L it
There are now alive (and moft of them in a tolerable good State of of feme em

Health) within Three Miles round, in a Country-place, Part in $2. Lucy's the Inhabit-
Parifh, and Part in S¢. Peter’s, Eleven Women, and One Man, whofe Age,

added together, make a Thoufand and Five Years. We have likewife, in

the Ifland, Three Perfons, whofe Ages, being added together, amount, by

the beft Computation that can ke made, to near Three hundred Years.

Pifo, in his Account of Brafil, fays, that feveral of the Natives there
live, fome to an Hundred, others to an Hundred and. Fifty Years : Yet I
beg Leave to diffent, with regard to the Certainty of it, from that great
Man, however a Man of Veracity in other refpeéts ; for neither the Jn-
dians upon the Continent of America (at leaft the different Nations that
I knew), nor the native Negroes of Africa (as far as I could learn by the
moft ftri& Inquiry from fuch of them as have been naturalized in thefe
Colonies), have any certain Method of reckoning their Years; nor of
the latter is there one of an Hundred that can give you any tolerable room
to guefs at their Age, unlefs fomething very remarkable happened when
they were young, to leave a lafting Impreflion upon their Minds,

When I examined a very old Perfon about her Age, all that fhe could
remember was, that fhe was a very lufty Girl when the great Hurricane
happened.

This indeed was an #ra remarkable enough ; for of all Storms called Hurricanes,
Hurricanes, which, in Truth, are inexpreflibly violent (though not fo fre- ma
quent in their Returns here, as it is imagined in Europe), that which
happened in Barbados, on the 31ft of Auguf? 1675. was not inferior, in
its deplorable Confequence, to the Earthquake which happened at
Jamaica (27); for it left neither Houfe nor Tree ftanding, except the
few that were fheltered by fome neighbouring Hill or Clift.

Some Hours before the Storm began, the Heaven was overcaft with
thick Clouds, of a black reddifh Hue; the Air calm, but fultry ; and the
more it loft its expanfive Force (which before buoyed up the watry Par-
ticles in a difperfed State), the clofer the Clouds condenfed, and the
blacker they appeared.

H The

(27) In the terrible Earthquake at Jenaicd, which happened on the 7th of June 1692. the Sand in the
Streets moved in Heaps, like the Waves of the Sea ; then on a fudden the Earth opened in feveral
Places, and {wallowed in whole Rows of Houfes with their Inhabitants. The remaining few knew not
whither to fly ; for Deftruction was on every Side. As the Earth opened and clofed with a yery quick
Motion, feyeral Hundreds of the Inhabitants were abforbed alive ; others jammed in the clofe Fiflures,
fome up to their Necks, fome to theirWaifts ; and others had their Legs and Thighs broken in thefe Yawn-
ings of the Earth, which were fo numerous, that a Gentleman reckoned above Two hundred open in a
very fhort time. The Sea was in fuch ftrong convulfive Motions, that in almoft an Inftant it receded back
near a Mile, and as quick returned to its former Bounds. A large Mountain, not far from Port Morant,
was quite fwallowed up, and the Place where it ftood is now become a large Lake of about Four Leagues
over. Vide Phil. Tranf. Vol. Il. p. 411.

26

The Natural Fiftory of the Book I.
began, the ‘Wind

The Afternoon, when the Violence of the Storm re ETRE
was high and varying, almoft in an Inftant, to every (2 8) P. oS a fal
Compafs ; but fettled chiefly. at North, being attended with area
Rain, Thunder, and Lightning, ‘eh Pankss

The Sea, where not guarded with high Clifts, overflowed its anks,
in fome Places, above an Hundred Yards.

The Day-light, while it lafted, as Milton exprefies it,

Serv'd only to difcover Sights of Woe;

*

for there was nothing to be feen but one rueful Spectacle of almoft uni-
verfal Ruin. i

If one looked in to the Land, Behold, Darkne/s, and Sorrow, and the
Light was darkened in the Heavens thereof. ;

The Night, as it came on, was ufhered in with an almoft continued

rumbling Noife in the Air, with the Increafe of Wind, Rain, Thunder,
and Lightning ; efpecially the latter, which now with redoubled Force,
darted not with its ufual fhort-lived Flafhes, but in rapid Flames, skim-
ming over the Surface of the Earth, as well as mounting to the upper
Regions.

The next (29) Morning, when the Storm was abated, the whole Ifland
afforded a lively, but terrible, Idea of the Tenth Egyptian Plague of old ;
for there was {carce a Houfe but lamented one dead in it, or in general
fomething equal, or worfe. ;

Several Families were intirely buried in the Ruins of their Houfes;
and there were few that efcaped, but with the Lofs either of fome Rela-
tion, Friend, or Acquaintance.

Thefe,

(28) There was not an Houfe left in Speights Town, whofe Roof was not blown off. i
above the Town, at an Eftate, now in the Poffeflion of Mr. Andrew Derry, whofe Ree eae Fates
off, the Violence of the Wind was fo great, that he and_his Bride, up one Pair of Stairs (being married
but that Evening), were carried from their Bed by the Force of the Wind, and thrown into a prickl
Pimploe-Hedge ; in which uncomfortable Situation, they were both found next Morning unable e aftit
themfelves. Likewife one Humphry Waterman, then an nfant, was found as foon as the Storm ‘was ov:
with his Arm broken, and in that Condition fucking his dead Mother, killed by the Lightning or Sto a

There are many Inftances that might be given of the great and deftructive Force of SiSheE 3 eff eciall
Bee which ines ig a Repos Cambyfes, which was fo violent, that it raifed the Sand in the De
art between Egypt and Ethiopia, fo as to cover and ; F 4
eat woh were intended lett the Exhiopians. oo pee tees SHY SoRae Ob Fifty thoufand

n the above-mentioned Hurricane in this Ifland, there were Seve illed i ;
that Part of the Ifland called Scotland. I have thefe Informations fon aan Pots fecacericnte, he
Ifand, and who were, at the time of the Hutricane, of fufficient Age both to remember. it oat aie
Remarks on, the Violence of the Storm, and the Occurrences that then happened 2, Ane make thels

(29) It is here reported, that, during this Hurricane, one Mrs. Grosme, a Midwife in S ig?
Parifh, living upon the Eftate of Mr. Thomas Hardin, endeavouring to go from her Dwelli in St. PLilp’s
houfe, was fnatched up by a Whirlwind, and carried through the Air to a great Diftan she pate
where fhe was found many Hours afterwards grafping the Roots of a large Tree newl tee om Home,

Thofe here, who believe this Relation, urge, in favour of their Belief, that heed rary ae
Inftances of as great Storms, which have been frequent at Rome, at Capua, at Lavini Rep Ae damit
Places of Tia. See Dicerts Siult, Vol Tl, Lib. XU, a ‘um, and feveral other

owever, I leave the Reader at Liberty to judge for himfelf,
Probability, and whether any fimilar Tnltence® fon good autho Pate
confirm it ? v

Inftance is confiftent wi
nfiftent with
be brought to countenance, if nog

| |
BookI. Sand of BARBADOS.

Thefe, and fuch-like Storms, when compared with the moft remark-
able ones, defcribed by Heathen Authors, either in Profe or Verfe (30),
are infinitely more furprifing and dreadful ; for, when the Almighty, in
thefe terrible Vifitations, rideth upon the Wings of the Winds, when he
maketh the Darkne/s bis Pavilion, then it may be faid without a F igure,
that he taketh up the Mountains in a Balance, and the great Deep as the
Drops of a Bucket : Not the Tops of Rhodope, or the Ceraunian Hills,
alone are torn ; it is not thefe alone that skip like Lambs, nor is it the
River Yordan only that flies back, but Hills upon Hills fink into Valleys,
and the Bottom of the great Deep uncovers, and ftarts into Land, at his
angry Nod. The Foundations of the Earth fhake, and the Pillars of
Heaven are aftonifhed, at his Rebuke. Lo/ thefe are but Part of bis
Ways. How little a Portion is beard of him !

The fudden fhifting of the Wind, in thefe and fuch-like Hurricanes, to
the feveral Points of the Compafs, may be juftly compared to /; irgil’s

beautiful Defcription of a Storm, in the following Words :

7 > > = > => Ae venti, velut agmine fatto,
Qua data porta, ruunt, & terras turbine perflant.
Incubuere mari, totumg; a Jedibus inus
Una Eurufg; Notufq; ruunt, creberg; procellis
Africus ; & vaftos volvunt ad littora fiutius. fEn. I. 86,

The huddled and tumultuous Band of Winds

Sweeps o’er the Earth, and a wide Portal finds :

Then broods upon the Deep; and in their Turns

South, Eaft, and Weft, with eddying Fury burns : They

(30) As the moft celebrated Defcription of a Storm is that of Virgil’s, it will not perhaps be improper
to infert it in his own Words: G. I. 322.

Spe etiam immenfum ccelo venit agmen aquarum,
Lt feedam glomerant tempeftatem imbribus atris

i Collette ex alto nubes: ruit arduus ether,
Et pluvid ingenti fata leta, boumg; labores
Diluit : implentur faffe, && cava flumina crefiunt
Cum fonitu, fervetg; fretis fpirantibus aquor.
pfe Pater, media nimborum in notte, corufea
fulmina molitur dextra ; quo maxima motu
Terra tremit ; fugére fere, &$ mortalia corda
Per gentes humilis firavit pavor : Ile fagranti
4ut Atho, aut Rhodopen, aut alta Ceraunia telo
Dejicit : ingeminant Auftri, & denfiffimus imber :
Nunc nemora ingenti vento, nunc littora plangunt.

Oft from above defcend a Troop of Floods : ’

Oft gather from the Deep the thick’ning Clouds ;
Down ruth the Skies, and with impetuous Rain

Wath out the Ox’s Toil, and fweep away the Grain.
The Dikes are fill’d ; no Bounds the Torrent Keep 5
And with the breathing Surges boils the Deep.
Amidft a Night of Clouds, his glite’ring Fire,

And rattling Thunder, hurls th’eternal Sire.

Far fhakes the Earth; Beafts fly ; and mortal Hearts
Pale Fear dejects: He, with refulgent Darts,

Or Rhodope, or Atho’s lofty Crown,

Or fteep Ceraunia’s Clifts, ftrikes headlong down.

The Rains condenfe ; more furious Aufter roars :

Now with vaft Winds the Woods, now lathes he the Shores,

27

28

The Natural Hiftory of the Book I.

They roufe the loweft Waves, that flept before,
And heave huge Billows tow’rds the lab’ring Shore.

As thefe quick Tranfitions of the Wind to the feveral cardinal ee
is a notorious Matter of Fat, with refpeét to Hurricanes, how inexcu nc
able muft thofe be, who, without any Inquiry, ridicule the pane °
a Storm in the Book of Fob; becaufe the Author makes the Storm to a ect
the Four Corners of the Houfe, as if it were at once! which indeed is no
lefs a true, than an elegant Defcription, of fuch a Storm.

It is obferved, that the Glare of Lightnings is, in general, more expanded
in thefe hot, than in Northern Climates. ‘This is undoubtedly occafioned
by the greater Rarefaction of the Air near the Equator. However, in
Yimes of violent Hurricanes (if of any long Continuance), the Rapidity
of the Wind and Rain prefles on, and forces a prodigious Quantity of heavy
Air in the room of the more rarefied, which is obliged to fly upwards,
and to give way: Then the Atmofphere becomes as much condenfed,
during the Storm, as in any Northern Climate: And therefore the Light-
ning, being more clofely prefled by fo thick a Medium, would appear, and
in reality be, more compaét, than when lefs refifted by the common mofe
rarefied Air. It is chiefly owing to this, with a {mall Allowance for the
Confternation and Fear that the Inhabitants were then poffeffed with, that
we can in fome meafure reafonably account for their defcribing the then
Lightnings to be fo very uncommon to them, as to appear like fo many
Wedges or Bolts of Fire in the Air.

I am of Opinion, that all Hurricanes begin in variable Climates ; other-
wife we fhould not in all Probability have here any fuch Storms at all ;
for as the Air is very much rarefied near the Equator, its Particles are at a
great Diftance from one another, and confequently a& with a lefs Force
and Struggle, than when «nearly comprefled between a thicker Medium.
This (ceteris paribus) may be evidently feen by the great Power of Air
pent up in a Wind-Gun, which will force Leaden Bullets through an Half-
inch Deal-toard ; fo that where-ever the Particlesof Air are moft compreffed
together, there the greater will their Struggle be to expand, or dilate.
Hence all fuch variable Climates will be more liable to Storms. We
may likewife add, that the nearer any of our Wef-India Hlands is to
the main Land, whofe Mountains near the Shore are very high, if the
Storm blows upon the Ifland from the oppofite Point ; for laftance If
it comes from the North-eaft ; and the adjacent Continent, oppofite to
that Point, rifes with very high Lands (the Storm meeting with this
Refiftance, and being ftill violently prefled againft the Sides of thefe
Hills); the remaining Particles of rarefied Air will, according to their
Nature, mount upward, leaving the lowermoft ftill more condenfed ;
and as every Particle of Air hath an elaftic Quality, the greater the
Number is of thefe that are compreffed together, their uni

Pp gether, their united Force

will

Book L. land of BARBADOS,

will with greater Power recoil ; fo that the Storm, being thus ftopped in
its Courfe, will more violently blow, as well as laft longer.

Some flight Earthquakes have been likewife felt in this Ifland ; but pro-
bably not fo much here as in the neighbouring Iflands of Sz. Vincent’s
and St. Lucy’s, where there are burning Mountains, that have at times
vomited Fire (tho’ not of late Years); and where there is a great Quan-
tity of crude Brimftone to be found in the Neighbourhood of their
Volcano’s. The Hurricanes are much lefs frequent of late Years ; nor
hath there appeared any thing like one in this Ifland, fince the Year
(31) 1731. which blew from the Eaft and North-eaft.

All the Ships were driven out of the Harbour ; but there was not
much Damage received, except on Shore, where feveral Houfes were
thrown down, and fome large Trees torn up by the Roots.

From thefe loud ones, let us take a View of the more filent Strokes
of the Almighty’s Hand, whereby he neverthelefs afferts his Kingdom
over all the World, I mean the Difeafes peculiar to this and fome neigh-
bouring Iflands.

(31) The Violence of this Storm was fuch, that it covered, near Bridge Town, a Shoal at a {mall

Diftance from the Land, oppofite to Colonel Hilary Rowe’s and Mr. Waldron’s Houfes, of near Two
hundred Yards long, Twenty broad, with a Bank of Stones Four Feet thick: Thefe adventitious Stones have

been fince partly wathed off by high Tides, and partly carried away for Ballaft, or to be burnt into Lime.

by the Inhabitants.

The End of the First Boox.

29

renee da

APSA nleets

NATURAL HISTORY

(OF) MP ISEIo,

Ifland of BARBADOS.

BOOK IL.

oe the Difeafes peculiar to this and the neighbouring Iflands.

ZT is the Opinion of many great Men, that’ the
Almighty never fhews his Power by infli@ing Dif
eafes, or even great Inconveniencies, peculiar to
any certain Part of the World, but at the fame
time he difplays forth his Gueanens in providing
fome extraordinary Remedies. If Eg ype is often
denied refrefhing (1) Rains, its Dews defcend not

g Osea only, like thofe of Hermon, upon the thirfty Plains,
but ae idles ttl Nile alfo is commanded more plenteoufly to fupply
that Blefling from his copious Urn. When he hath thus fertilized the
Earth, his Waters recede within their former Bounds, and return not again
till the flated Periods, to cover the Land ; fo that if this Part of the World
is fometimes vifited with.Fevers far more acute than any known in the
Northern Parts (the Plague excepted), I make no doubt but indulgent
Providence

(1) This muft be underftood chiefly of Upper Egypt.

32 The Natural Hiftory of the Book I.

Providence hath provided Plants, Minerals, &c. in the fame Cas we
upon a thorough Search into their Qualities, are capable of affording no
only great Relief, but alfo moft effe@tual and fpecific Remedies. r

That they are not already found, ‘is rather an Argument, that we is
not been fufficiently inquifitive, than that there are no fuch Plants endue
with thefe Virtues. < :

TheHeatof ‘The feveral Difcoveries that have enriched the Materia Medica plainly

futiimeat thew, that the Virtues of Plants and Minerals are inexhauftible. And

mesuices. we may likewife obferve, that the Heat of the Sun in thefe hot Climates

wis fo intenfe (efpecially upon thofe Plants which grow fheltered from the
Wind), that it fublimates their Juices, Salts, and Spirits, to a far greater,
Degree of Perfection, ‘than a chemical Fire,~ by its inconftant Heat, can
poflibly effect. ;

Hence it is, that the moft valuable Gums and Balfams are brought from
hot Climates. Witnefs that of Gilead and Peru. ’

It is obferved by the ableft Praditioners in Phyfic of this Ifland, that
Peripneumonies and Pleurifies are almoft the conftant Attendants of the
Change of Wind, if of any Continuance, from the true Trade-Wind, efpe-
cially to a fultry South-weft Wind.

The Difference of Purity between this and our Trade-Wind, is eafily
difcovered ; for the South-weft Wind blows from a very hot moift Part
of the Continent of America, which is not above 254 Miles diftant from
this Ifland: And as this is by far hotter than our ufual Air, it adds too
great a Relaxation to the Animal Syftem. feeds 3 ;

ie ee This, with the different Degrees of Circulation in all the Juices (which
ftitutional fuch a Difference in the Air muft caufe), gives Birth to various Difeafes :
eens, nh- Whereas the Trade-Wind, by its Frequency, or ‘rather by its Conftancy,
_is not only conftitutional to the Inhabitants, but it is in itfelf purer than
the other, becaufe it blows upon the Ifland at Eaft-north-eaft ; and
as the neareft Part of the Continent, upon that Point, is 3127 Miles
from us, the Air muft be far colder by paffing over fo much more Water,

than the South-weft Wind, and confequently more wholfome.

The learned Dr. Mead, in his Treatife de Pefie, obferves, that it was
the Opinion of Hippocrates, that the Conftitution of the Air that prece-
ded peftilential Fevers, was mixed with great Heats, much Rains, and
Southerly Winds. And Galen takes notice, “ that no other than a moift
“ Air brings the Plague.” Lucretius is of the fame Opinion, in his admira..
ble Delcription of the Plague of Athens. “ Thefe Difeafes, fays he, either
“* come from the Air, or rife from the Earth.” ic

- - - - Ubi putrorem bumida nafta of,
Lntenpeflivis pluviifg, & folibus ia.”
: Lucrer. Lib. VI, Ver, 1098.

In

Book I. land of BARBADOS.

In or about the Year 1741. a great Number of Dogs ran mad; and
I obferved, that the Temperament of the Air, for many Months before,
was very hot. In this Seafon, a great Number of Cattle, being bit by thefe
Dogs, ran mad likewife.

I cannot here omit inferting a very lucky unexpected Cure of a mad
Cow, kelonging to lurdifs Fordan, Efg; in Sz. Lucy’s Parith. When
found to be mad, fhe was confined ; but as the ufual Symptoms, attend-
ing that terrible Diftemper, appeared more and more, and fhe growing
to extreme Madnefs, the Owner determined to deftroy her ; but as the

was a favourite Beaft, her Doom was refpited till he had tried the fol-.

lowing Experiment.

Having thrown her down upon a Dunghil, he dire@ed his Slaves to
keep, by Force, her Mouth open, whilft he poured by Degrees down her
Throat a large Pailful of cold Water. Ina fhort time after, fhe began to
feed, and in about Twenty-four Hours drank Water as ufual, fully reco-
vered, and remained {o.

As this is a Matter of Fad, fufficiently attefted by that Gentleman, and
his Family, I make no Apology for inferting it: Indeed I fhould have been
inexcufable, if I had omitted fo extraordinary and furprifing a Circum-
ftance ; for who knows but indulgent Providence may at laft point out
fome Remedy againft fo dreadful a Calamity, and that the fame Method
may be of Service towards the Cure of the human Species ?

- It appears to me, at leaft, probable ; for even Nature, in Inftances not
intirely diffimilar, points out fomething like this : Thus, when the Stomach
is overloaded, it generally makes many Efforts to relieve itfelf by Vomits,
which, when affifted by Art, prove often an effe@ual Remedy: And as
we find, that the miferable Patient, when affliGed with this Diforder, hath
an ardent Defire of Water, though the Nature of the Diftemper is fuch,
that it will not permit him to drink ; therefore, if, in this Cafe, a confider-
able Quantity of Water were forcibly poured down his Throat, perhaps it
would be of great Service ; for as the Poifon is of a very hot Nature,
which appears by the violent Thirft it caufes, it is more than probable,
that fuch a Quantity of cold Water, mixing with the Virus, would, at
leaft, abate its Force, till Sudorifics, or other Medicines, had time to
expel and throw off the Poifon by Perfpiration, or otherwife : That fome
Poifons, of an hot Nature, ac lef vigoroufly in Cold, than when affifted
with Heat, is evident, from the more dangerous Confequence of the Bite
of Scorpions and Vipers in Italy, and elfewhere, in an hot Summer Seafon,
than in moderate cold Weather.

As the Exgli/b Phyficians are no lefs remarkable for their Humanity,
than Skill and Judgment, it is to be withed, that thefe ingenious Gentlemen
would (in Pity even to the dumb Creation, as well as to their Fellow-
Creatures) try this Experiment firft on Beafts 3 which if fuccefsful, it
might likewife be of Service to the human Species, under fuch deplorable
Circumftances.

K From

Vo

34 : The Natural Hiftory of the Book If.
From this feeming Digreffion, let usreturn to obferve, that the Dry nt =
ach (fo called from its affe@ting that Part of the Body with great Coltive-
- nefs and Pain) was formerly much more frequent and fatal, than it hath
been of late. Diftillers of Rum, and Boilers of Sugar, and Overleers,
were chiefly fubje@ to it; the firft (who are generally of the poorer
Sort), from immoderately drinking new hot Rum ;_ the fecond and third,
from taking Cold, after fweating in hot Boiling-houfes, and drinking very
{trong Punch, or almoft as ftrong (2) Cowow, or (3) Mobby.
This Diftemper is likewife faid to arife from Grief and Trouble of
Mind ; and fometimes it hath been thought to be epidemical. 4
| The Belly- After it hath for fome Days affli@ed the Patient with intolerable Pains
Symptoms. in the Belly, Coftivenefs, with voiding little Urine, and that like Mum,
the Breath ftinking very offenfively, the Pains are frequently tranflated to
the Limbs, attended fometimes with an intolerable Pricking and Burning
in the Feet ; at other times, great Pains in the Stomach arife ; and then the
Patient hath Epileptic Fits, which often relieve the Pains, but weaken
and impair the Ufe of the Limbs.

When the Difeafe becomes inveterate, the Patients grow hoarfe, and _
lofe their Voice, coveting Anodynes, and ftrong Drink, to that Degree,
that the common Rum is much too weak; and they drink even Hungary
Water, or put red Pepper into Rum, to augment its Heat. When they
lofe the Ufe of their Limbs, they commonly have profufe Sweats,

Meme: The Method of Cure formerly was to purge the Patients both with
Cure. Cathartics and Clyfters: From this Praétice the unhappy Creatures were
fubjeét to lofe the Ufe of their Limbs. won age aba aa

However, this»prevailed until about the Year 1¥00. or fomewhat be-

~ fore, when the Phyficians kegan to make ufe of Anodynes with better
Succefs; which hath been their Way of proceeding ever fince.
The prefent Their prefent Method of Cure is univerfally followed, being both fafe
Gare: and eafy, and the Patients run no Danger of either Life or Limbs eFor,: -
as foon as Dr. Warren found, that it was a convulfive. Gonfiridion.
chiefly in the Ilion, he judged that Purges and fharp Clyfters Rit
be attended with bad Succefs, and Emeties, at leaft, ufelefs, if not
De ars hurtful ; from whence he concluded, that Anodynes mixed sich Anti-
thod of hyfterics would be the likelieft Means of Relief : He therefore purfued
ce that Method, as neceflary to be followed, for a few Days Fi th
Pains of the Belly intirely ceafed for the Space of Tilly iu H ;
Then he concluded, that the {pafmodic Conftri@ions were over; at soft
time he ordered fome emollient Clyfter, and then gave a entle P “
of fome of the bitter Pills, which generally perfected the Gavia bhi
Ape pnodine i a few Nights fucceflively afterwards, oy aga

The bitter Pills are thought propereft, becaufe the Bile in this Dj

per fhews itfelf to be deficient in its due Secretion, or its a came

There

(2) A Drink made with the Scummings of the boiled i i i
dan alent, mg oiled CaneJuice, mixed with Water, and fermented ; and

(3) Mobby is a Drink made with pounded Potatoes, and Water fermented with Sugar or M. Late
olaffes,

Book IL Iland of BARBADOS, * 435,

There are other Kinds of Colics, which often affli@ the Inhabitants ;
likewife the Yellow- Jaundice, and Hyfteric Diforders : But as thefe are
not peculiar to this Climate alone, it cannot be expected, that I fhould enter
fo far into the Province of the Phyfician, as to treat medicinally of them.

As Diarrhceas, however, and Dyfenteries, make no {mall Havock
among the poorer Inhabitants of the Iland; and as the Caufe and Me-
thod of Cure, in fome meafure, differ from the fame Diftemper in North-
ern Climates, being partly conftitutional ; they deferve to be mentioned :
Nor can this be better done, than in the Words of Dr. Towve.

Fluxes are very common in the We/-Indies, but more efpecially in Floxes very
rainy Seafons ; and may be imputed chiefly to the Negligence of thofetainy Sea.
who either too unwarily or unavoidably expofe themfelves to the Injuries"
of the wet Weather ; by which means Perfpiration being interrupted, the
thin Part of the Blood, which fhould have been exhaled through the Pores
‘of the Skin, is thrown upon the Bowels, and thence difcharged in loofe
Stools. This plainly appears from the great Number of Negroes, and the
poorer Sort of White People, who in thefe Seafons are much more afflicted
with this Diftemper, than fuch whofe Condué of Life does not fubject
them to the like Inconveniencies. :

Befides catching Cold, there are other antecedent Caufes of a Diarrhea;
the principal of which are, ‘An immoderate Ufe of crude fugacious Fruits,
** unwholfome Food, and Meats of difficult Digeftion ; all which, by ftimu-
“ lating the Guts, will likewife occafion a Diarrhoea.

“ When thefe laft-mentioned Caufes occur, with a damp rainy Seafon,
“< the Bowels will not only be loaded with the thin Juices, which ought
“* to pafs off by Perfpiration, but they will alfo, by reafon of the Stimulus
“ lodged in them, be continually folicited to expel their Contents more
“ frequently, and of a thinner Confiftence, than ufual. A diminifhing
“¢ Perfpiration will likewife. contribute towards inlarging the Orifices of the
“¢ Hepatic and Pancreatic Duéts ; and, on this Account, the Secretions of
“ their refpeétive Juices will be more plentifully made into the Inteftines:
‘* And hence we have an additional Caufe of, Loofenefs.””

Thefe Circumftances, I think, are fufficient to account for every Spe-
cies of the Diarrhoea; and, when we are once fully afcertained of the
Caufe, we need not be much at a Lofs what Method of Cure ought to
be purfued in each Species.

Fluxes have been here very often negleGted in the Beginning, from an
Opinion, that they are falubrious, and of Service to the Conftitution, by
affording an Outlet to fome offending Matter, which, if retained, would
have proved prejudicial.

This-Remark may in fome Cafes be very true ; but it is not to be con-
fided in without great Caution in the We/f-Indies, where a fimple Flux
frequently rifes up into an obftinate Dyfentery in Three or Four Days ;
and, when the Diarrhcea is fuffered to continue any time, it too commonly

terminates

36

‘The Natural Hiftory of the Book II.

terminates in a Leucophlematia, or Dropfy ; to which Difeafes People
in thefe Parts of the World are exceedingly difpofed. :

But as a Diarrhoea is fometimes truly critical, and contributes a great
deal towards the Cure of other Diftempers, fuch a Diarrhoea ae by no
means to be ftopped, fo long as the Strength of the Patient can fupport

“him under it.

The Matter of a Diarrhoea in thefe Parts is frequently fo fharp and cor-
rofive, as not only to carry off the mucous Subftance of the Inteftines,
but alfo in a few Days to abrade and tear away their villous Coat, and
excoriate the Mouths of the Blood-veffels. The ftimulating Matter ftill
remaining, the Flux is continued ; and, the Orifices of the Blood-veffels
being opened at the fame time, the Flux muft unavoidably become a
Bloody one. :

Likewife fultry Weather, and hot {pirituous Liquors, as well as acrid
pungent Food, are capable of producing a Diarrhoea 5 and as they greatly
rarefy the Blood, this Rarefaction, fuperadded to the Loofenefs, gives us
a fatisfa&tory Idea of their being the Caufe of a Dyfentery.

This is confirmed, by obferving how much this Difeafe rages among
the White Servants, as well as Negroes, in our Plantations ; which fort of
People are much addiéted to debauch in Spirits, and Punch made exceed-
ingly ftrong with new Rum, very acid with the Juice of Limes, fermented
with coarfe Sugar.

The almoft unanimous Confent of Phyficians, as well as Proofs drawn
from Praétice, have fo fully demonftrated the Benefit received from
Blood-letting, that it is fufficient only to mention it, to remind Pradti-
tioners of the Neceflity there is not to omit it in the Beginning of a
Dyfentery.

The Indian Root, or (4) Ipecacuanha, hath juftly eftablifhed its Repu-
tation in the Cure of this Diftemper, both in thofe Parts of the World
from whence it was originally brought, where Fluxes are { 5) endemic
and in all other Places where it hath been ufed on thofe Occafions. ;

But perhaps the Reafon why it is found to be fuperior to the reft of
the Emetic Tribe, was not at all confidered before the learned and judi-
cious Dr. Freind (6) gave us an Infight into that Matter, unlefs we except
one Paffage in Pi/o (7). P

If the Ipecacuanha does not only exert its emetic Faculty, but like
wife paffeth through the Bowels in fuch manner as to promote a Stool or

two,

(4) Si quando evacuationibus locus, radicem vomitivam Ipecacuanha, exquifiti
‘ceteris remediis preeferre conducit. Pipe, P1300 8 Sse imany ‘nats eee
(5) Affectus dyfentericas nimirum his terris eft familiaris, ita ut perpetu i i
Pip ibid. > Perpetuo nobis fporadica, & popularis,
(6) Radix Ipecacuanha preter vim vomitoriam, quam obtinet, uberrimum fudo i
n a : ‘ 1 rem € ae
hoc, quantum ego conjectura affequi poffum, pracipue confiftit egregia illa in duenteicniare pee Atq; in
quam fibi pre aliis vomendi inftramentis vendicat. Freind Comment. de Feb, p- 40. ectibus virtus,
(7) Ad radicem Ipecacuanha confugiendum, tanquam ad facram ancoram, qua nullum
tutius, tum in hoc, tum in plerifq; aliis, cum vel fine fanguine, fluxibus compefcendis
vit remedium. Quippe, Preterquam quod tuto & efficaciter tenaciffimos quofq; humores
fepiflime autem per vomitum ejiciat, & a parte affecta derivet, vim quog; aftri&ivam poft

preftantius gut
natura excogita-
per ipfam alvum,
fe reliquit. Pi,

Book IL. Yland of BARBADOS, 27

two, which often happens, it will be fufficient that Night to give the
Patient aBolus made with Rhubarb and Diafcordium ; but if the Phyfician
obferves no fuch Effeét from the Vomit, then he generally gives “half a
Dram of Rhubarb in any convenient Vehicle, in order to carry off any
Remains of the ftimulating Matter which may adhere to the Guts; for
many are the Occafions which confirm the ill Confequences of giving
aftringent Medicines in the Infancy of this Difeafe, when the Flux of
Blood hath not been immoderate.

After the Bowels have been prepared in this manner, the Phyficians
have recourfe to Balfamics, Agglutinants, Aftringents, and Opiates, which
mutt be contrived in proportion to the Neceflity of the Patient, the Vio-
lence of the Flux, and the Length of its Duration.

If the Sick be much debilitated by the Continuance of the Diftemper,
and the great Effufion of Blood, a Cordial Draught is generally allowed
him to fupport and invigorate the languid Spirits, fuch as Claret, or
Madera Wine, burnt with Spices, or {trong Cinnamon-Water, diluted
with the white Decoion.

The Food in this Cafe muft be cooling, mucilaginous, and aftringent.
Panada, made with Cafada Bread, is with very good Reafon commended
by Pio, who advifeth it not only as a cooling healing Diet, but asan ufe-
ful Ingredient in the Compofition of Clyfters. He

The fame Author recommends the Jelly of white and red Guavas,
Granadilla, Hog-plumb, &’c. as proper Nourifhment. Thefe are men-
tioned, becaufe they are always at hand in Barbados.

Unripe Plantains and Bananaes, roafted, are alfo proper for thefe Pa-
tients ; but, above all, a Milk Diet.

This Hland is likewife fubje& to a very malignant Fever (though I anemeloy.
believe in common with other Countries between the Tropics) now called
the Yellow Fever.

Dr. Warren, in his ingenious Treatife upon this Diftemper, concludes
it to be a Species of the Plague, and that the Infection was unhappily
brought to Martinico in Bales of Goods from Mar/eilles in the Year 1721.
though others, who have refided much longer in the Ifland, are of a
different Opinion, efpecially Dr. Gamble, who remembers that it was
very fatal here in the Year 1691. and that it was then called the New
Diftemper, and afterwards Kendal’s Fever, the Peftilential Fever, and
the Bilious Fever.

The fame Symptoms did not always appear in all Patients, nor alike
in every Year when it vifited us.

It is moft commonly rife and fatal in May, June, Fuly, and Auguft ;
and then moftly among Strangers, though a great many of the Inhabit-
ants, in the Year 1696, died of it, and a great many at different Periods
fince,

Laga The

38

Symptoms
of the Fe-
ver.

A Yellow-
nefs appear-
ing in the
Eyes, a bad
Symptom.

The Tex-
ture of the
Blood.

The Natural Hiftory of the Book IL.

~The Patient is commonly feized with a fhivering Fit, as in an poe
which lafts an Hour or two, more or lefs ; and the Danger 1s guefled at,
according to the Severity and Continuance of the Ague. # e

After the fhivering Fit, a violent Fever comes on, with exceflive ains
in the Head, Back, and Limbs, Lofs of Strength and Spirits, with great
Dejection of Mind, infatiable Thirft and Reftlefnefs, and fometimes too
with a Vomiting, attended with Pains in the Head; the Eyes being red,
and that Rednefs in a few Days turning toa Yellownefs.

If the Patient turns yellow foon, he hath fcarce a Chance for Life ;
and the fooner he does fo, the worfe. : : {

The Pain in the Head is often very great, when firft feized with this
Fever. i

After fome Days are paft, this Pain abates, as well as the Fever; and
the Patient falls into a breathing Sweat, and a temperate Heat, fo that
he appears to be better; but, on a narrow View, a Yellownefs appears in
his Eyes and Skin, and he is vifibly worfe. ”

About this Time he fometimes {pits Blood, and that by Mouthfuls ;
as this continues, he grows cold, and his Pulfe abates, till at laft it is quite
gone ; and the Patient becomes almoft as cold as a Stone, and continues
in that State with a compofed fedate Mind.

In this Condition he may perhaps live Twelve Hours without any fen-
fible Pulfe or Heat, and then expire.

Such were the Symptoms and Progrefs of this Fever in theYear 1715.

Sometimes likewife the Patients burft out with bleeding at the 4zus,
and foon after die ; and fometimes likewife at the Nofe, by which means
they have been relieved ; but when the Blood iffues from thence but in
few aa it is a bad Prognoftic, and is generally the Harbinger of
Death.

In moft of thefe Cafes, the Patients are generally hot and dry ; the
Blood taken from them very red, and fcarce will coagulate; the Grume
fwimming upon the Surface of the Serum in a thin Leaf, having fcarce
any Confiftence. |

The Patients have likewife often intolerable Pains in and about the
Stomach: Sometimes with thofe Pains they fhall have a Livor, and the
plain Marks of a Sphacelus fhall poffefs the greateft Part of the Abdo-
men before they die, particularly the Region of the Stomach and Liver

It often alfo happens, that the fick Perfon thall lie almoft ftupid; aiid
being asked how he does, fay, He is very well ; at other times he _
under the greateft Agonies, and Fits of Groanings.

A loofe ‘Tooth being drawn from a Perfon who had the Fever ve
feverely, there iffued out from the Hole a great Quantity of black ftink
ing Blood, which ftill kept oozing till the third Day, on which the P il
died in great Agonies and Convulfions. ; Spent

After Death the Corps of fuch appear livid in fom
or elfe marked with peftilential Sigel Castiulet or eee es

IT am

Book II. Iland of BARBADOS, 29

I am of Opinion, that the Blood is from the Beginning full of putrid
Alcaline Salts.

If this be the Cafe, I leave it (with Submiflion) to the Learned in
Phyfic to confider, whether diluting Acids would not be of great Ser-
vice (efpecially in the Beginning of this Diforder) to raife a Conflia, by
their mingling with the Alcaline Salts; by which means a Stagnation in
the Fluids would be, in a great meafure, prevented, until Nature, with
other feafonable Affiftances, might have time to try her Efforts, and fo
recover at laft.

Without this, or fome Help like this, from the Phyfician, the Patient
often dies in three Days time. :

Such are the Symptoms, Progrefs, and Conclufion of this malignant
Diftemper : And though Dr. Warren, in his learned Treatife, is of Opi-
nion, that it can be cured by Diaphoretics and Sudorifics ; yet, as this
Difeafe appears in fo many various Shapes, thefe have very often failed.

The next Difeafe worthy our Notice is the Small-pox ; for we are fel- ae plod
dom free from it in fome Part of the Ifland or other: However, fince fom the
Inoculation hath been introduced among us, our Lof by that Diftemper $™2!/Pox-
’ hath hitherto been very {mall. fe

It hath been obferved, that this Diftemper proves, in general, very fatal
to fuch of the Inhabitants of the We/f-Indies as receive the InfeGion in
England, ox in any other Northern Climate, efpecially if they are taken
ill foon after their Arrival at it.

This, I believe, will not be difficult to be accounted for, when we This Dit-
confider, that the Inhabitants of warm Climates do almoft continually often fata
ftrongly perfpire, by which means their Pores are more relaxed and net
dilated ; and confequently, if this Infeétion (as furely it may) can be com-taken ill in
municated by the Pores, the more open thefe are, the more capable chey ert Cl
are of receiving a deeper Degree of Infection, than thofe Perfons, who
every Winter have their external Veffels compreffed and contraéted by
the cold Air. ;

However, we are not from hence to conclude, that the Porés of fuch
are never to be reconciled to cold Climates ; for thofe of the Skin, as well
as the Juices of the Body, will in time become adapted to the different
Climates we are in.

It is remarkable, that the Chicken-pox vifits this Ifland at fet periodi- The Mea-
cal Times ; for it hath been obferved by Dr. Gamble, a very old and ee 8 Peles
ingenious Phyfician, as well as a Perfon of undoubted Veracity, that temper.
the following were its periodical Returns within his Obfervation ; v/z. in
the Year 1692-3. 1711. 1728. 1746-7. which is at the Diftance of
about Eighteen Years.

The Leprofy is another Diftemper, which fome unhappy Petfons are The Lepro-
affli@ed with ; nor is it lefs furprifing to Strangers, than a Concern to the”
moft thinking Part of the Inhabitants, that public Care hath not been
taken to keep the Clean from the Unclean.

Among

40

~The Natural Hiftory of the Book IL

Among the ‘Fews, the Law concerning Leprofy was fo fey ove ved,
that they depofed Uzziah, tho’ a Prince, and thruft him out of the ‘Tem-
ple, and confined him to a feparate Apartment during Life. 1 a

We cannot trace this Diftemper up to its Origin, as far as it relates to

the Weft-India Wands ; but its firft Appearance here was about. Sixty

The Lepro-
fy propagat-
ed chiefly in
the Male
Line,

Its Sym-
ptoms,

Years ago. It hath fpread very much within thefe Twenty Years, and
more lately among White Inhabitants, as well as Black. Children have
teen often feized with it, without any known Caufe, either in themfelves,
or their Parents : However, it is, in general, thought to be hereditary, at
leaft, in the Male Line ; which the following Inftance will, in fome mea-
fure, evince. — ; Meth ‘
_ A certain Negro Woman, in S¢. Fames’s Parifh, cohabiting with a
leprous Negro Man, had Two Children by him, both leprous, though the
herfelf did not receive the Infe@ion. After fome Years fhe turned him
off, and cohabited with another Black, who was free from this Diforder ;
by him likewife fhe had Children, but neither of them in the leaft infe@-
ed with the Leprofy. After a Quarrel with this laft pretended Husband,
fhe returned to her former leprous Husband, and had this Second time
by him feveral Children; who, as they grew up, proved leprous alfo, tho’
the herfelf received not the Infection this time. \@
From hence we may perhaps learn to know how emphatically, and
with what great Propriety of Expreflion, the infpired Prophet paffed Sen-
tence upon Gehaxi, faying, The Lepro/y of Naaman the Syrian /hall cleave

_ to thee, and thy Seed for ever.

The firft Symptom of this loathfome Difeafe, in this Part of the World,

“is a permanent Swelling on the Tips of the Ears, and the Falling off of

the Hairs of the Eye-brows; then the Face appears unctuous, fhining,
and full of protuberant fuperficial Spots of a brown Copper Colour ; the
Lips and Nofe generally much fwelled, the Fingers and Toes diftorted,
and at laft ulcerated ; the Infeéion creeping from Joint to Joint, till it
hath corroded all the Fingers and Toes. ‘Thefe Ulcers never kindly di-

* geft; however, there iffues from them a thin corroding Ichor.

The Ele-
phantiafis.

Its Sym-
ptoms.

Many are the miferable Objects, that are daily feen aflied with, and
labouring under, this great Misfortune.

The Elephantiafis is likewife a Difeafe very common among the Blacks
and -hitherto incurable. i ;

The Seat of this Diftemper is the Legs and Feet. It happens moft
commonly after long Illneffes, efpecially fevere acute Fevers. or long In-
termittents, or other tedious Diftempers, or Surfeits deeded fs t
violent Exercife, ; : Ye
, In us Beginning the Patient appears cache@ical
foon after the vitiated Humours fubfide enerally in ace ig
both Legs and Feet: Thefe become dintheds andehae hae aha
with varicofe Swellings, which are very apparent, from the Knees i i h
Extremities of the Toes; “then the Skin begins to grow heen

G unequal ;

and emaciated, and

Book I. land of BARBADOS. 4t

“ unequal ; its vafcular and glandulous Compages is inlarged; and a fcaly
“ Subftance, with a fort of Chaps and Fiffures in the Interftices, appears
“upon its Surface. Thefe feeming Scales do not dry up and fail of ; but
“ are daily protruded forward, and ftretched in their Dimenfions, till the
“* Leg is inlarged to an enormous.Bulk ; fo that in the Size, Shape, and
all other external Appearance, it minutely reprefents the Leg of an
‘* Elephant, from whence the Difeafe receives its Denomination.”

But, notwithftanding that this fcaly Coat appears to be hard, callous,
and infenfible ; yet if it be touched ever fo fuperficially with aLancet, the
Blood will freely ouze out ; and, if the Epidermis, which affords this
monf{trous Appearance, be pared off to the Thicknefs of the Scarfeskin
in thofe Parts, an Infinity of Orifices of the Blood-veffels will prefent
themfelves to the Eye, when affifted with a Microfcope.

“ Though the Limb continues to proceed to this inordinate Magnitude,
“ yet the Appetite of the Negro remains good, his Digeftion ftrong, and
-“ his Secretions regular ; nor is he fenfible of any other Inconveniency,
“¢ than the Burden of carrying fuch a Load of a Leg along with him.”

In this Condition, fevera] have been known to live Twenty Years, and
have performed chearfully all the Duties of their Servitude, which were
~confiftent with fuch difproportionate Limbs.

Amputation of the difeafed Leg hath been performed many times, but
has always failed of a Cure ; for the Diftemper conftantly takes Poffef-
fion of the remaining Leg.

As for other cutaneous Diforders, we are not more affii@ed with them The Guiney
than Europeans, unlefs fuch as are occafioned by the Guiney Worms and W°™*
Ciegoes, called here Chiggers.

The former are feldom or never known among the White Inhabitants ;
nor often among our native Slaves 3 but chiefly among new Negroes
brought hither from the Coafts of Guiney.

Thefe Worms are generally bred in Ponds of ftagnant frefh Waters 3
and it is fuppofed, that they enter oftener in by the Pores of the Skin, than
by drinking the Water: For thofe who moft frequently bathe in fuch Ponds,
are ofteneft troubled with them. They are exceeding long, in refpe& to
their great Exility and Thinnefs ; and are eafily obferved, when fome of
that Water is mingled in a Glafs with fome other more tranfparent Water.

The firft Day or two they cannot be clearly feen, being as pellucid as
the Water itfelf ; but foon afterwards they grow fo opaque as to be dif-
cernible, even by the naked Eye.

Dr. Gamble had one of thefe, which meafured an Ell long ; it exactly Theitshape,
+efembled a waxed white Thread.

They move very quick under the Skin, along the Membrana adipofa ; and
‘what is one Day {een in the Breaft, or Belly, thall often, in a Day or two,
be found in a diftant Part of the Body, perhaps the Thigh, the Leg, or
under the Ham.

a

M However,

4? The Natural Hiftory, c. Book IL

ethod fometime fince found

However, thefe are eafily cured, by a M
out.
The Me- Take, for Example, one Ounce of Garlick, one of Blache Peppes oe
Fans de- verized, and one Ounce of the Flour of Brimftone; mix oS ies oa
them,” gether in a Quart of Rum; and for three or four Mor ae ue 3 se
_give a Wine-Glafsful of this Infufion to the Perfon afflicte 3340 4 di
hath a Thoufand about him, each will contract itfelf in a Coil, an 1 die,
and then fall off in the Form of a Boil from the Surface of the Skin.
As to Ciegoes, they will appear to the naked Eye like a ea :
Thefe are the continual Companions of Filth and Lazinefs, trouble os
chiefly to Negroes, and particularly to fuch new Negroes as are Peal t
hither from Guiney, whofe Defpondency, and carelefs Regard for Life,
from the Uncertainty, or rather Certainty of what they are to undergo,
makes Life, at that Junéture, irkfome to them; though a few Years Ex-
perience convinces them, that if there can be a Degree of Happinefs
without Liberty, they enjoy a more certain Tenure, and a better Condi-
tion of Life, here, than in their native Africa.

Giegoes This little Animal, vexatioufly teazing, unlefs foon eradicated, generally
covered. faftens and fettles on the Toes, or fome Part of the Feet. It is firft dif-
covered by a moderate Itching in the Part affected, afterwards with a
throbbing itching Pain; and if not foon carefully picked out.with a Pin
or Needle, it will, in time, burrow or neftle one Eighth of an Inch into
the Flefh, and there lay innumerable Quantities of Nits or Eggs, which,
when hatched, become equally voracious, and eat the Feet into fo many
little Cells, like Honeycombs. panies
It is not likewife uncommon for thefe little Vermin to get into the
Feet of People of the beft Condition ; but as they are foon taken out by
their Slaves, it feldom proves to be of bad Confequence:: ‘Tho’ Strangers,
not being fenfible what occafions the Itching, will fometimes let them
remain, till they become very (8) troublefome, and perhaps require the
Hand of the Surgeon.
Likewife the Body-Yaws, and the Running-Yaws, fo common here,
are Diforders unknown in Northern Climates.
The Body- ‘The Body-Yaws appear in many protuberant flefhy Knobs, every way
“as large as a {mall Thimble, embofling the Face, Breafts, Arms, and
other Parts of the Body. Thefe, in time, by the Ufe of Simples, here-
after to be mentioned, dry and fall off. ,
The Running, or the Wet, Yaws affe@ chiefly the oi i
the Knees or Elbows, from whence continually diltil a Lae: eae
' This Diftemper is thought to be tranfmitted in an hereditary Wa Bem
Parents, who have had the Venereal Difeafe, to their unhappy Children
It is obfervable, that no {mall Care, Skill, and Time, are requifite te

cure it.

OF
8) Caftile Soap and Lamp-Oil, boiled to a Confilte: i ;
Methods ot deeaying the Drecaai 0a Confiftency, and applied hot to the F cet, is one of the beft

WaTeErRs, Fossits, and MINERALS.
eoseggoesonasasooooseseeseqosceoosesonoess SSS SESS

Of WATERS.

Ee? T being unncceflary to inquire into the conftituent Parts of
zy || Water in general, in a Treatife of this kind, I fhall proceed
to confider only the Nature and Qualities of that which
foRSe|| we are furnifhed with in this Ifland, from Springs, Rivers,

“sta Wells, and Ponds.

The moft remarkable Springs of Water are the following: Cole's Cave
Spring, Mr. Colliton’s, Mr. Eftwick’s, Mr. Brathwait’s, the Reverend Mr.
Fofter’s, Mr. Whitaker's, Pory Spring, and that at Codrington’s College.

The fpecific Gravity of Fifteen cubical Inches of thefe refpective Wa- The fpecific

; Gravity of

ters, as well as compared together with that of the moft remarkable zrnie

Spaws, is inferted in the annexed Table. NMaten cou
pared with

As Cole’s Cave Water hath been generally efteemed (tho’ not fo in Faét, fome re-
the beft Water in the Ifland, I have been very careful in the Examination aren
of it. The Spring which iffues fo plentifully from the Side of the Cave,
affords very tranfparent Water, having fomething of a ftyptic Quality ;
and it hath been obferved, that bathing in it is of great Service in cuta-
neous Diforders.

Among the above-mentioned Springs, that in the Eftate of the Reve-
tend Mr. Fofter, called Belly-ach Hole, affords excellent Water. This
Spring rifing, as moft of the reft do, out of the Side of an Hill facing the
Eaft, hath a fine marly Bottom, mixed with Sand: The Water is very
light, foft, and pure. There

camer pete TT-
44 The Noviral Hiftory of the Book If:
@. NE S SeaE
There is likewife on the fame Eftate, iy ee another
Spring, whofe Water is heavier, and fomewhat purgative, BH he oie
ae Spring, in Sz. Thomas's Parifh, and another at Mn Eas ie
St. Fobn’s, as well as Mr. Whitaker's Spring, in. St. Michae a as Bee
ford good light Water : The latter, by its Vicin Ae the Sea, is 0 pecat
. Sétvice to fupply the Navy, as well as other Velfels, in the adjacent Bay.
The chief The chief Rivers are Sv. Yo/eph’s River, another running through the
the liland, Parith of Sy. Andrew's, a Third taking its Rife from Mr. Bratkwait's
Spring, and the Fourth near Codrington’s College. ‘a eee
All the above-mentioned Streams, with fome others of lefler Note, on
-___ this Side of the Ifland, fall into the Sea to the Eaftward. i
Ay lf picts Our Springs and Rivets of any Note being thus taken briefly notice of 3
"Tet us now proceed to confider our other Supplies, our Wells and Ponds.
The former are dug with great Expence through, generally, a foft marly
Rock, intermixt fometimes with Veins of an harder Nature. Thefe
Wells are commonly in Depth from Fifteen to Fifty (9) Fathoms, and
_~ their refpective Water *(efpecially if the lower Strata, from wheneg it
gufhes, be Clay, Gravel, or Rock) is preferable, as‘ to its ‘Putity, to
River-Water, the latter having generally feveral Impurities blown into it
by the Wind, as well as contraéed from the different Soils it: pafies
through, whereas the Well-Waters are very limpid and light.
Mr.Ostern’s Among the Waters. of. many of thefé that I have examined, that
Bee iron Mr. Osborne's, in St. Peter's Parith, excels every other, whether of
eel Wells, Springs, Rivers, or Ponds, in this Tfand. ~ It is lighter by one
"Grain, in fo {mall a Quantity as Sixteen cubical Inches, than the pure
German Spaw Water. The Depth of this Well is not above Fifteen
. ‘Fathoms, thro’ a fomewhat foft rocky Stratum, terminating in an hard firm
Rock: An Hole being made in this, the Water guthes out from beneath ;
and the fame being again ftopped with a Plug, and the remaining Water
drawn out, the Bottom of the Well may be, and often is, clean wathed ;
and then the Water is permitted to guth out afreth.
I am of Opinion, that the Purity of this Water, above all other in the
Ifland, is owing partly to the Situation of the Place : For, as the Well is
dug thro’ feveral rocky Strata, beginning in fo very high Ground, that its
Bottom is higher than the adjacent Plain 5 confequently it can receive no
other Supply but Rain-Water, which (Snow-Water excepted) is the moft
fimple of all others. And when this gradually penetrates thro’ man
thick Lamine of porous Rocks, by this natural Diftillation as it runs 2
refines ; that which is pureft pervading the clofeft separa by the MinutenefS
of its Parts, whilft the groffer Particles, being arrefted in their Paflac
‘fubfide, and cleave to the Rocks, ° &

Another

; (9) Te is not always that they come to Water, tho’ they die; Dept r aa
~soblerved in the Eftate of Tobias Frere, Efq3 in the Pathe of Corif-Ghar he oe wali this T have
five Fathoms, they found little or no Water. | POMS caer digging Thirty-

Book IL Iland of BARBADOS. 45

Another Reafon why Spring-Waters, at their Fountain-Heads, as well
as Wells, are purer (efpecially in hot Climates) than the Waters of Rivers
or Ponds, is, becaufe the latter, whether in its current Stream, or in Re-
fervoirs, is expofed to the Heat of the Sun, whofe exhaling Power is here
fo great, that it raifes up the lighteft and fimpleft, that is, the beft Parts of
it in Vapours, leaving the Remainder lefs pure.

What is here called Pond-Water, is Rain-Water fettled in artificial or
natural Bafins, which, in a Country fo {paringly furnifhed with Springs,
or Rivers, are of great Service to Man and Beaft.

Thefe Refervoirs are generally dug near a Defcent, that they may be
fupplied with Water as often as it rains, which it generally does in greater
Quantity, in the Months of Fume, Fuly, and Auguft ; but tho’ we call
this Time.of the Year the Rainy Seafon, yet the periodical Return of wet
Weather in thofe Months is not near fo certain here, as it is in fome Parts
of Africa. The Rains likewife in thofe hot Months, when they are moft
wanted to cool the Atmofphere, fall at fuch times, by reafon of the
Rarefaction of the Air, in very large Drops, like thofe fudden Summer
Showers in Exgland. We find the above-mentioned Conveniencies of
Refervoirs made ufe of in Palefine, as early as the Patriarchal Age.

The Inhabitants of St. Andrew's, and fome Part of S¢. Fofeph’s Parith, Aa
are plentifully fupplied with frefh Water, by digging Holes in the Sand, inure
from Ten Inches to Three Feet deep: Thefe are almoft inftantaneoufly song the
filled with frefh Water percolated thro’ the Sand.

Some Parts of Barbary are in the like manner fupplied: And Cafar,
being befieged in Wexandria, when the Enemy, by turning the Sea-Water
into his Springs, rendered them ufelefs, faved himfelf, and his Army, by
digging fuch Pits or Holes in the Sand, from whence he had a conftant
Supply of frefh Water.

Tho’ thefe and fuch Supplies of Water proceed partly from the Sea ;
yet I am of Opinion, that the above-mentioned Supply, in this Ifland, is -
greatly, if not chiefly, owing to the Rain-Water that defcends from the ad-
jacent Hills, and then fettles in the Sand. This is evident from the greater
Plenty that is to be found, and that nearer the Surface, after great Rains :
Its Purity likewife may, in fome meafure, be owing to the Place where it
is found; for Sand hath a great deal lefs of Matter capable of Solution in
it than Earth.

As any artificial Refervoir of Water is often, in Scripture, called a
Well, when the Station of the [/raelites, in their Way to Canaan, was
upon the Borders of the Red Sea, the Waters there mentioned to be in
fuch Plenty, that the Princes digged a Well with their Staves, muft pro-
bably (fince they digged with thefe Inftruments) be in fuch a fandy
Situation’as the above-mentioned ; otherwife Staves would not, in Places
lefs foft and porous, be proper to dig Holes fufficient for that Purpofe.
The digging thefe, or almoft any other Bafin, for the fame Ufe in any
other kind of Soil, muft, in all Probability, be attended with Art, and

N great

46 - » The Natural-Hiftory of the Book UL.

great Labour, fince we find, that it caufed a Contention between ra-
ham and Abimelech.

Many, I believe, are the Places in the O/d Teftament, where, with great
Submiflion to our learned Commentators, from their Want of fufficiently

-confidering the Situation of Pale/line, the Nature of the Climate, and its
Productions, the real Meaning of feveral Texts is either very imper-
‘feétly or often not at all, underftood.
. Of all the Waters we have treated of, that of Mr. Osborne's Well, as I
before obferved, is the lighteft and beft; and it hath been proved of great
Service in Nephritic Cafes.

The Water of Belly-ach Hole, in the Eftate of the Reverend Mr.
Fofter, is next in Goodnefs, being a foft limpid Water.

Each of thefe, by their great Lightnefs and Purity, enter the fineft

Veffels, where they diffolve, and wath away, the ftagnant Humours; take
off the Sharpnefs of the Juices, and break the Coagulations and Acidity
of the Blood.
_ Pure Water likewife dilutes, prepares, and correéts the crude and ill-
concocted Juices, diffolves their Salts, and blunts their Force: And
as the Decay of human Nature is owing to Obftrudtions; and Wrinkles,
old Age, and even the Diffolution of the human Frame, are, in general,
chiefly owing to the Want of fufficient Motion in the Fluids ; it is highly
prebable, that Water (how little foever efteemed by the Generality of
Mankind) more excellently divides the Blood and Juices, than any other
Liquid whatfoever ; and therefore is of the greateft Service to preferve
Health and Life.

Whoever would be curious enough to inquire into its various effica-
cious Excellencies, either in Scorbutic, or Hypochondriacal Difeafes, and

-eyen in inflammatory Fevers, may confult the ingenious Dr. Floffman’s
and Dr. Shaw's Experiments upon different kinds of Water:
ae After the ftri@eft Inquiry, I found in the whole Ifland butTwo Springs,
that had any Appearance of a Mineral Principle ; the one in the Eftate
of Mr. Richard Richards, in the Parith of Sz. Andrew's; the other at
Mr. Perry's Eftate, in St. Fofeph’s Parifh: The former turns of a faint
Purple with the Powder of Galls ; the latter inftantly of a deep Purple ;
and, like the Pyrmont, refumes its firft Colour, upon dropping into it a
few Drops of the Spirit of Vitriol. The Difcovery of this Water may,
and I hope will, be of great Service in all Cafes where -Chalybeats are
required.
AanaicAni- I fhall conclude my Obfervations upon thefe Heads with a curfory
’ Defcription of the feveral aquatic Animalcules, which I: have obferved,
more or lefs, to inhabit every Refervoir of Water, efpecially Ponds.

The Sides of thefe are often covered with a greenifh Incruftation -in
Appearance, as if there were many coarfe Grains of Sand cemented «to
their ftony or rocky Sides : Thefe, even to the naked Eye, upon a narrow
Infpection, feem to be alive; and the Quantity of a Pin’s Head being
; diluted

Book IL. Wand of BARBADOS.

diluted in Water, and viewed through a Microfcope, there appear about
Eight or Nine little Animals, moving, or rather darting from Place to
Place, with a very quick irregular Motion : Their whole Bodies are pel-
lucid, and look in the Water like fo many Drops of Quickfilver, their
Legs being Four of a Side, moving with great Rapidity.

| What is called a Water-Bug, is about an Inch long, and Three-quarters
broad: This is to be found in moft Ponds in the Ifland ; but feldom or
never in Well-Water. The Origin of this Bug is a Pond-Worm of about
an Inch and a Quarter long, the Body jointed, and the Head guarded with
a! Forceps: The whole Worm, as moft Aquatics are, is of the Shrimp-
kind. This, a little before its Transformation, inwraps itfelf in an hol-
low Lump of Clay in the Bottom of the Pond: Some time afterwards it
cafts off both its Shape-and Exwvie, and becomes a Bug: In this laft Stage,
by the Armour upon its Back, and the Fins it paddles with in fwim-
ming, and its frequent Recourfe to the Surface for Air, it fomewhat
refembles a Tortoife in Miniature.

The Water of a great many of thefe Ponds, at different Times of the
Year, efpecially in a dry Seafon, when the Water is low, and the
‘Weather fomewhat calm, throws up a greenifh Scum to the Surface :
This is fo ftrong a Poifon, that, if fwallowed with the Water by Poul-
‘try, fuch as Turkies, or even by Black Cattle, they in half an Hour’s
time expire.

Having examined this Scum with a Microfcope, on the fame Day that
a Two-years old Bull had been poifoned by drinking in the fame Pond,
I obferved, that a Drop of it contained feveral very compact Fa/ces, or
{mall Fagot-like Bundles; the Extremities of their conftituent Parts be-
ing, in Appearance, fo many cryftallized Spicula.

I likewife difcovered, in the fame Drop of this Scum, which was di-
luted in fair Water, feveral Annulets, each Link of the Chain being of
an orbicular Form, barely touching one another.

It is faid, that this Scum is at times full of {mall Animalcules: How-
ever, I cannot affirm this to be true from any Experience of my own.

4 TABLE

48

The Natural Hiftory, &c. Book II.

A TABLE of the /pecific Weight of Fifteen cubical Inches of the Waters
of the principal Springs, Wells, &c. in the Ifland of Barbados, as well as
the Weight of thefe, compared with fome other Mineral Waters.

Weighed——Ounces, Drams. Grains.

(Mr. Robert Oshorne’s Well-Water, in St. Peter’s Parifh — 12

Cole’s Cave, Water
The Spring at Codrington’s College
Belly-ach Hole
Pory Spring Water
Pond- Water -
Pond-Water filtrated thro’ a Water-ftone
z Rain-Water, received from the Eaves, after long Rain —
Pyrmont-Water
Bay-Water, by Percolation thro’ the Sand —-—-————
A weak chalybeat Water, in the Eftate of Mr. Richard i
Richards -
The fame Quantity of Barbados Proof Rum weighed
Seven Ounces and anhalf, Two Drachms, Twelve Grains
and an half. ©.

CmoONnnmnmannmnwonwondc
Ww WWWW WWD WWD W
~
he}
v|

Fifteen cubical Inches of

L recommend to the Inhabitants of the Sugar-Colonies this Method of
proving their Rum: Which would prevent the many Differences. that arife
between the Planters and the Merchants; for, by this means, if this
general Standard were fixed in fome Office, recourfe might be ‘had
to it, to determine any Difpute of this Nature. . oe eee

The prefent Method of proving Rum in Barbados is liable to many
Inconveniencies ; for now the fame Rum that is not, in reality, faleable,
whilft in the Store-houfe, may, by being expofed to the Heat of the Sun,
as is often done, be made to appear far better than it really is ; and, by
this means, the unwary Purchafer is not only impofed upon, but theCre-
dit of the Ifland, as to good Rum, is leffened in foreign Markets.

It is by fuch wife Regulations that the Yamaica Rum. is every-where
preferred to ours: And, indeed, it is far preferable to our Market Rum ;
tho’ not to be compared with the Cane-Juice-Spirit made in Barbados by
the Planters for their own Ufe, tho’ feldom or never exported for Sale.

Of

Book 1. Iiand of BARBADOS. 49

S as ~ LALLA LLL LLL Lg OO OP
SS) Da 1 a (

(Ra SG < C @s A

fF Oo sos" i 49°

be \VING in the Firft Book proved the Trade-Wind to be
coeval with the Deluge, as well as from the remaining Ve/fi#-
gia upon the Surface of the Ifland, that the Courfe and Cur-
rent of both ran conjunél

7 j j face betwe
mates, I fhall endeavour (tho’ a thing hitherto unattempted) to ACCOUNL the Tropien

This Difference I conceive to be occafioned, firft, by the fudden car ata
Shiftings of the Winds (a thing common in variable Climates), which, in Force of the
their Turns, muft needs diverfly determine and impel the Courfe of the anes aes
Waters (perhaps during the Forty Days Continuance of the Deluge) to the Tropics.
all the cardinal Points. CSc apart

Add to this the more rapid Rife and Fall of the Waters, in the Flux
and Reflux of the Tides, during that Inundation ; for, as the Pofition of
the Moon, with regard to the Earth, was not then changed, and as we
read of no Miracle to fufpend her Power, her Influence over the Ele-

ment

5O The Natural Hiftory of the Book II.

ment of Water mutt (ceteris paribus) have the fame- Effe@ as it hath
now,; that is, in fome Northern Countries, the AttraGtion of the Moon,
upon the Surface of the Water, is fo great, that it rifes at high Tides,
efpecially at the Vernal and Autumnal Equinoxes, to Forty Feet ; whereas
in this and the adjacent Iflands, when the Moon defcribes its largeft Cir-
cle, it never rifes above Four Feet, and about Five Inches: Therefore, as the
Force of Four is to Forty, fo much more ftrongly muft fuch Northern
Climates feel thefe Percuflions.
After repeated Searches into the Sides of broken Clifts, Caves, and
deep Wells, I never found any Veins of uncommon Earth, fuch as Zerra
_ Lemnia, or Bolus Armoniacus, or of any other worth mentioning, except
Three Veins of coarfe red Oaker, Two in St. Lucy’s Parifh, and One near
Codrington’s College, in St. ‘fobn’s Parifh: This, where better Paint is
wanted, ferves tolerably well to daub over Wind-mill Vanes, or fuch
rough Work.
Green Tar As our moft remarkable Foflils are of the Bituminous Kind, I shall
ary begin with the green Tar.
This is an oily Bituminous Exudation, iffuing from fome Hills in S¢.
Andrew's and St. Fofeph’s Parifhes, of a dirty Black, inclining to.a Green.
The Method of procuring it is, to dig an Hole or Trench in, or very
near, the Place where it oufes out of the Earth: This by degrees fills
with Water, having a thick Film, or Cream, of this liquid Bitumen {wim-
ming upon the Surface ; from whence it is skimmed off, and preferved in
earthen Jars, or other Veffels.
The moft convenient Seafon for gathering it is in the Months of
January, February, and March,
It is of fo inflammable a Nature, that it ferves to burn in Lamps.
Its medici- As to its medicinal Qualities, it is chiefly made ufe of with great Suc-
nalQualities. : . 4 3 5
cefs in paralytic and nervous Diforders, as well as in curing cutaneous
Eruptions. It is of fo penetrating a Nature, that when an Horfe,
that hath been dofed with it, begins to be warm upon his Journey, the
Rider will {mell the Tar very ftrongly,
This, and one of a blacker Colour, in St. “fofeph’s Parifh, are all the
liquid Sorts found in this Ifland.
Solid Bitu- There is likewife another Species of Bitumen, of a folid Subftance,
men found
in Barbados. Called here Mumjack.
This is dug out of Beds, or Strata, of Earth, at different Depths, in the
Sides of Hills in S¢.Fobn’s and Sz. Andrew's Parifhes; and nearly anfwers
the Defcription of that Bitumen, which the Reverend Mr. Maundrel
found on the mountainous Sides of the Lacus Afphaltites, or the Dead
Sea, where formerly ftood the Cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. This Sort,
in a great meafure, anfwers the Ufe of Coals.
The Land_¢ _ Where the liquid Kinds are thrown up out of the Earth, the Surface of
arren where 4
Bitummensare the Ground is one continued Quagmire, bearing very little, if any Grafs ;
re ; and.

Book I. Tland of BARBADOS. Bt

and where the more folid is dug out, if the Veins are upon, or very near
the Surface, fcarce any Vegetable grows upon it. uy

If by Accident any of thefe Veins take Fire, they continue to burn a
long time, tho’ in a dull flow manner : For, as the Veins are furrounded
with Earth, this crumbles, and, falling into the Flame, ftifles it.

There was an Inftance of this in Sz. Yobn’s Parifh, where a Slave roaft-
ing Potatoes upon the Side of an Hill, a {mall Vein of Bitumen, lying very
near the Surface, took Fire, and continued flowly to burn, tho’ fometimes
{carce perceptibly, for above Five Years, without the leaft Danger to the
Neighbourhood.

If the inquifitive Monf. Le Clere had more narrowly inquired into the ee Clere’s
Nature of Bituminous Foffils, and the Soilswherein they are always found, confuted.
he would not, in all Probability, have been fo tenacious of his favourite,
tho’ groundlefs Opinion ; viz. That the Deftruétion of Sodom and Go-
morrah was not fupernatural ; but that the Plain, upon which they ftood,
was full of Bitumen, which, enkindled by Lightning, deftroyed the Cities
and Plains thereof.

Let us now examine this fine-fpun Conjecture : If this Deftru@ion was
caufed in this natural Way, the Suppofition will require as much a Miracle
to bring it about, as if he had fuffered Mo/es’s Defcription to be true:
For here muft be fuch Veins of Bitumen found, as will kindlein an Inftant;
and the Lightning muft be, as it were, as extenfive as the whole Plain;
whereas the Bitumen, that is now in {mall Quantities found in the Sides of
the adjoining Hills (and, in all Probability, ever was found there, and not
in the Valley), is of a Coal-like Subftance, like that found in Barbados ;
and is far from being capable, in a natural Way, of caufing fo quick
a Deftru€ion: For if thefe Plains and Cities were by this natural
Means deftroyed, the Caufe muft be as extenfive as the Effe@ : And, as
thefe Plains were Seventy-four Miles long, and Eighteen broad, they muft
be wholly, or in fuch a Part, impregnated with this imflammable Matter,
as to be capable by its Quality, and fuflicient by its Quantity; to caufe fo
general a Deftruétion: But that thefe Plains were not wholly, nor in fo
great a Part, fufliciently ftored with fuch combuftible Ingredients, will
evidently appear, if we allow, as furely we muft, that Nature is as confaft-
ent in her Produétions of this kind, as fhe is in other Minerals, Foflils,
and Vegetables.

Neither the Cedars of Lebanon, nor the Mountain Oaks, are found in
‘any Climate growing in wet Marfhes; nor Reeds nor Rufhes upon the
Tops of dry Mountains.

This is an Obfervation as early as the Time of Job: Can the Rufb grow
without Mire, and the Flag without Water 2

Virgil likewife gives it in the following Lines :

Nec vero terre ferre omnes omnia poffunt.
Pluminibus falices, craffifg; paludibus alni Stee
Nafcuntur, freriles faxofis montibus orni. Littora

The Natural Fiftory of the — Book IT.

Littora myrtetis letiffima : denig; apertos
Bacchus amat colles; Aquilonem & frigora taxi.
Virc. G. II, rog,

Nor ev’ry Plant on ev’ry Soil will grow :

The Swallow loves the watry Ground, and low ;
The Marfhes, Alders: Nature feems t’ ordain
The rocky Clift for the wild Ath’s Reign ;

The baleful Yeugh to Northern Blafts affigns ;
To Shores the Myrtles ; and to Mounts the Vines.

From hence we may learn, that there are Soils particularly adapted to
the different Kinds of Vegetables; and confequently conclude, that Fof-
fils likewife, Minerals, &c. will not thrive in an improper Soil.

This leads us to confider the Situation of thefe Plains: And when we
find, that the Whole was an Inland Country, withoutTrade or N avigation,
but what the River ‘Yordan afforded, we muft of courfe conclude, that
the Subfiftence of the numerous Inhabitants muft depend upon the Ferti-
lity of the Land, and not on foreign Supplies: Therefore, how confiftent
with that Prudence, which every Age of the World poffeffed, would it have
been to fettle in fo barren a Spot, not capable of producing the common
Neceflaries of Life! Yet fo it muft have been, if the whole Plain was im-
pregnated with this Bitumen: Or, if we fuppofe, that there were only
Veins of it interfperfed through this {pacious Plain,’ how fierce and rapid
foever the enkindled Flames of thefe Veins might be ; yet their deftrudtive
Influence and Power would be confined almoft intirely within their own
proper Chanels; fo that the reft of the Country would be in no Danger of
fo quick and fo general a Calamity, as befel it in this fuppofed natural
Way.

We might purfue this Argument farther (if any additional Proofs were
wanting); and obferve, that the prefent, and in all Probability, the former
Veins of Bitumen were found, not in the Plain (which was very juftly com-
pared with ¢he Garden of the Lord for Fruitfulnefs), but in the Hills on
the Eaft and Weft Sides of it: And, as the River Yordan, at this time,
fomewhat above the Lake, is almoft as wide as the Thames at Chelfea,
and ran formerly from North to South thro’ the Plain; if we even fup-
pofe, that whole Torrents of this liquid Fire burft out from the Sides of
either of thefe Hills, their deftru@ive Courfe would be ftopped, when it
reached fuch a Body of Water as that River contained : So that, unle&
we extravagantly fuppofe, that the Mountains on the Eaft, and their op-
polite on the Weft, which were Eighteen Miles afunder, took Fire very -
critically at the fame time, the Country on one Side or other of the River
muft, in all Probability, have been fafe, by the Interpofition of {0 great
a Quantity of Water.

Laftly,

Book I1. iland of BARBADOS.

Laftly, If we fuppofe, that the whole Plain was fufficiently ftored with
Bitumen to caufe, in a natural Way, fuch a Defolation ; then we muft
necefiarily grant, that it muft be a very barren Spot, and improper to be
inhabited, contrary to its Situation, with regard to the Climate, and con~
trary to the Defcription which is given of it: For, When Lot lifted up
bis Eyes, be beheld all the Plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every=
where; and therefore made Choice of it. ; :

I hope I have faid enough to thew, from the Nature of this Kind of
Foffil, and the Barrennefg of the Place wherein it is always found, as
well as from the great Extent and Suddennefs of the Deftruétion, that it
could not proceed, as Monf. Le Clerc imagined, in a-natural Way, from
the Firing of thefe fuppofed Bituminous Veins, but from the miraculous
Power of God.

53

54 The Natural Hiftory of thas Book IL.

CRUG, LLM ALLL ogg PL CLL ACA
S © Sp :

RA (GA =) LD Z

OF MONO RAT'S.

SE aR oe oe Ee eee oe oo ee ee Eee eee eS a Paseo SD
The Ufes AE SIDES the Ufe of Minerals in Phyfic, they are defigned
of Minerals.

for feveral other Ends, as wellas for Ornament; but their chief

Value is in Money, which is become the common and moft

prudent Method of Exchange: Nor are their Advantages in

: Utenfils to be forgotten, whether they are defigned for the

common Purpofes of Life, or made into Inftruments neceffary for the
Improvements of Arts and Sciences.

In the various and different Forms of Minerals, as well as their Qua-
lities, we find fuch evident Footfteps of Divine Wifdom, as leave us no
room to fufpeét, that they are the Effect of blind Chance, tho’ formed in
the deep Receffes of the Earth. 6 —

Men have univerfally confented to ftamp the greateft Value upon Gold:
And tho’ they have as -univerfally afligned the hotteft Climates, as the
moft natural to ripen, and to give Colour to, this illuftrious Ore ; yet, in
this warm Ifland, neither the Soil upon the Surface, nor at any Depth in
the Earth, at leaft in general, as far as Two (1) hundred Feet deep,
give any promifing Indications of either Gold or Silver.

Gold found However, we have fome Caufe to believe, that we are not intirel

in Barbates. aeAitute of the former ; for there was found in Colonel el Alleyne’s
Eftate, on the Surface of the Earth, a Piece of Ore, which, upon Trial
in England, proved very pregnant with Gold ; but, tho’ diligent Search
was made by digging and otherwife, there was no more difcovered.

There is but one other Inftance, that I can venture to mention with any
Certainty ; and that is, a fmall Piece of Gold, now in the Poffeflion of
Fames Bruce, E{q; which was extracted from fome Ore {ent to England
from hence by Dr. Bruce : But as that Gentleman died before the Expe-

riment was made, itis not well known in what Part of the Ifland he
found it.

There

(1) There is not a Parifh in the Ifland, nor fcarce a large Eftate, but hath a Well dug init: Anda great

many of thefe are very deep ; efpecially one in the Eftate of Francis M‘Mahen, Efg; which is above Two
hundred Feet deep.

Book IL. Jland of BARBADOS. Be

There is likewife a Species of Mineral found in S%. Andrew's Parith, in
Scotland. ‘This is as bright as polifhed Brafs, and generally of cubical
Figures : By its Weight and Colour it is apt to give Hopes of being rich
in fome valuable Metal ; but, being with great Care tried in the Crucible,
it produced no manner of Metal. I take this to be a fulphureous Marca=
fite, or the Pyrites flavus ; tho’ it is feldom met with here in globular
Figures, as it is moft commonly found in England.

‘There are alfo Stones taken out of the Sea, that are very hard and pon-
derous, containing, by their dusky ferrugineous Colour, probably much
Tron, and by their Smell, when broken, much Sulphur. The fame are
fometimes to be met with on Land, efpecially at the Eftate of the Ho-
nourable Samuel Roufe, Efq;

The Soil likewife, in a great many barren and hilly Parts of Scotland,
is often mixed with fmall Flakes of Icinglafs, as well as Pieces of tranf-
parent Talc; the latter efpecially, in the Eftate of Miles James, Elgs.
where are to be feen folid pellucid Pieces, weighing no lefs than Fourteen -.
or Fifteen Ounces. ;

And in S¥. George’s Parith are often dug up Lumps of a tran{parent
refinous Subftance, at firft Sight exactly refembling Refin. What chiefly
diftinguifhes it from Refin, is the Fragrancy of its Smell. Upon com-
paring it with the Gum of the Birch Gum-tree, I found it to be of the
fame Species.

In fawing Stones for Building, there are often found, in the middle of
folid Blocks of Stones, feveral kinds of Shells; fome of them not to be
found on our Shores, efpecially the long Mufcle-thell.

I have likewife a middle-fized petrified Echinite, taken from the mid-
dle of a Piece of a fplit Rock.

The Defcription of our Ores and Fofiils being finifhed, it may not beRemarka-
$ oe , bleCaves in
improper, before we leave our fubterraneous Inquiries, to take notice of Barbados
fome of our moft remarkable Caves ; efpecially as thefe are many in Num-
ber, and fome of them not only curious in the various Appearances of
their petrified Icicles (if I may {0 call them), and other Conglaciations,
but likewife, together with our deep Wells, very ferviceable to prevent
Earthquakes, by giving at fo many Mouths Vent to thofe (2) Vapours,
which would otherwife be confined in the Bowels of the Earth.

My Inquiries into thefe Caves were the moft laborious and dangerous ;
they were alfo by far the leaft pleafing to myfelf ; and I fear the Defcrip-
tion of them (Cole’s Cave excepted) will prove leaft inftruétive or amufing
to my Readers: But as common Report, long before my Intention of
undertaking this Work, was ftrong in favour of feveral very extraordinary
Reprefentations in fome Caves in my own Parith; efpecially, that there
was, in one, the Effigy of a Woman with a Child in her Arms 3 and, a

little

(2) In the Time of great Droughts, the Air is not only very hot, but fometimes it fmells fulphureous :
This I particularly obferved ontheThird Day of Augu/? 1747. Thefe fulphureousVapours were diffipated as

foon as the Clifts of the parched Earth were faturated with the Rain, which, about that Time, fell in great
Plenty.

56

Cole’s Cave,

The Natural Hiftory of the Book I.

little beyond it, a lively Reprefentation of a Lion; and as it would ill
become me to deliver fuch. traditional Reports as true, without the ut-
moft Certainty; I went down into feveral of thefe Caves, but not with-
out Difficulty, and Danger of being fuffocated, being often taken with a
violent Vomiting, when I came out into the open Air; with the additional
Mortification of finding, that the petrified conglaciated Subftances, fo
ftrongly affirmed to bear fuch Portraitures, might, without ‘the Affiftance
of any far-fetched Ideas, be as well faid to reprefent a Cock and a Bull,
as a Woman and a Lion.

The Inadvertency and credulous Propenfity of the Vulgar, on one hand,
to believe every Story, that hath fomething marvelous in it ; and, on the
other hand, that infatuating Fondnefs and Pride fome Men have to be.
thought more knowing than their Neighbours ; together with lucrative
Confiderations; gave the crafty Part of Mankind an early Opportunity of
ufhering into the Heathen World the Belief of Harpyes, Centaurs, and
Satyrs, as well as, in a more enlightened Age, the lefs pernicious, tho’
not lefs ridiculous, Exiftence of Unicorns, Griffins, and Flying Dragons,
with a great many other fuch fenfelefs Chimera’s, which ferve to aftonith,
and fet the weak and ignorant Part of Mankind a gaping.

As Cole’s Cave is by far the largeft, and moft worthy our Notice, I fhall
confine myfelf to the Defcription of that alone: Firft, obferving that I
never took a Survey of it, but it ftrongly afle&ed my Imagination, and
recalled to my Mind that awful Defcription, which Virgil gives us of the

firft Entrance into the Shades below :

Spelunca alta fuit, vaftog; immanis hiatu.

Its Situation is almoft in the Bottom of a melancholy hideous Gully (3),
which is about an Hundred and Sixty-five Feet deep ; where, above you,
nothing is to be feen but the Tops of high Rocks, and impending Clifts,
thro’ the gloomy Branches of lofty Trees.

Such was the folemn Silence, which 0 er/pread
The Shrine of Ammon, or Dodona’s Shades ;

Gtiover’s Leonid.

. The Defcent, towards itsEntrance, is by a fteep craggy Precipice of great
Height, where your Security from a Fall depends much upon the good
Hold you take of the Roots of Trees, and Branches of Underwood.
Having rather flid than walked down in this manner a confiderable
Way, you are, on a fudden, within an Inclofure of very high perpendicu-
lar Rocks, the Sky-light being admitted by two Holes in the Roof
of

(3) A deep Chafn made between Hills, by repeated Torrents of Rain.

Book IL land of BARBADOS.

of it. In the Welt Side of this gloomy Apartment lies the Mouth of the’

Cave, which is an Hole of a confiderable Bignefs, _

Upon our firft Entrance into it, as we defcénded, the Light of the Day
began to grow weak, and proved but a faint and uncertain Guide.
Twenty Yards farther it appeared no ftronger nor brighter, than the
Glimmering of a Star in an hazy dull Night : A few Steps more inveloped
us in a total Darknefs.

Quale per incertam lunain, fub luce maligna,
Eft iter in [ylvis, ubi celum condidit umbra
Jupiter, & rebus nox abfpulit atra colorem. ViIRG.

Thus wander Travellers in Woods by Night,

By the Moon’s doubtful and malignant Light: _
When Zove in dusky Clouds ifivolves the Skies : -
And Colours fade before their darken’d Eyes.

From hence, with the Affiftance of a Candle and Lantern, I began

my fubterraneous Tour ; and foon after my Entrance I turned upon the

Left Hand to take a View of that Branch of iit called the Dry Cave.
TheTop or Roof of this is crouded with innumerable petrefied (4) Ici-
cles hanging downwards. The Sides of the Cave were likewife in fevera]
Places thick {et therewith, efpecially where there was: a Cavity: There
they grew from the upper to the under Shelves of the Rock, like fo many

Baluftrades, or Balufters of a Staircafe, but more in Number, ‘and irre-*

gular, fometimes in two, fometimes in threefold Divifions.
Upon breaking feveral of thefe Cones, which -are of different Lengths
_and Magnitude, I found thofe hanging, from the Roof downwards, intirely
perforated, and a {mall Quantity of the mofttranfparent Water continually
dropping through them.

‘The inner Circumference of thefe Holes was a pellucid ftony Body;
from Top to Bottom ; and tho’ it was far from having the Luftre of a
Briftel Stone, yet it appeared fhining, tranfparent, and hard ; and its Parts
were projected in form of Rays from the Centre to the Circumference.

By comparing thefe Icicles with many that I have feen in England,
Wales, and North America, as well as thofe deferibed by the Reverend
Mr. Maundrel, found cleaving to the inner Sides of what are called King
Solomon’s Aguedutts, near Tyre, 1 find, that thefe Petrefations, or con-

glaciated

(4) Ata Cave, in the Eftate of Reynold Alleyne, Eq; called Mount Standfa/t, 1 obferved Icicles. different
from thofe in Cole’s Cave ; the latter being very large, and of a brown Colour on the Outfide, the former
exactly refembling, in Shape, Colour, and Bignefs, the hollow Part of a middle-fized Goofe-quill. §Thro*
thefe Tubes is continually diftilled a. {mall Quantity of the moft tranfparent Water. Here likewife I faw
a blunt Cone of petrefied Water, which continues daily to grow ; and the feveral Strie made by the falling
Drops are vifible. This refembles, in Miniature, thofe large petrefied Rocks of the fame Shape, obferved
by the ingenious Dr. Shaw in Barbary, which the Arabs believe to be fo many Tents of their Anceftors.
turned into Stone. i

9

57

68

The Nathral Fiiftory of the. Book EL.

glaciated Subftances, are, in general, of the fame Make and Nature in evey
Part of the World. :

» The next thing remarkable in thefe fubterraneous Apartments is the
Wet Cave. This, tiear its firft Separation from the Dry, already deferi-
bed, is very {pacious and lofty ; but its Bottom very much furrowed, and
torn up, by the repeated Torrents of Rain, which in wet Seafon$ run
through it.

Soon after we entered this, we were agreeably furprifed with the Mur-
murs of a diftant Stream, which a little farther we found to bea confider-
able Spring of the moft tranfparent Water, ifluing from a large projected
Rock; -or rather the impending Side of the Cave.

Having drunk of this, we might here again juftly apply another Paf-
fage in Virgil:

Tntus aque dulces, vivog; fedilia axo,
Nympharumg; domus. -.-- - - ~

A Grot is form’d beneath, with mofly Seats,

To reft the Wereids, and exclude the Heats.

Down thro’ the Crannies of the living Walls

The cryftal Streams defcend in murm’ring Falls, Dryp,

The Roof of the Cave, near this Place, is deeply and remarkably pit-
ted with feveral Holes, reprefenting fhallow Cones of Diameters, from
Nine to Twenty Inches, whofe greateft Depth was not above Twenty-
four Inches.

Limagine that thefe Holes owe their Origin to large cavous Icicles,
which formerly hung down from them, but were broken off by fome
Convulfions of the Earth.

The Spring here made a fmall Bafin, or Bathing-place ; and the Air is
likewife there made pure and clear by the Coldnefs of the Water.

From hence forwards, the Cave gradually leffened in Height and
Breadth ; and the Icicles hanging from the Top, and irregular Sides, were
more in Number, but lefs in Magnitude.

Here I began to want Air; and at laft the Paflage became fo nar-
row and low, that I was obliged to ftoop much ; and the Icicles were fo.
fmall, that the longeft of them did not exceed my little Finger in Length,
and in Diameter. : mks

This Place, diftant near a Quarter of a Mile from the Entrance, was
my We plus ultra, being fo much fatigued, and wanting Air fo much,
that I durft not, without Prefumption, proceed farther.

I cannot help fanfying, that if this Cave had been fituated in antient
Greece, or Italy, imbrowned with Shades of Cyprefs. Groves, and me-
lancholy Yew, it would, in all Probability, have been the Rendez-
vous of all the bufy and inquifitive World: Here oracular PAedus had

fixed

Book IT: land of BARBADOS,

fixed his facred Tripos ; Here the Fate of Kingdoms, and of Empires, had
been fondly confulted, and no lefs artfully determined: Here the Greedy
and Ambitious, deluded by ambiguous Promifes of Succefs, would have
grafped fantaftic Crowns and Sceptres at the Expence of real Treafures,
Anxiety of Mind, and even of human Blood : And from hence perhaps the
crafty Statefman would have derived divine Authority to human Laws
and Inftitutions: In fine, Cum, and neglected Delphi, had never been
immortalized in Verfe or Profe.

As Fraud and Impofture can never bear the Teftimony and Face of Day,
the Heathen Priefts made Choice of fuch gloomy and difmal Recefies
for the Execution of their diabolical Collufions, as might naturally affect
the Imagination with an enthufiaftic Horror and Amazement ; and, at
the fame time, conceal from Obfervation thofe Inftruments of Delufion,
wherewith they were to impofe on the Weaknefs of their infatuated Que-
rifts : And what Place could more effectually promote the Defign of
thefe Sorcerers, than fuch a dreadful Den of Darknefs, as I have been
now defcribing ? Where, in the Words of /; irgil,

Horror ubig;, animos, finul ipfa filentia terrent.

All things were full of Horror and Affright,
And dreadful ev’n the Silence of the Night.

The End of the Seconp Boox.

59

Vivi eof on Gna bo
2 : fe ia
ap oyd b3b

oe meee eames
eae ee,

cee

sine
is terme:

fe etee & il

Me EB

NATURAL HISTORY

Ifland of BARBADOS
BOOK it |

Of Lanp ANIMALs.

oN NIMALS are fenfitive organic Bodies, endued with
R {pontaneous Motion. ;

By Animals, in the following Book, I would’ be
V2 underftood to mean, without defcending to minuter
Wa unneceffary Divifions, fuch only as are generally
termed Quadrupeds, Volatiles, and Infeés.

Tn each of thefe may be traced the Workmanthip
@ of a Divine Archite@ture, each formed in Number,

Weight, and Meafure ; without Defeé, without
Superfluity, exaétly fitted and enabled to anfwer the various Purpofes of
their Creation, to exécute the Will of their Creator, to minifter to the’
Delight and Service of Man, and to contribute to the Beauty and Har-
mony of the uniyerfal Syftem, ;

How furprifing an Inftance of Almighty Power, and how wonderful
a Piece of Mechanifm, is to be feen in fome of the minuteft Animals?
For Inftance, the Potato-Loufe, an Infed& bred upon Vegetables in this
Ifland, which is fo fmall, that it is {carce difcernible by the naked Eye !

R=, Yet

62

The Natural Hiiftory of the. __— Book MIT.

Yet this is every way as perfect as an Ox,’a Whale, or an Elephant. What
lefg than infinite Wifdom and Power, could difpofe a little Portion of
Matter, almoft too {mall to be viewed by the naked Eye, into that infi-
nite Variety of Parts that are neceflary to form an organic Body!

Let us confider how inexpreffibly fine, flender, and delicate muft. the
feveral Parts be, that are neceflary to form the Organs, to proportion the
Strudture, to dire the Machinery, and preferve and fupply the vital
and animal Adtion, in one of thefe very fmall: Animals : , Yet every Part
that is neceflary to animal Life is as truly found in one of them, as in
Behemoth and Leviathan. Y very much doubt, whether any Wifdom, but
that‘which framed them, can fully comprehend the Structure, the Sym-
metry, the Beauties, of fuch almoft imperceptible Generations: And I
think it muft needs exceed any finite Underftanding to conceive, much
lefs explain, how fuch an infinite Variety of Parts, and Exercife of Pow-
ers, could be contained or exerted within fo narrow a Space.

Firft, The Heart, the Fountain of Life; then the Mutcles, neceffary
to produce Motion ; the Glands, for the Secretion of Juices; the Ven-
tricle and Inteftines, for digefting their Nourifhment ; and numberlefs
other Parts which are neceflary to form an organic Body.---This Know-
lege is too wonderful and excellent for any human Underftanding, when
weconfider, that each of thofe Members are themfelves alfo “ organical Bo-
“ dies; that they confift of Fibres, Membranes, Coats, Veins, Arteries,
“ Nerves, and numberlefs Springs, Tubes, and Pullies, too fine for Fancy
“¢ itfelf to conceive.”

Can we likewife form the leaft Guefs how infinitely fubtile and fine
muft the Parts of thofe Fluids be, that circulate thro’ thefe Tubes, ‘* as the
“¢ Blood, the Lympha, and Animal Spirits, which in the largeft Animals
“© are fo exquifitely fine, that no Imagination can explain or conceive ?”

Can any Knowlege, any Power, lefs than infinite, produce or explain
fuch wonderful Effeéts and Appearances as thefe ?

We may conclude therefore, that infinite Wifdom is as truly and won-
derfully difplayed in the fmalleft as in the greateft Works of the Creation ;
and nothing lefs than the fame Wifdom that formed the univerfal Syf{tem,

_ could poffibly produce the fmalleft and moft contemptible Being in Nature.

In treating of our Animals, I fhall begin with the domeftic and labo-
rious Kind.

Thefe are much the fame Breed with thofe of the fame Species in Ezg-
land, tho’ not quite fo large.

Among the Diftempers which infect thefe, there is one of a very con-
tagious and peftilential (r) Kind ; for a Beaft fhall feemingly, by his feed-

Ing

"

(1) If the Planters would make a {mall continual {mothering Fire, with Pitch and Tar, and Vegetables
of the Terebinthine Kind, to the Eaftward of the Pens or Places where their Cattle are tied, and fed upon,
I am of Opinion, that it might be of great Service to prevent or leffen this Diftemper. The moft common,
and I believe the moft fuccefsful Drench, given to thefe diftempered Cattle, is the following : ’

Take the Quantity of an Egg of Caftile Soap, a Pint of Rum, half a Pint of Lime-Fuice, a Pint of Arrow-

Root-Fuice, and a Pint and an half of Vervain-Fuice, mixed and incorporated together, and given in a Drench. |

This hath often been of great Service.

N. B. The Soap mutt be diffolved.

Book IIT. Iland of BARBADOS.

ing heartily, and in Appearance, be otherwife well; yet in a few Hours
time, without any Symptom of a previous Diforder, drop down and die.

Thefe, when dead, are by the moft judicious Planters immediately
buried ; and often there is a Watchman appointed, to prevent the new-
bought Negroes, and others of the poorer fort, from digging up the Car-
cafes, and feeding upon them ; for when this happens, it generally cofts
them their Lives; efpecially if they eat the Liver, or any Part of the
Entrails : In this Cafe the Diftemper breaks out in the Shape of Plague-
boils, near the Arm-pits or Temples.

I have known one very extraordinary Inftance of its Virulency: A
Negro Woman carrying upon her Head, in a Wicker-basket, a Piece of
this Flefh, that had been newly cut off from a dead diftempered Carcafe,
a few bloody fanious Drops fell through the Basket upon her Left Breaft..
In a few Hours fhe was {welled all over, and was not able to move a
Limb ; and in about Two Days there appeared mortifying Ulcers on every
Part where the Drops fell: And, tho’ {fpeedy Methods were ufed, by Fo-
mentations, and. by feveral other means, to prevent its further Progrefs ;
yet neither thefe Cautions, nor taking off the infe@ed Part, could put a
Stop to it ; at laft, the whole Breaft, and adjacent infe@ted Part, were
taken off clofe to the Bones. In this deplorable Condition the Surgeon
gave her over. Her Miftrefs was one of thofe notable Women, who love
to aé& out of their Sphere (which only an abfolute Neceffity can juftify) ;
who, by fome accidental Succefs in the Ufe of Simples, called That Skill
and Knowlege, which, with greater Propriety, might be attributed rather
to good Luck : However, in this Cafe, where there were feemingly no Hopes
of faving the Patient, fhe very fortunately applied to her Breaft a Cata-

plafm of the Four following Herbs, Swzooth Elder-leaves, Soldier-bufb, Dial.

thea, and Chriftmas-bufb, boiled and brought into a Confiftency with Bees-
wax and Hog’s-lard; and, in a fhort time, intirely cured her. The Firft of
thefe Plants is very detergent, and the Three laft very good Vulneraries.

The Sheep that are natural to this Climate, and are chiefly bred here,
are hairy like Goats. To be covered with Wool, would be as prejudicial
to them in thefe hot Climates, as it is ufeful in Winter Countries for Shel-
ter and Warmth: Yet, as Cloathing is neceflary (efpecially in the wet
Seafons) to the Inhabitants of the warmeft Climates, this intire Want of
Wool upon all Sheep naturally bred here, is abundantly fupplied by the
Cotton-tree, which yearly, and in great Quantity, produces the fineft
Wool in the World.

Among the Number of Animals, either peculiar to, or brought to this
Hfland, we are happy, that there is not one that is mortally venomous ;
whilft many of our neighbouring French lands are miferably infefted with
Vipers, and other Snakes.

- There are here butThree Reptiles that can be properly called venomous ;

the Black Spider, the Forty-leg, and the Surinam Scorpion.
The

64.

The Natural Hiftory of the Book TIE.

The Scorvion of the Lizarp Kind,

Full-grown Scorpion is about Ten Inches long; the Skin foft, but
{caly, and of a dull Copper-colour. The very young ones are fur-
prifingly preferved from Danger ; for, when this threatens, the Parent
Scorpion opens her Mouth, and fwallows her Young, which fhe voids out
again when the Danger is over.
This is not peculiar to this Animal alone ; for the Shark at Sea pre-
ferves its Young in the fame manner.

The Sportep Lizarp; commonly called,
The Poisonous Lizarp.

ope exceeds not Ten Inches in Length.
Its Head is fomewhat flatter than that of the green Lizard, and
the Eyes more prominent.

The Back is very thickly fpeckled with Ruffet and White.

Its Feet differ remarkably “AS other Lizards, being very finely crofs-
indented like a File, but infinitely more curioufly : By this means, as
well as by a vifcous Matter iffuing from thefe {pongy Indentures, they can
creep along a {mooth perpendicular, or even a projected Cieling.

Ads the Appearance of thefe is more difagreeable and ugly than the
common green Lizard, they are, Ibelieve, upon that account alone, called
The Poifonous Lizard ;, for, upon the ftricteft Inquiry, I could never per=
ceive, that they were really poifonous.

| The SurtnaM_ ScoxkpPion.

A Full-grown Scorpion is’Three Inches long from the Head to the
~* Extremity of the Tail.

From the Fore-part of the Neck, clofe to the Head, rifeTwo Claws
of about Three Quarters of an Inch long, divided into Three Joints, each
Claw near its Extremity ending ina long flender whitith. Forceps...

»it hath Two Eyes, black, {mall, and fhining ; likewife Four Pair of
Legs, the hindermoft Pair being the longeft: Each Joint of the Legs, as
well as the Back, is marked with feveral faint whitifh Lifts, the interme-
diate Space being of a ruffet Colour, mixt with blackith Spots.

, The Tail is divided. into Six Joints : At the Extremity of the. laft ap-
pear two {mall horny, fomewhat crooked, Stings or Darts, in form of a
wide-extended. Forceps, the upper being above double the Length of the
lowermoft : Nor,are they {eemingly jointed together at the Root; for the
longeft comes from the upper Side of the laft Joint of the Tail, the other
from the lowermoft Part, the intermediate Space being flefhy. pa

When

Book IU. land of BARBADOS,

When a Surinam Scorpion walks or runs, fhe generally curls up her
Tail in a Ring; and, when provoked, fhe extends it to its full Length ;
and then with a very quick Motion darts its Sting or Forceps into her
Adverfary. :

Perfons who have the Misfortune to be ftung by them, endure very
acute Pain for feveral Hours; and the Fleth, near the Wound, turns gene-
rally livid : However, I have known no Inftance here of its proving mortal.

Upon examining this horny Sting with a good Microfcope, I could not
perceive either Hole or Fiffure, by which the Poifon might be conveyed
to the Wound: Yet, upon prefling very hard upon the Sting of an enraged
Scorpion with the Blade of a Penknife, I plainly perceived a thin bluith
Liquid to iffue from the Extremity of the Sting, which, upon a greater
_ Preflure, was followed by a whitith Liquid, of a thicker Confiftency : The
former I take to be principally the Poifon that it injects into the Wound
it makes, and the latter to be only the Juices of the Body.

It is the general Opinion here, as well as elfewhere, that if thefe Scor-
pions are furrounded, tho’ at a Diftance, with F ire, or any other way greatly

molefted, they will fting themfelves in the Head, and immediately expire.

This is attefted by a great many Perfons of undoubted Veracity: Yet, as
this Opinion contradiés that Principle of Self-prefervation, which appears
to be fo natural, and fo general, ftrongly influencing the whole Brute
Creation to preferve their Being, it may be juftly queftioned, whether the
many Experiments made, in order to eftablith this Opinion, were attended
to with that Accuracy which the Subje& required.

As for my own Part, I am apt to believe, that the Heat of the fur-
rounding Fire hath, at leaft fometimes, a Share in the Deftru@ion
of thefe Creatures upon fuch Experiments,

Thefe Scorpions are chiefly to be feen among old Boards, old Books, or
other loofe Papers.

They never bear any Young ones but once: The She carries her Young
upon her Back; and, as thefe grow in Strength, the Parent decays and dies.

Thefe Scorpions are but {mall in this Part of the World, when com-
pared with thofe in the Spanifb Weft-Indies.

An Inftance of the Bignefs of the latter is feen in a very large one,
now in the Repofitory of the Royal Society ; which is about Eight Inches
long, and every way propottionable,

The GreEN Lizarp.

ems is of the oviparous Kind, laying {mall whitith Eggs, which
they depofit in loofe dufty Earth, ‘where they are impregnated by
the Heat of the Sun. oe
- A full-grown Lizard, in Barbados, is about Ten Inches long; tho’ in
the Ifland of Antigua they are often above Fourteen, and in Bulk Three
times as large as ours.
S The

65

66

The Natural Hiftory of the Book II.

The Head is fomewhat flattith, and hollow between the Eyes: ‘Thefe
in all Kinds-of Lizards are very prominent.

The Back is of a changeable {hining Green, imboffed with {mall

pointed Rifings, like Shagreen: It changes towards the Belly into a pale
Silver White.
- - Ass Lizards are very harmlefs Creatures, feveral Authors are of Opinion,
that they are, in particular, great Lovers of Mankind . And, to prove this,
they affure us, that when Men in hot Countries fleep under the Shade of
Trees, the Lizards will creep upon feveral Parts of their Bodies : Nay, fo
fanciful are fome of thefe Writers, that they gravely affirm, that Lizards
will leap upon a fleeping Perfon to awake him, if he fees a Snake ap-
proaching him; tho’, upon a narrow Scrutiny, we fhall find, that this feem-
ing Familiarity and Philanthropy are the Effect of no other Principle, than
that of Self-prefervation ; for, as thefe Lizards chiefly live upon Flies,
their Familiarity in creeping, or Daringnefs in leaping, upon a. fleeping
Perfon, is only in order to catch Flies ; which they do by creeping near,
and then leaping upon, their Prey.

It is likewife fuppofed, that they are great Lovers of Mufic.

This Opinion is fupported by feveral probable Circumftances ; for they
will draw near to the Sound of any mufical Inftrument.

I have known one Inftance myfelf of a Lizard drawing nearer and
nearer by Degrees, and at laft leaping upon the Spinet which a: Lady was
playing upon. 3

However, I would not, from this one, perhaps cafual, Inftance, ke fup-
pofed to draw any certain regular Inference in favour of a general Cer-

tainty of the above-mentioned Opinion.

MonkKeEYs.

“ES E SE are not very numerous in this Ifland : They chiefly refide
- in inacceflible Gullies; efpecially where there are many Fruit-
trees: sack

The greateft Mifchief they do to the neighbouring Planters is digging
out of the Earth their Yams and Potatoes, and fometimes breaking and
carrying off a great many ripe Sugar-canes.

As a Law of this Ifland provides a Premium for deftroying thefe, as
well as Racoons, they yearly rather decreafe than multiply.

RavtTs.

— ESE are fo very numerous, and fo. very deftru€tive to Sugar-
canes, that the yearly Lofs to the Inhabitants of the Parifhes of Sz.
Ee caliper Sz. Andrew's alone, is computed ta be no lefs than Two or
hree thoufand: Pounds. LR :
That

Book IIL. Iland of BARBADOS.

That they are in greater Numbers in thofe Parithes than elfewhere, ma
be attributed to their hilly Situation, interfperfed with high inacceffible
Rocks, in whofe Cavities they fhelter, and there breed.

The JESSAMIN Infeé7,

aap this very curious Animal I am at a Lof fora Name, having
neither {een it myfelf, nor ever heard it mentioned by any one, all
the time I was in that Ifland. I am obliged for the following Account
of it, fince I came to England, to a(2) Gentleman, whofe Veracity may be
relied on, and who took one of them from a Jeflamin-tree, that was
againft Colonel Maynard’s Houfe on his Eftate in S¥. Peter's Parifh.

The Body of it is about Three Inches long, and fo nearly refembles
the Bark of a Jeflamin Twig, as not eafily to be diftinguithed from it,
infomuch that it may be fairly denominated from it. The Make of it is
much like that of the Infe@ commonly called Yobn Cook’ s Florfe, except-
ing that this Jeflamin Infe@ is furnifhed with a moft curious Tongue of
the Thicknefs of a Horfe-hair, near Two Inches long, ftanding (as far as it
hath been yet obferved) always proje&ted out of its Mouth: For the Pre.
fervation of which moft extraordinary Member, as it is; on the one hand,
no doubt, greatly inftrumental in procuring Food for the Owner, and on
the other, from: its delicate Texture, lable to frequent Accidents ; Nature
has moft kindly, and at the fame time moft wonderfully, formed a very
curious Cafe or Scabbard for it out of its two Fore Feet, which were each
of them hollowed exactly for the Purpofe ; and which that Gentleman
fays he faw it make ufe of feveral times, by lifting them up, extending
them, and clapping them together to cover the Tongue. After obferving
it for feveral Hours, in order to preferve it perfeé, it was ftuck to a Board
with a Pin: The Pain (as it is fuppofed) occafioned its laying a very {mall
beautiful {peckled Egg.

Jon Coox’s Horse, or Hac’s Horse.

wig HO” this hath all itsLimbs in Perfe@ion ; yet it is fo fhapelefs an Ani-
mal, that, without a narrow Infpection, it can hardly ke diftinguithed

at firft from a dry half-rotten Piece of Straw’of atout Three’ Inches long:

~ Its Legs, which are Four in Number, are very near as fine as thofe of

a large Spider. It feems to be every way very inoflenfive; and it is gene-

rally to be found upon Shrubs and Buthes.

A great many Negroes have a Notion, that, if they kill one of thefe,
they will be very unlucky in breaking all Earthen Wares they handle : Of
this they are fo ftrongly perfuaded, that I have {een a Negro Wench fuf-
fer a Whipping, rather than; when commanded to do it, kill one of them,

The whole Body and Legs are {peckled alternately with a ruffet Brown,
and a dull White; but not difcernible at any great Diftance.’

From
(2) The Reverend Mr. Dowding, formerly Rector of St. Peter’s Parifh, in Barbades.

68

The Natural Hiftory of the Book III.

From the Head rife Two hairy Feelers of about an Inch long: From
the Neck likewife, clofe to the Head, come the Two foremoft Pair of
Legs, which are about an Inch and a half long, and jointed in the Mid-
dle: Atabout an Inch farther Diftance from thefe come the Two hin-
dermoft Legs. Kner Seria Bark Diet

The whole Body of this Animal, at about half an Inch Diftance from
the hindermoft Legs, ends in a fomewhat forked Tail.

The CaAvE-BatT.

AS this hath nothing in common with Birds, but its Wings, and thefe
differing from theirs by the Want of Plumage; and as it likewife
lays neither Eggs, nor hath a Bill, which are the chief Charateriftics of
Birds ; I have ventured to remove it from that Clafs, where many Writers
have given it a Place.

The great Bochart obferves, that its very Name in Hebrew is apuy
Atalleeph, i.e. a Bird of Darkne/s.

This Bat hath its Name from its Place of Refidence (3).

It is often as big as a young Pigeon. . Its Body is covered with a Snuff
coloured foft Hair: Its Ears are more upright, and larger, in proportion, |
than thofe of a Rat ; and its whole Head, efpecially its Mouth and Nofe,
fhorter and thicker. From the Extremity of one Wing to the other exe
tended, meafures Eighteen Inches: Its Feet are guarded with Six fharp
Talons, each turning inwards like Fifh-hooks.

Some of the common People are of Opinion, that as Bats are always
awake at Night, therefore their Flefh dried to Powder, and given to Dogs
will make them likewife watchful at Night : And this Powder is very
often, by credulous People, mixed with their Food for that Purpofe.

The Movuse-Bar.

; | ‘HIS is of the fame Species with thofe in Exgland. Their Wings
# at the middle Joints, are provided with fharp Hooks, by Rehicls
they cling to the Roof of Caves, or under the Eaves of Houfes.
(3) From hence that Phrafe in the Prophecy of //aiah, Chap. ii. 20, In that Day, i.e. in the Difirefs of

the \fraelites, fhall a Man caft his Idols of Silver and Gold to the Bats and Molss, i. : '
Caverns of the Earth, Melts, i. e. hide them in the Holes and

Of

Book ILL: laid of BARBADOS.

Bitondf re cRuive die dradGg

Wake e HE SE are, in general, divided into Terreftrial and Aquatic.

“1e@) || An Infpection into the Struure, Nature, and Qualities of
ae) || every Species will convince us, that every Individual is ftamp-
RSS| ed with Marks of infinite Wifdom : And Experience teaches
== us, that the fame Power, which at firtt created them, hath,
and, I may venture to fay, ever will preferve, not only the ftrongeft, but
the feemingly weakeft, and moft helplefs, in a regular Succeflion, till Time
fhall be no more. fe

Such is the exact Symmetry, and juft Proportion, obfervable in the Body
of Animals, that every Part is fubfervient to the Whole. The carnivo-
rous and rapacious Kind, fuch as Eagles, Hawks, and Vulturs, have
{trong crooked Bills, and tharp Talons, to fecure and tear their Prey: But
as thefe Birds are deftru@tive to the more ufeful domeftic Kind, we find
that.they are by far lefs numerous than the latter.

The melodious Notes, and the beautiful Plumage, of fome, are not lef
pleafing, the one to the Ear, and the other to the Eye, than the Fleth of
others is delicate to the Tafte.

Aquatic Birds are Web-footed ; and it is obfervable, that thofe that
are obliged to feek their Food at a great Diftance from Land, have Wings
remarkably large and ftrong, in proportion to their Bodies, to enable them
to bear the Fatigue of a long Flight.

Thofe which feed in the miry Skirts of muddy Ponds or Rivers, are
provided with long Bills, Necks, and Legs, each being neceflary either to
fearch for, or fecure, their Prey in fuch a Situation.

The Curious and Learned may find thefé Inquiries and Reflections car-
ried on to a laudable Height by the ingenious Mr. Willoughby, the learned
Dr. Derham, and others.

Neither this, nor any of our neighbouring Iflands, is ftored with ani
great Variety of Birds; and the few that we have are not remarkable for
their Notes, nor (the Humming-Bird excepted) for the Beauty of their
Feathers; and our tame-bred F. owls, except the Guiney Fowls, Mufeory
Ducks, and rumplefs Fowls, are much the fame as thofe in England,

T. GUINEY

79

- The Natural Hiftory of the Book II.

GuinEy Fowl.

“tT1§ is naturally a Wild-fowl, both in Tafte, Appearance, arid .
Qualities. . It is at prefent fo well known, that it would be needlefs
to deferibe it. 4 |
All that I fhall therefore obferve is, that it is thought by fome-to be:
the {ame Bird fo much. prized by the Romans, and by them. called
Gallina Mauritana.

The Dark-coloured Gau oD ING.

ELE Bill of this Bird is about Three Inches long, blackifh, and fharp-
pointed. From the Extremity of this to the Feet, extended, are
Twenty-two Inches ; and the Wings, extended, meafure Two Feet.

The Cock hath a blue-coloured Tuft upon the Head. The Neck is of
avery brownifh Red, fomewhat near.a Snuff-colour, with a pale whitifh:
Lift downwards under the Throat. The Eyes are incircled with a. yellow "
vis. The Feathers covering the Back are long and bluith. url

The whole Bird is of the Crane-kind, and generally found- feeding...
upon Worms about the Edges of Ponds, as well as upon Mice, Lizards, ,
and Scorpions.
vba The Grey GAULDING.

HIS Bird is feldom feen in this Ifland, tho’ very frequently at
_ Antigua, ;
It differs from that already deferibed, chiefly in its Bignefs and Colour;
this being a great deal larger, and its Colour of a greyifh White.
It feeds generally upon fmall Crabs and Shrimps in the Salt Marfhes 5
but we have very few, if any, fuch Places in this Ifland. Weare, I fup-
pofe, for this Reafon, feldom vifited by thefe Birds.

The LessER LurtTLE-Dove..

HE Plumage of this Bird is always of a Lead-colour, -except under
the Breaft and Belly, where they are inclinable to a pale dark Red,
efpecially the Cock. The Hen is generally of a lighter Colour.
This Bird, from the Tip of the Tail to the End of the Bill, is Six
Inches and an half in Length, and Ten Inches to the Extremities of the
Wings, extended. ‘ es
They aré generally very fat, and near a8 big as a Lark; and are juftly
efteemed the moft delicious of any Birds in this Mand, as well as perhaps
inferior to few, if any, in other Parts of the World. sd ss
They feed chiefly upon Be/ly-ach Berries. sg

Book IIL land of BARBADOS,

The Lance Turtye-Dove.

faa by the regular Proportion of every Limb, completing the

Harmony of the Whole, juftly deferves to be reckoned among the
moft beautiful Birds: The Plumage of the Neck, Back, and Wings, is
of a dark Lead-colour, {potted with Black ; the Breaft and Belly fome-
what lighter.

Thefe differ in nothing material from thofe of the fame Species in Pa-
leftine, wled among the Yews for Sacrifice (4), except in their Colour;
for the Wings of the latter, as the Royal Pfalmift defcribes them, are like
Silver, which, with very little Allowance, anfwers to the Colour of what
we now call Arabian or Barbary Doves, fo common in all Paleftine.

The Length of this Bird from the Bill to the Tail is Ten Inches, and
from Wing to Wing, extended, Fifteen Inches. I

Coots, or Moor-HEns.

a ESE Birds are to be chiefly feen about the Skirts of rufhy Ponds,
feeding upon Pond-bugs, and fuch Worms ; aid, when there is a
Scarcity of thefe, they alight upon, or moft commonly climb up, Plan-
tain, Banana, or Guava Trees, and feed upon the ripe Fruit, as well as
fometimes upon Pulfe and Potatoes.

They are diftinguifhed into Three Kinds ; the White, the Red, and
the Blue-pated. The Bill of each is ftrait and ftrong, and of a greenifh
yellow Colour near the Point; the other Part of a florid Red 3 the
Whole about an Inch long.

The Crown of the Head, but efpecially near the fetting on of the Bill,
inftead of Feathers, is covered with a white, blue, or red tough Skin, of
a circular Form, about the Bignefs of an Englifh Silver Groat.

The Plumage under the Neck and Breatt is of a very deep Blue, incline-
able to a Purple. The Feathers on the Back are of a greenifh Lead-colour.

From the Extremity of one Wing to another, it meafures Eighteen Inches, —

and. the Length from the Bill to the Feet, Fifteen. The under Feathers
of the Tail are Snow-white. Its Legs are yellow. It hath Three Toes
before, and one behind, guarded with {trong Claws.

The Two-pEny CHicx.

T HIS Bird hath a ftrong yellowifh fharp-pointed’ Bill, near an Inch
long : Its Length from this to the Feet, extended, is Nine Inches ;

and from the Extremity of the Wings, Eleven.
The Head is marked from the Bill to the hinder Part of it, with a
black Lift. The Back and fmall Feathers upon the Wings with pale Ruf-
Eee . fet,

71

“a ; ® :
(4) ‘We find that the Heathens had a Notion, that the moft perfect ought to be ufed in Sacrifice. Thie

is evident from: Homer ; for, when -Achilles {peaks about the Sacrifice to Apollo, he fays,
: Rbvoy xvlamy ayer re Teaco.

ae

The Natural Hiftory of the Book IIL.

fet, or rather dark-coloured Olive, intermixed with black and white Lifts.
The Breaft is of a pale Dove-colour, growing whitifh, and more fpeckled
towards the Belly. ;

Its Legs are long, in proportion to its Bulk ; and of a greenifh yellow
Colour: It hath Three Toes before, and One behind, each bordered with
a fcalloped lateral Membrane to affift in Swimming.

This Bird dives with fuch Quicknefs, that it is very difficult to be fhot.

It is of the Bignefs, and much of the Colour, of the 4merican Quail.

The THrRusuH.

W? have Two Species of Thrufhes in this Ifland ; the one much re-
fembling in her Note the Englifh Thruth. —
As foon as the Day appears, fhe mounts up like a Lark into the Air,
almoft out of Sight. ;
The other is a folitary Bird, and is known by the Name of the
Quaking Thrufh.
The CoTTON-TREE-BIRD.

Bese § isa yellowifh Bird, about the Bignefs of a {mall Sparrow ; and

is chiefly to be feen among Cotton-trees.

The BLACK-BIRD.

T HE Plumage of this is of a glofly Black ; Its Bill is likewife black
and ftrong ; of a fomewhat triangular Shape, and near an Inch
long.

The Eyes are furrounded with a white Iris, as well as provided with a
white Membrane, which, at Will, covers the whole outward Super ficies of
the Eye, both to keep it from Harm, and perhaps to keep it moift in fo
warm a Climate.

Its Length, from the Extremity of the Bill to that of the Tail, is Seven
Inches ; and from the Extremities of the Wings, extended, Eleven.

Thefe Birds are very numerous in this Ifland (tho’ there are none at
Antigua), and in fome other Leeward Iflands.

They are ferviceable in deftroying Crickets, and otherVermin : Yet this
{carce compenfates for the Ravage they make in confuming our Indian
and Guiney Corn ; the former chiefly when young ; the latter, foon: after
it is planted, as well as when ripe.

The GoLpFINCH.

HIS beautiful Bird is fomewhat bigger than a large Sparrow ; and is
~ feldom, if ever, feen, except in the Months of December or Fanwary ;
and then generally in the moft woody and eafterly Part of the Ifland.

The

Book IIL land of BARBADOS.

The only one that I faw was in the Plantation of Richard E/lwick, Efq;
The Head is of a fine Orange-colour, and the reft of the Body of a
dark Colour, except upon the Pinions, where the Feathers are of a deep

Red.
The Piver.

Ltho’ this Bird feeds upon Fruit, its Bill is of the fame Make with thofe
of the carnivorous Kind ; and it intirély fubfifts by Berries, or fuch-
like Fruit of Trees.
It is no {mall Inftance of the Wifdom of Providence, that there is not
a Month in the Year, but fome Trees, or Shrubs, bear ripe Fruit of one
kind or other; fo that thefe have literally their Food provided for them
in due Seafon.
A Pivet is about the Bignefs and Colour of our largeft Kind of Spar-
rows, and hath a wild chirping Note.
They are chiefly to be feen where there is the moft Variety of ripe

Fruit.
The WREN.

HIS, excepting its Note and Bill, differs. very little from the
Thruth, as to its Plumage and Bignefs: Its Bill is fomewhat more
fharp-pointed and longer, than that of the Thrufh.
It is moft commonly to be feen in the Wood near Hackleton's Chft,
and feeds chiefly upon Oranges, and fuch ripe Fruit, as well as upon
Lizards. ;

The SpaANisH LACKER:

| F1IS differs very little, if any thing, from a Pivet, but by its Note.
It feeds chiefly upon Poifon-tree Berries, and fuch wild Fruit.
This Bird is moft commonly to be feen near Hackleton's Clift.

The PARAKITE,

'THIs is of the frugivorous Kind, and about the Bignefs of a Thrufh,
having a longer and more crooked Bill.
Tt feeds upon almoft all manner of Berries, Popaws, and ripe Plantain,
refiding chiefly in inacceffible Gullies.
__ The Bird borrows its Name from its Refemblance in Make, but not in
Plumage, to the {mall green Parakite.

The Swauiow.

AS the Make of this Bird every way anfwers the Defcription of thofe

of the fame Species in England, it would be needlefs to defcribe it.
The Caufe of the Difappearance of the whole Species, during the Winter
: U Months,

Ee

Tt

The Natural Hiftory of the Book TIL.

Months, hath been varioufly reprefented by moft Authors of Natural
Hiftory. ;

Some have, with great feeming Probability, attributed their State of
Infenfibility, or at leaft their Abfence at that time, to the wife Difpenfa-
tion of Providence, in making thefe Birds. incapable of any of the Fun-
ions of Life, at a Seafon of the Year when they could not be fupplied
with their daily and proper Food, which confifts chiefly of Pond-flies,
Butterflies, and Bees.

This ingenious Hypothefis hath a great Appearance of Truth, and is
indeed the beft that can be given in a Northern Climate, where it is evi-
dent that their Food can only be found in Summer Months: But this
their reclufe Life, from Oéfober to March, is no lefs evident, than it is
almoft general in this Ifland ;. in which Months their Prey is no lefs
plentiful, and the Weather but very little colder, than in our Summer :
Yet they retire to their Holes in the Rocks, and do not appear during
thefe Months, except in very fmall Numbers.

The SuGAR-BIRD.

HIS derives its Name from its frequenting and picking up the
loofe Sugar about the Sugar-curing Houfes, and elfewhere.

The SpARROW.

(i largeft Sparrow differs very little from thofe in England, being

of a pale reddifh Lead-colour, Four Inches long from the Bill to
the Feet, extended; and Seven Inches over the Wings, from the Extre-

mity of one to the Extremity of the other.

Its Bill is very ftrong and fharp-pointed ; its Legs blackifh ; and its
Feet have Three Claws before, and One behind.

The LessER SPARROW.

HIS likewife, called the Tinker-Sparrow, differs very little from
the former, except in Bignefs ; this now defcribed being lefs.

The HuMMING-BIRD.

HIS Bird derives its Name from the humming Noife it makes as

it flies.

Pliny juftly obferveS, Matura nufguam magis quam in minimis tota eff :
This is fufficiently evinced in the Make and Qualities of this, which is the
{malleft of Birds ; for what it wants in Strength and Bignefs, is fufficiently

_made up in its Swiftnefs in Flying, and its Dexterity in making ufe of its
_fharp Bill ; by which means it is capable of overcoming the Jargeft and

ftrongeft Bird that flies in thefe Parts of the World.
This |

Book IIT. land of BARBADOS

This Species of Birds are diftinguithed into the large and {mall Sort.

One of the latter, which I have now. before me, weighs but Forty-
eight Grains. From the Tip of one Wing to the oppofite, extended, js
Five Inches; and its Length, from the Tail to the Extremity of its Bill,
near Four : Its Feet are compofed of Three Claws before, and One be-
hind. The Feathers under the Belly, the Tail, and the long Quill-feathers,
are of a footy Black: Thofe which cover the Back and N. eck have a fine
Mixture of Green: The Bill is about half an Inch long, and black : The
Tongue, which is about an Inch long, is forked. This, darted into the
Blofloms, fucks up the Honey-dew from moft Flowers: There are a few
Feathers, which jut out higher than the reft, a little above the Bill, of an
almoft inimitable fhining Green: A little higher up ftands ere@ another
Feather of a flaming Purple: Thefe look very beautiful, efpecially when
reflected to the Eye by the Rays of the Sun.

The other Sort have a longer Bill, and are every way confiderably

larger than this now defcribed.

Thefe Birds make their Nefts under the Eaves of Houfes thatched with
Straw, or in the Boughs of thady Trees: Thefe Nefts are very ‘artfully
made, compofed of Straw, Hair, and Cotton, which laft covers the Infide.

I have feen one of the Nefts, which was very extraordinary ; for it-was
worked quite round the under Part of the Twig, to fecure the Neft, which
was above: Had it been tied round with a String of any fort, it would
not have been fo ftrong. What was very particular in it was, that the
Neft was not built among{t fmall Twigs or Leaves, but upon the upper
Part of a fingle Branch, perfectly free from all Leaves or Twigs.

The Female lays Two {mall Eggs, fomewhat bigger than the largeft
Pea, and longer.

I have taken {everal young ones when fledged, and endeavoured to raife
them; but never could effeé it; for no Art can Prepare a Liquid fo
nourifhing as that which the Parent Bird extra@s from the F lowers.

The SMALL YELLOW-BIR Dp.

r HIS is a very fmall Bird, whofe Plumage hath a beautiful Mix-
ture of Yellow and Red, efpecially about the Head.

BIRDS of PASSAGE,
“¥ MOTE cannot fufficiently admire the Wifdom of Providence in en-
\ Vy duing thefe with a Sagacity proper to know their ftated Seafons
to migrate from-perhaps a colder Climate to warmer, or from a Scarcity
of Food in one Place to a Plenty in another, but more efpecially at the
approaching Seafon for breeding.
What afforded me this laft Hint, and induced me to believe, that their
Migration is chiefly about that Time, was, that fome Years ago there came

UP.

75

The Natural Hiftory of the Book TIL.

up a prodigious Number of thefe Birds late on Saturday Night, and
alighted on a fmall Spot of Pafture-Land: A neighbouring Contftable pre-
vented their being difturbed on Sunday, during which time they were ob-
ferved to be almoft inceflantly treading.

Their Flight is always from the South-weft towards the Eaft: But
what feems moft furprifing is, that they direct their Courfe, unvaried, and
unbyafled either by contrary Winds or Storms, over wide-extended Oceans,
reaching yearly to their refpeétive Stations, with an Exaétnefs {carce credi-
ble to an heedlef§ Obferver ; tho’, after the moft diligent Search into the
anatomical Stru@ture of their Bodies, there can be found no Analogy be-
tween their feveral Organs, and thofe defigned in the human Species, for
thofé exalted Ends of Thinking, and providently Reafoning. ;

Therefore the fublimeft Genius muft, with Humility, own, that we
know but in Part; and that by fearching we cannot (till God is pleafed
farther to unveil his now fecret, tho’ always wife Ends) find out the
Caufes and Effeéts of feveral Phenomena, which future Ages may poffi-
bly difcover. '

Mokt of thefe Birds of Paflage never fail to appear here between the
Nineteenth and the Twenty-feventh of Auguf, efpecially if it be then
wet Weather ; but if about that time it is very dry, the greateft Part of
them are feen to fly very high, and to keep their dire&t Courfe towards
the Eaft; and, as Milton expreffes it, ;

----- In Figure wedge their Way,
Intelligent of Seafons ; and fet forth
Their airy Caravan, high over Seas
Flying, and over Lands 5 with mutual Wing
Eafing their Flight : So fteers the prudent Crane
Her annual V oyage, borne on Winds : The Air
Floats as they pafs, fanw d with unnumber'd Plumes.

The Wiup Woop-PiGEon.

came is about the Bignefs of an Houfe-Pigeon.

The Head is of a blackifh Colour ; and, from the under Bill to the
Breatft, of a light Moufe-colour 5 from thence to the Belly and the under
Part of the Tail, of an Afh-colour; the upper Side of ae Neck, Back,
and Wings, of a dark Afh-colour, growing lighter towards the Extremi-
ties of the Wings.

“Thefe come hither, tho’ in no great Number, about the latter End of

Fuly or Auguft, always alighting upon Trees, and feeding upon the Ber-
ries. of them.
The

Book IIL: Yland of BARBADOS,

The Wiiv-Ducx.

HE very few that migrate to this Ifland, of this Kind, are of the
fame Make and Species with thofe in England.

The "TE AL.

S this differs little, or not at all, from thofe in England, it will not
be neceffary to give a particular Defcription of it.
Tt will be fuficient to obferve, that in England they are feen every
Winter, tho’ hither they come but once a Year, and very few in Num-~
ber ; and fome Years there are none at all.

The CrooxEp-prLti Currirzu.

HE Bills of every Species of Curlicus are fomewhat crooked ; but

i of this more than any other : From thence therefore it derived
its Name. ©

Its Bill is about Five Inches long ; the Head f{mall, in proportion to
the Body ; the Neck long and flender ; as are likewife the Legs.

Its Feet have each Three Toes before, and One behind.

‘The Feathers of the Head, Neck, Back, and Wings, are thickly
fpeckled with blackith, ruffet, and white Spots.

The Length from the Tip of the Bill to the End of the Tail is Eleven
Inches ; and from the Extremity of each Wing, extended, Fifteen Inches,

It weighs, when fat, about Three Quarters of a Pound, and fometimes
more.
This, among the reft of the Birds of Paflage, vifits this Ifland in the lat-
ter End of Fuly and Auguf ; efpecially if we have any Southerly Winds,
and rainy Weather, at that time.

The Sutverine Curriekv.

6 Eee as well as moft other Curlieus, often come over in great
Flocks.

They are next in Bignefs to the Crooked-bill Curlieus, having their
Feathers on the Back, Breaft, and Tail, of a brownith Red, {lightly
ftreaked with Black.

The Stone Curvievu.

i is fomewhat {maller than the laft defcribed, and marked with
- larger and blacker Spots upon the Back, having likewife fome of the

Pen-feathers in their Wings, as well as fome of the Tail-feathers white.
Thefe feed moft commonly on the Sea-fhore; and therefore have a
Tafte fomewhat fifhy.
t x The

77

98.

The Natural Hiffory of the Book TIE.

The BLACK-BREAST PLoveER.

ed ae O’ all the Species of Plovers, that make their petiodical Vifits to
this Ifland, are more orlefs fpeckled ; yet as this is more remarkabl]
fo, and as they are by far more numerous than any other Species, I fhall
begin with its Defcription. eee

The Length of this from the Tip of the Bill, which is about an Inch
long, to the End of the Tail, is Nine Inches; and the Breadth over the
Wings, extended, Eighteen. rm

The Head is fomewhat large, in proportion to its Body.

The whole Bird is fpeckled all over with white and black Spots.

The RING-NECKED PLOVER.

HIS is much lefs than the Sandy-breaft ; and derives its Name from a
white Ring incircling its Neck.
The Colour of the Feathers upon the Back is not fo much fpeckled as
the large Plover already defcribed.
This, as well as the other Plovers, has no hinder Claw ; fo that they
cannot alight upon Trees.

The SANDY-BREAST PLOVER.

6 ae IS differs chiefly from that already defcribed, by being fomewhat
{maller, and the Colour of its Breaft not fpeckled, as in the former,
but of a pale White.
The Head of this is fomewhat lefs than the other, and more propor-
tionable to its Body.
They likewife come fomewhat later to the Ifland than the {peckled Sort.
This is about Eight Inches long from the Bill to the End of the Tail,
and Sixteen over the Wings, extended. '

Of the MopusEs.

HERE are three Sorts of thefe, diftinguifhed into the Large and
Small, and the Hiding Mopus.

The latter, which is the biggeft, derives its Name from its immediately
concealing itfelf, as foon as it alights, in fwampy wet Places, amongi{t
Ruthes or Sedge-grafs ; nor will they attempt to rife, till you come very
near them. Their Bill is Two Inches long ; from this to the Extremity
of the Tail is Ten Inches; and over the Wings, extended, Fourteen.
The Feathers upon the Back are of a reddifh Brown, marked lengthways
with black Lifts. y

The Two other Kinds of Mopufes are leffer than this, differing not in
Colour, or in fearce any other Circumftance, except that thefe do not
coficeal themfelves, but alight often in open Grounds, and in Flocks.

é

Book IIT. land of BARBADOS,

The Lone-Lecs.

at ESE are diftinguifhed into the large and the {mall Kind, both dif-
fering from the Plover, in having a hind Claw.

The largeft, which is called the Cackling Plover, weighs often near
Seven Ounces.

They derive their Name from the Length of their Legs. :

Nature hath given thefe, as well as all other Birds that feek their F ood in
muddy wet Skirts of Ponds, long Legs, Necks, and Bills, thefe being ab-
folutely neceffary in fuch a Situation ; their Legs to prevent their finking
in the Mud; and the Length of their Bills enabling them to penetrate deep
into the Mire, in Search of Worms and Fifth, which are their Food.

The Great SniIpE.

cp HERE are feveral Species of Snipes, that come in the wet Sea-
fons to this Ifland.
Thefe are diftinguithed by many uncertain and different Names, as
well as Marks ; tho’ the real Difference between {0 many is but {mall,
I fhall therefore reduce them into the large and {mall Sort.

The Lirtte Snipe.

HIS is likewife called a Nit.
The Name was perhaps given them from their very diminutive Size,

when out of Feathers; for they then feldom weigh above two Ounces each,

A few of thefe are to be {een here in every Month of the Year, with-
out any Regard to the periodical Seafon.

They are of a greyifh Colour, fpeckled with Black upon the Back
and Wings, and the Breaft and Belly of a whitith Colour.

Their Length from the Tip of the Bill to the Feet, extended, is Six
Inches; and, over the Wings, Nine.

Thefe feed generally about the Skirts of Ponds.

OF

ee

The Natural Fiiftory of the. = Bookgl ik

BobogedaN: Godan Sos Gi LS,
geste HO’ unthinking and incurious People may look upon thefe
@ to be the moft ufelefs Part of the Animal Creation ; yet,
7 upon:a narrow Infpection into the Ufe of every Species, we
find a proyidential Defign, in not only their Make and Qua-
; ities, but likewife in the Time and Seafon of their Appear-
ance, which never happens till fo late in the Spring, that he, who fi/eth
every thing living with Plenteoufne/s, bath. provided them with Leaves of
Trees, their proper Food, whilft in their reptile State.
_. They likewife at that Seafon (except what Providence referves to con-
tinue and propagate the Species) become exceedingly ufeful, being then
the deftined neceflary Food of young Birds.

But, when thefe crawling Worms come to their full Growth, they fpin;
and, after a wonderful manner, inwrap themfelves ina Tomb of their
own making.

Here they reft for a while ; and, in a fhort time after, they break thro’
this temporary Prifon, and become Butterflies.

In this State, decked in all the gaudy Pride of Colours, they wanton in
the Air ; and, by their carelefs irregular Flights, feem to have {carce any
other Bufinefs in’ Life, but fportive Diverfions. This perhaps may be in-
tended by Providence to make Amends for the fhort Duration of their
Exiftence.

Flies, Lkewife, efpecially thofe of the fmaller Kind, are a very ufeful

Part of the Creation ; efpecially as they are in the Summer Seafon the moft
common Food of Frefh-water Fifh.

The Lance Buacx Bex.

ap HIS is the largeft that we have here of the Bee-kind. The Head

is large and flattifh.
The lower Part of it, fomewhat about the Mouth, is provided with a
ftrong Forceps : With this it makes deep Holes in feveral Kinds of dry
foft

Book Hl. Slend of BARBADOS,

foft Timber, which ferve asa Shelter from the Weather, as well as Nefts
to depofit their Honey, and rear their Young in.

In the upper Part of the Mouth there is a Dart, or rather Probofcis,
pointing perpendicularly downwards : ‘This is about a Quarter of an Inch
long, black and fhining ; and, as the above-mentioned Nippers or For-
cipes were defigned to bore Holes in Trees, fo this, by being divided, or
capable of opening as a Forceps, may perhaps be defigned to take and
kill its Prey ; for I always found their oppofite Sides to be hollow, capa=
ble of retaining the Juices of their Prey, with this additional Conveniency,
that, from the Centre between thefe ‘Two Clafpers, darts out a bearded
reddifh Tongue.

Its Eyes, which are Two, are {mall, fhining, and hemifpherical, fituated
near the upper Part of the Head, for the Conveniency of feeing before, as
well as behind. '

Below thefe ftand Two Horns, or Feelers, of about an Inch long.

The Back is black and fhining, joined by a ftrong Ligament to the 44-
domen, which is made up of Six Annuli, or Sections.

The Rapidity of its F light depends upon Four glofly Wings.

‘The Body, likewife, when upon the Ground, is fupported by Eight
fhaggy, or rather hairy-Legs, each ending in a Claw or Fork. The Two
hindermoft and oppofite Legs being the longeft, thefe about the Thighs
are generally loaded with a granulated yellow Subftance, like Bees-bread,

The Extremity of the 4édomen is guarded with a black Bee-like Sting.

This Bee makes an humming Noife as it flies.

The MAsTICH-FLY.

HIS is about an Inch and a Quarter long, and of a glofly purple
-4- Colour, inclinable to a Green.
It hath Two Feelers, each Five Inches long. It derives its Name from
the Tree it feeds upon.

The Cocx-Rocu.

Ope Body of this Fly is near an Inch long, and fomewhat flattith,
and. of a very dark Snuff-colour.

It lays many {mall brownifh Eggs.

It flies about in the Evenings, efpecially in wet Weather, and gene-
rally into the Houfes, where they breed, and are very troublefome, being
voracious of moft kinds of drefled Vidtuals, as well as deftru@tive to Cloaths,
Books, or any kind of Paper, by gnawing it toPieces ; befides they are very
_ offenfive, by the ftinking Smell they leave behind upon every thing they
touch, efpecially Meat : So that the Words of Virgil may be juftly applied
to thefe :

Diripiuntque dapes, contattugue omnia fedant
Tinmunda, ------- 6

Y The

81

82

The Natural Hiftory of the Book IIL.

The beft Method of deftroying them is to grind to Powder the Back-
bone of a Gar-fifh, and then mix it with fomething that they like beft to
feed upon: If they eat of this Mixture, they generally die.

It is faid, that the 4édomen, boiled in Oil, and poured into the Ear,
cures the Patient of any aching or throbbing Pain.

The FirE-Fxiy, or Jack LANTERN.

a fies ESE Flies, which are of the Glow-worm Kind, are in great
Numter in MVorth-America wpon the Continent ; but in the
warmer Climates fo very rare, that I have never feen any in this Ifland;
tho’ I am credibly informed, that they are fometimes to be found here.

The KNocKER.

Bc HIS Fly is fomewhat larger and blacker than a Cock-Roch ; and
derives its Name from the tinkling Noife it makes.

The Head and Back are hard and fhining ; the former divided from
the latter by a broad clofe Joint. ;

As it bends its Head backward, the upper Joint falls as a regular
Spring into the Socket of the lower; and, when it bows its Head for-
ward, it opens with a fharp tinkling Note, as the Spring of the out-
ward Cafe of a Watch, when preffed.

The Harp-Back.

GC Po IS Fly is about half an Inch long, having a very {mall Head,
provided with Two {mall Feelers.

Its Eyes are round, black, and fhining ; the Neck thick, and {peckled
with White and Black: Its membranaceous Wings are defended with
Sheaths, or Shell-wings.

Without fuch a Covering, the exquifitely fine Texture of the Wings
would continually be liable to be torn by the leaft Touch of an harder
Subftance, fuch as the Blades of Canes, Corn, or the Branches of Trees.

Its Body is fupported by Six Legs: Each of thefe, near the Extremity,
is divided into Three clofe Joints, white, and flat underneath : Thefe are
very finely crofs-indented, like the Surface of a File.
~ Befides, each Foot ends in a fharp, fomewhat crooked Point ; by which
means it f{trongly grafps its Prey.

FIDDLERS.

og Ro Fly, in Shape, Colour, and Number of Legs, much refem-

bles a Cock-Roch, except that it is {maller, and longer, in propor-
tion to its Bulk.

Book, TL land of BARBADOS,

It is called a Fiddler from the fhrill Noife it: makes, when held and
{queezed between the Fingers.
It generally flies about in the Evening.

The CucKkoLp-FLy.

HIS is of the Beetle-kind, of about half an Inch long, and of a
dark-red Colour.

The Back and édomen are covered with a Pair of hard Wings, or
rather Covers for its membranaceous Wings, which are large, and of an
elegant fine Texture. The Head, Neck, and Abdomen, are clofely joined
together.

It is fupported by Four Legs on each Side ; and flies chiefly in the
Dusk of the Evening.

The CARRION or FLESH-FLY.
f ! YHIS is the‘ fame with the common Carrion-fly in England ; at

leaft, it differs in no material Circumftance.

The MAson-FLy.

T is called a Ma/on, from the great Quantity of Mire and Morter
which it carries into Houfes and elfewhere, wherewith to build its
Nefts, which it generally does on the Cielings, or the Roofs.

In thefe Nefts, which are above an Inch long, they lay. Two or Three
Eggs; and then carry in a great Number of young Spiders ; and after-
wards clofe up the Entrance into the Nefts with Clay. ~

From each Egg, thus depofited, there is in time hatched a {mall white
Maggot, which feeds upon the Spiders, till it comes to its Aurelia-ftate :
Then they {pin and wrap themielves up in a tough Bag, or Web, till
they turn into young Mafons.

The Bar-rF ry.
t | YHE Original of this isa Tobacco or a Fig-tree Worm ; for this,

after its Aurelia-ftate, turns into this F ly, which is about an Inch
and a Quarter long, :
The Head is guarded with a Pair of Horns, or Feelers, finely indented,
about Three Quarters of an Inch in Length.
Its Two Eyes are large, {pherical, and black.
The Back, as well as the 4ddomen, which is divided into Six Annuli,
is of a reddifh-yellow Colour, covered with a foft whitifh Down.
It

83

84

The Natural Hiftory of the Book Iii,

It hath Two Pair of membranaceous Wings, the upper by -far larger
than the under. :

From its Mouth it darts a twirling Prodo/cis, with which it fucks the
Honey-dew from moft Flowers, but efpecially from Nightfhade-flowers.

Its Legs are Four, Two on each Side.

If kept confined in a Box, or otherwife, it turns from a Fly-bat into
a long black Worm, fuch as is found in the Earth in Potato-ground. —

The BuoNAvVistA CHINK.

¥ HIS is a {mall green flattifh Fly, which generally feeds upon the
2 green Pods of Buonavifia ; and fmells, when killed, like a Bug.

It is very deftrudtive to feveral Kinds of Pulfe.

The Ponp-FLyY.,

T HIS is an Inch and an half long, and of different Colours.
The Head, near the Mouth, is of a light Sea-green.

The Mouth is provided with Two Pair of Nippers, or Forcipes, with
which it deftroys its Prey.

The Eyes, being Two, are very large, prominent, and fhining ; and of
an oval Form.

The Head is fixed to the Body by a,very flender Ligament.’ »

Its Breaft is likewife very prominent, as well as the oppofite Part of the
Back high and convex; the upper Part of which fupports Four narrow
membranaceous Wings.

The whole Body is ftrait, about an Inch long, and ends in a forked
Tail, which is alternately {potted with Green and Black.

It hath Six Legs, the hindermoft by far the longeft ; the lower Part
of each being thickly covered with ftiff Hairs, the Extremity of each
Foot being forked.

The Wings above-mentioned are narrow, and a full Inch long ; the
Texture refembling a Sea-feather, but infinitely finer.

The PopE-FLyY.
PT HIs Infect is better known to the Inhabitants, by the great Deftru-
&tion it caufes in almoft every fort of Grain, than by its Shape ; for
it {pares neither Pulfe nor Grain of any kind, if they have -been for any
confiderable time gathered in.
However, in general, they refemble a Wevil in their Make.

The Locust, called here, the Ath-coloured Gr asHopPpERs
TL HIS is about Two Inches long.
‘Its Eyes are black and oval.
The Head. is provided with Two hairy Feelers, and is covered, as

far as the Back, with an hard unpliable Cow], ftreaked with Ruffet and
Black. Its

Book TI. Iland of BARBADOS.

« Its Wings are large, in proportion to the Body ; and of a greyifh-ruffet
Colour.

The Body is fupported by Three Pair of Legs; the hinder, with which
he {prings or jumps, are about Two Inches and an half long.

The Thighs, which are of a ruffet Colour, finely polifhed, and ftained
with black Lifts, extending lengthways, are of an hexagonal Form ;
and the Legs are elegantly ftudded with a great many white {mall
Prickles, fet on, like the Teeth of a Saw, alternately.

This Kind of Gtafhopper is generally to be feen among the Blades of
Sugar-canes ; and, when the Guimey Corn is ripe, they feed much upon it.

The moft ignorant and fuperftitious of the Inhabitants are very appre-
henfive of fome approaching Illnefs to. the Family, whenever they fly
into their Houfes in the Evening, or in the Night.

There were bred, or came to the Ifland, fuch vaft Swarms of thefe in
the Year 1734-5. that they deftroyed almoft every green tender Plant.
So great was the Deftruétion that they caufed, efpecially among the
Potato-Vines, upon:whofe Roots the poor People chiefly fubfift, and fuch
the Scarcity of Food, occafioned thereby, efpecially 11 43.974 Philip's
Parifh, that there was a Colle&tion made for the Sufferers thro’ the reft of
the Ifland. Thefe differ not in their Make from the Locufts that are to
be feen in the Repofitories of the Curious.

The GREEN GR ASHOPPER.

HIS is fomewhat lefs than the Ath-coloured Grafhopper already
defcribed ; but differs in no other material Circumftance.

The BLACK-SPOTTED BUTTERFLY.

! / HIS is larger than any hereafter defcribed.
Its Wings have a few pale-red and whitith Spots intermixed
with the Black.

The GREENISH-YELLOw BUTTERFLY.

HIS is about Three-quarters of an Inch long.
The Back is covered with a foft greenifh Down.

The Abdomen is divided into feveral Aunuli, or Sections, tho’ {carce
perceivable.

Its Antenne are about half an Inch long, and its Legs Six in Number.

It hath Four very thin membranaceous Wings, covered with a fine
yellow Mealineis.

This mealy Duft, when viewed thro’ a Microfcope, appears to be fo
many regular Quills, feathered with the utmoft Exadtnefs and Proportion.

Zz The

85

86

The Natural Hiftory of the Book III.

The Body of this, as well as of the following ones, is decked witha
Profufion of Beauty: And all, in the Words of the great Milton,

~ eee ee wave their limber Fans

For Wings, and /malleft Lineaments, exatt

In all the Liv’ ries deck d of Summers Pride,

With Spots of Gold and Purple, Azure and Green.

Should any one impertinently ask, What Ufe thefe are of in the Crea-
tion ? it may be anfwered, in the Words of the ingenious Mr. Ray, that
they are defigned ad ornatum univerfi, & ut hominibus [pettaculo fint ; ad
rura illufiranda, velut tot brattea, infervientes. Quis enim eximiam earum
puleritudinem & varietatem contemplans mira voluptate non afficiatur ?
Quis tot colorum & [chematum elegantias nature ipfius ingenio excogitatas,
& «artificii penicillo depittas, curiofis oculis intuens, divine artis veftigia eis
imprefja non agnofcat & miretur ?

The Wuitre Burrerrty.

HIS exactly refembles the laft defcribed, in every Particular,
except its Colour.

Ihefe are chiefly to be feen flying about Ponds of ftagnated Waters
in the moft beaten Roads.

The DARK-RED BLACK-SPOTTED BUTTERFLY. :

rE HIS is about an Inch long, from the Head to the Tail.
Its Antenne are 'Three-quarters of an Inch long; and its Two
Eyes black, round, and fhining.

The Wings are of a dirty Red, irregularly impanelled with black
Lifts; and the Margin or Border of each Wing much darker than the
reft ; and here-and-there adorned with many white Spots, as well as the
Head, Back, and Breatt.

The Abdomen is of a dark ferrugineous Colour, and compofed of
Seven Annuli.

The CLINKER, or GULLY-BELL.

spel is of the Cricket-kind, and derives its Name from the tinkling
Noife it makes at Night, which much refembles the fhrill Note of
any mufical Inftrument.

This Noife, which is repeated Three or Four times without ceafing,
may, in a ftill Evening, be heard above an Hundred Yards off.

But as thefe Creatures live generally in inacceffible Gullies, they are
very feldom, if ever, caught ; and therefore their Shape is known but to
very few, much lefs the Caufe of fo furprifing and regular a Note.
; The

Book IIT. land of BARBADOS.

The LonG-spoTTED Fiy or Lapy-sirp.

Ca IS Fly exceeds not half an Inch in Length.
Its Back and Head are finely {potted with Red: The interme.
diate Spaces are of a ruflet Colour.
There is likewife a {mall red Lady-bird generally to be feen upon
Ochra-leaves.

‘The GotpEN Lapy-sBirp.

Ts very beautiful Infect is very feldom feen.
It is about the Bignefs of the laft defcribed.
Its Head, Wings, and Feet are, as it were, covered with burnithed
Gold.
The CANE-FLY,

, / ‘HIS is a {mall whitith Fly, with Two membranaceous Wings.
It is chiefly to be feen among thick-planted ripe Canes,

The CoRN-FLY.

% Ban is a fmaller Fly than the laft, and is to be feen hovering over
Heaps of Guiney Corn, when in the Granaries.
Its Colour is much the fame as that of the laft-mentioned,

The MuscuHerto-Fcy.

HIS derives its Name from Mu/ca, a general Name in the Latin
Language for a Fly.

Perhaps the Name of Merry-wing, applied to another Fly, from the
Noife it makes with its Wings, would be more properly applied to this,
if the Acceptation of the Word had not rendered it almoft univerfal, at
leaft among Exglifh Writers.

WEEVILS.

FAIS is fo commonly found in decayed Corn and Flour in every
Part of the World, that it {earce deferves a particular Defcription,
It is a black fealy Fly, of neara Quarter of an Inch long.

The Merry-Wina.

THis is a very minute Fly, very troublefome, efpecially in calm
Mornings and Evenings, to thofe Inhabitants who live on a fandy

Soil near the Sea,
They

87

88

The Natural Hiftory of the : Book UE:

They feem to be exactly of the fame Species with the Gnat in England.

They fwarm upon the Face and Hands, as well as upon every other
Part of the Skin expofed to the Air; and almoft in an Inftant dart a {mall
Prebofcis from their Mouths, and penetrate fo deep as to draw Blood,
leaving generally an angry little Tumor behind.

As the Wind rifes, they are no more to be feen, except behind Doors or
Window-fhutters, till the Return of the calm Mornings or Evenings, not
being able to ftand againft the Wind that blows in the Day-time.

Of REPTILES and INSECTS,

“WOVE former are denominated from their creeping or crawling upon
their Bellies, either with Feet, as the Caterpillers, or without
Feet, as the Snakes and Earth-worms. rs

The latter are likewife generally divided into Aquatic and Terreftrial.

Thefe, tho’ often vile in Appearance, yet all of them, in their feve-
ral Ranks and Stations, proclaim aloud the Wifdom and Power of their
Creator.

Their Variety, their Difpofitions, their Sagacity, their Policy, their In-
duftry, the wonderful Proportion of their Organs, the Delicacy of their
Strudture, anda Thoufand other Curiofities, obfervable in every Species,
are Matter of wonderful Delight and Pleafure to a curious and inquifitive
Genius: But, were we able to examine them in a nearer View ; could we
ke capable of knowing all the dire& Purpofes of infinite Wifdom in their
Creation, in the Relation they bear, and the harmonious Proportion
they ftand in, to the univerfal Syftem ; it would afford us endlefs Matter of
Aftonifhment and Surprize, as well as of religious Reverence and Ado-
ration to their omnipotent Creator.

Tho’ fmall and contemptible they-appear to us, they are really formed
with the moft exquifite Symmetry, the moft delicate Proportion. An
attentive Eye,. aflifted with the Ufe of Microfcopes, difcovers in them
aftonifhing Marks of Wifdom, arming, cloathing, and accommodating
them with all the Inftruments and Faculties neceflary to their Condition.

The SNAKE.
7 E have but one Species of the Snake-kind in this Ifland, of which

I have not feen above Seven in Seven Years.
The largeft that I faw was not above Three Feet long.
They are not at all hurtful, except to young Pigeons and Poultry, or
fmall Birds, Mice, &c.

: ‘I cannot here omit a remarkable Inftance of Superftition of a Negro,
with regard to one of thofe Snakes.

_ A Man

BokdH, ‘Tlond of, BEAR.BA DO S.

A Man who had killed one of thefe, happened to be affli&ed with the
Rheumatifm foon after, efpecially in his Arm: He then immediately con-
cluded, that it was a Punifhment upon him for killing the Snake : He
perfuaded himfelf, that the different Degrees of Intenfenefs of the Pain
he felt in his Arms, were exaétly in proportion to the Pain he gave the

Snake. It hath been his Cuftom ever fince, by way of Atonement, to

feed all the Snakes that come near his Hut, with fome Offals of his Re-
paft, and Water ; efpecially the latter, which he daily puts in the moft
likely Place for them to find.

The Fortry-Lecs.

HIS takes its Name from the Number of its Feet, being every way

~ much of the fame Make with what we call in England Muttipes, or

Centipes; but thofe here are far larger, being fometimes Four Inches
long.

7 he Back is of a dark Copper, fealy and jointed, the feveral Annuli
being equal in Number to the oppofite Feet.

The Head is guarded with a Pair of hairy Feelers, and a {trong For-
ceps: ‘This they can open or extend above a Quarter ‘of an Inch wide,
and again clofe it very nimbly together, either to hold its Prey, or annoy
its Enemy.

The Forty-Legs often lay above an Hundred {mall white Eggs, which are
depofited in an Hole in the Ground, generally under a loofe Stone : Round
thefe the Female coils herfelf, until they are hatched: If at that time fhe

is difturbed, the immediately {wallows her Young.

The old ones, among other things, feed upon young Cock-Roches
and Spiders.

The Bite of a Forty-Leg is very painful for at leaft an Hour, or fome-
times a great deal longer.

There are fome of thefe Vermin that are flightly tinged with a bluith

~ Colour: Thefe are fmaller than the above-mentioned , and more poifonous.

The Forty-Legs in Surinam are a great deal larger than what are bred
in Barbadis. Of this we may fee an Inftance in the Repofitory of the

‘ Royal Society.

The InpraAN-RooT CATERPILLER.

aE: HIS Worm feeds upon the Leaves of that Plant which we call here
the Indian Root.

It is generally about Two Inches long.

Its Head is guarded with Two black foft Horns or Feelers, of about a
Quarter of an Inch long,

The different 4unuli, or Joints of the Back, are ftreaked with yel-
lowifh and whitith Lifts. The Tail-part bath likewife a black Pair of
Feelers, or Horns.

This from its .4urelia-ftate turns into a reddith Butterfly.

Aa The

90

The Natural Hiftory of the Book IIL

: The teen CricKET.

a IS is about Three-quarters of an Inch long, and of a dark-brown
Colour ; the Head and Body clofely joined together.

Its Two Eyes are oval and prominent.

From under thefe rife Two half-inch long hairy Feelers.

The Abdomen is divided into many -d4zauli ; and from its Extremity
iffues a Spear of half an Inch long, and on each Side of it Two other
fhorter Darts.

Its Two upper brown fhining Wings, or rather Coverings, guard Two
other membranaceous ones.

Its Legs are Six in Number, Three on a Side ; the hinder Pair bein
ftrong, and of a great Length, in proportion to the reft: The fmaller
Parts of this Pair are thickly and regularly ftudded with {mall fharp
Teeth, like thofe of a Saw.

The Breaft and Thighs are of a dark-yellowith Colour.

What is moft remarkable in this kind of Cricket is, that it not only
produces its own Likenefs from Eggs ; but that it gives Birth alfo to an-
otherAnimal, quite different in its Nature from the Cricket itfelf: For the
{mall wriggling Worms, which are about Seven or Eight Inches long, and
often to be feen in ftanding Water, and by the Vulgar fuppofed. to be ani-
mated Horfehair, and therefore called Hor/ehair Snakes 3 thefe are evi-
dently propagated by Crickets ; fince they are found in them, and have
been often obferved to be voided by them (when fit to fhift for themfelves)
thro’ the Azus: Thefe afterwards are cherifhed by the Heat of the Sun
and grow to the Length above-mentioned, and I fuppofe lay Eggs mee
they die.

Ahefe may be, and, in all Probability, are, picked up by the Crickets
whofe Bodies prove a proper /Vidus for them: By this very furprifing
foftering Care is this Species preferved.

Thefe Crickets are generally to be met with under loofe Stones, and
Clods of Earth ; and are much coveted by Poultry of every Kind.

The AsH-coLouRED, or Stcxty CricxeEr.

ats is near One-third larger, efpecially in the Length of its Legs,
than either the Field, or the Houfe-Cricket ; and, if purfued, fecures
itfelf more by running, than by taking flarting Leaps, which is always the
Refuge of the Two other Sorts; tho’ this, if in Danger, faves itfelf at
laft by the fame Method.

This Kind makes a difagreeable {creaking Noife ; and fome of the In-
habitants are fo weak as to believe, that, when their unwelcome Sound is
heard in their Houfes, it is an Omen of Death to fome of the Family.

The

Book ILL, land of BARBADOS.

The House-Cricxer.

fo IS differs very little, if any thing, in Shape, from the Field-Cricket
already defcribed, except that the Noife it makes is loud and pur-
ring.

When they make this Noife, I have obferved their Pofition to be ftand-.

ing very upright upon their Legs, with their Wings extended archwife,
the middle Part {welling from their Bodies, and their Extremities touch-
ing them near the lower Part of the Addomen.

The Fuy-Catcuer.

ae HIS is of the Spider-kind, differing from it chiefly by a Pair of For-
cipes, which rife from each Side of the Neck.
It hath Four Legs on each Side.
They jump or dart forward often full Ten Inches, to feize the Flies,
which are their Prey.
The HousE-SpipEr.

HIS is a dark-brown hairy Spider, having a large Head joined to
the Abdomen by a flender Ligament.

The Body is fupported by Eight Legs; the Two foremoft extending
above Two Inches afunder.

Near the Mouth come out Two fhort, tho’ ftrong, Feelers,

It carries its Young in a white {mall Bag under its Belly.

Tho’ the Sight of thefe Spiders is not agreeable ; yet are they fervice.
able in Houfes, by deftroying Cock-Roches, which are both offen-
five by their Smell, and deftruGive to Vidctuals, Cloaths, and Books.

The Fizrnp-Spiper.
Ah HIS very much refembles thofe of the fame Species in England,

The FUAT-BACK’p SpipER.

THIS, in the Number of its Legs, and the Make of its Forceps, re-
fembles the Italian Tarantula ; differing chiefly in the Number of its
Eyes, which in the latter are Eight, in the former Two.
The Bite of this is very near as painful as the Stinging of the Surinam
Scorpion, caufing an immediate Swelling, with acute throbbing Pain,
which continues for feveral Hours without Intermiffion,

The GoLpEN Spinper.

"THis is called the Golden Spider, from the bright Gold-colour Lifts,
with which its Legs, and fome Part of the Body, are marked.
It

Of

92

The Natural Hiftory of the Book IIL.

It {pins its Web in the open Air, generally, among the Branches of the
large American Torch-thiftle.

The SLENDER-LEGG D SPIDER.

HIS {pins a Web, and very much refembles that fo often found
among Hay or Stubble-ground in England, in Harveft-time.

The Porato-lousE.

EIIS is a {mall reddifh Infe&, {carce perceptible to the naked Eye:
Yet, when viewed thro’ a Microfcope, it is evident, that its exter-—

nal and internal Parts, whether we confider the Difpofition of its Limbs,
or the curious inward Fabric of its Heart, Lungs, Veins, and Arteries, are

as regular, and as perfect, as the largeft Elephant, or the huge Leviathan.
Had Pliny known the Ufe of Microfcopes, with what greater Juttice,
Surprize, and Admiration, would he have faid, In magnis fiquidem corpo-
ribus facilis officina fequaci materia fuit : in bis tam parvis, atg; tam nullis,

que ratio, quanta vis, quam inexplicabilis perfettio (5) !

The InpIAN Corn-WorM.

ape es is a fhort thick Worm, preying upon the Pith in the Infide
of the Stalk, and by this means rendering the Ear at the Top very
imperfect, having {carce any Grain on it.

The Ear tTH-WorM.

THis differs, at leaft to the naked Eye, in nothing from the Earth-
Worms in England.

The Grounp-Ass, or the Lion-PIsMIRE.
HIS is of the Colour of an Hog-Loufe; in Length about a Quarter of

an Inch.
The Back is convex, not ill refembling the Back of a Tortoife in

_ Miniature ; but fomewhat longer in proportion.

The Head is {mall and long, when compared to the Bulk of the Body.
hh ay is fupported by Six Legs, the Pair next the Shoulder being the

nge . ,

What is moft remarkable in this Animal, is its Motion, which is always
retrograde ; and this not by walking, but by quick Starts, {fpringing back.

Thefe generally live in very loofe Duft or Sand, under Logs of Wood
of fuch Coverings: In thefe Places they artfully make a circular Hole of

about
(5) Pliny, Lib. XI, Cap. II.

Book I Yfand of BARBADOS,

about an Inch Diameter, of a Funnel-fhape ; in the Centre of which
this Creature lies unfeen, watchfully waiting for his Prey.
~ As foon as an Ant, or fometimes a Fly, walks upon or near the cir.
cular Brink of this Hole, the Lion-Pifmire either fees his Prey, or more
probably hath Notice of it, by fome Grains of Duft falling to the Centre:
He then, by a fudden Start, at the Bottom, undermines the dufty Sides of
the whole Fabric: Then the Prey upon the Brink falls precipitately, with
the falling Duft of this fhelving Funnel, into the Centre : Whilft the Prey
is thus immerfed in Duft, he ceafes his Work, and devours it; and foon
after repairs to his Cell, and lies concealed like a Spider in the Centre of
it, till the next Prey calls him forth to repeat his unhofpitable Talents.
This Animal is well defcribed in Spectacle de la Nature.

The Woov-AntTs.

ae E Wood-Ants are the moft pernicious of all others, being fo
4 very deftru@ive to Timber of moft forts, that, if not prevented,
they will in a few Years time deftroy the whole Roof of an Houfe, efpeci-
ally if it be foft Timber.

They have likewife caufed great Loffes to Shopkeepers, by boring
Holes thro’ whole Bales of Linen, as well as Woolen Cloths.

They are very expeditious in building their Nefts, which are long hol-
low Tubes, the Outfide being an Incruftation of a gritty clayey Matter.

The Method of deftroying them is, to make a {mall Hole near the up-
per End of the Nefts, and pour into it a little Arfenic, which generally
kills thofe that are prefent ; and the reft, that follow, eat up the Carcafes
of the flain, and almoft inftantly fwell, burft, and die.

The GREAT-HEADED ANT.

HE Head of this (which is joined to the Body by a {mall Ligature)
is very large, in proportion to the Bulk of the Body.
- It no-way differs from the laft defcribed, but by the Bignefs of its Head,
from whence it derived its Name.

The Satu Rep Ant.

ee Eis is a very fmall Ant: Yet the Part of the Skin it bites conti-
nues painful for near Four Hours afterwards.
If thefe are likewife killed, and rubbed upon theSkin, they raife a Blifter.
The Bodies of thefe Ants are thickly covered with fharp fine-pointed
Briftles, imperceptible to the naked Eye.

‘The Stincine Anv.

pets appears to be the fame with what is to be feen in England in

the Summer Seafon in moft Pafture-Lands.
Bob The

25

94

The Natural Hiftory of the Book IIL.
The Horsz-Anv. :

HIS is the largeft-fized Ant, and is often to be met with both
within and without Doors ; and hath nothing peculiar in its Make

The SuGAR-ANT.

‘THIS is a fmall whitith Ant, very fond of Sugar, or any fweet and
oily Liquids ; and confequently very troublefome_ to good Houfe-
wives, it being difficult to keep them from every kind of Vidtuals.

The WincED ANT.

‘HO’ there are {carce any Nefts of Ants of any Kind but have fome

winged Ants among them, which are efteemed the She-Ants;

yet, when we {peak of thefe as diftina from the feveral other already de-

{eribed, we may obferve, that they generally live under-ground, and are
feldom feen to come out of their Holes but in rainy Weather.

The LAND-SNAIL.

"THE SE are generally of an Ath-colour, or black: The latter is tather
a Diftin@tion of Age than Species.
Thefe are chiefly to be feen among green Herbage, efpecially Potato-
Vines.

.or Qualities.

The SMALL SpiR AL SNAIL.

HESE are not above half an Inch long, very flender, and fharp-
pointed.
The Colour of the Shell is of a ruffet Grey.
They are often found cleaving to the Bark of large Cotton-trees.

The Dunc-Snatt.
“] HESE are very {mall, and refemble, in Appearance, a flat crufty

Wart, or fome fuch Excrefcence.
The {mall Part is very foft, when compared to any other of the Snail-
kind. i Reel
The Infide likewife is of a tough, reddifh, Jelly-like Confiftence.
They ftick to, feed upon, and thus deftroy, feveral Kinds of fucculent
Vines, efpecially the Granadillo-Vines,

AVING now taken a View of the Brute-Animal Part of the Crea
tion, let us turn our Thoughts to the great Author of all Beings ;

and gratefully acknowlege his Bounty, in making Man the Lord over
the Whole: Let us admire that Wifdom, which is always prefent to every
one of them, fupports and governs them. ahd

Book TIL. Iland of BARBADOS.

And left, upon Comparifon with their fuppofed Meannefs, we fhould
think too highly of our own Knowlege ; left our {canty Portion of Wit
dom and Power make us vain ; let us make a Comparifon between. our-
felves and our Creator.

After this Survey we fhall find very little Occafion of Boafting; we
fhall find, that our greateft Knowlege is but fplendid Ignorance; and
that we fee no farther than the Surface and the Outfide of Things, as
directed by the general Laws of Motion. All beyond this is mere Guefs-
work, Conjecture, and Uncertainty.

Let the wifeft Man go out of himfelf, and furvey the immenfe Extent
of Nature, the Variety of its Works, the Regularity of its Motions, and

_the Harmony of Providence ; and let him ferioufly pronounce, how little
is his real Knowlege, how great his Ignorance !

Let him take a Profpe& of the vaft Dimenfions of thofe aftonifhing
Heaps of Matter, that lie within the Reach of his Senfes: Let him con-
fider the ftupendous Motion that agitates the vaft Mafs of Matter, and
whirls about the numberlefs Bodies, that take their Courfes thro’ the un-
meafurable Space ; and carry his Thoughts into that Immenfity, where
Imagination itfelf can find no Limits: Let him confider that infinite
Duration, which is before and after him ; and, finding his own Life in-
cluded in it, let him obferve the little Scantling of it, that falls to his

Share.

It is juft to acknowlege (what hath been undefignedly omitted), that
fome of the above Refleétions, as well as Part of thofe in Page 88. are
owing to the learned Mr. Hildrop’s Works.

The End of the Tuirp Boox.

THE

95

hrs i aa

Ripe Race

NATURAL HISTORY

[and of BARBADOS
BOOK IV.

Of VEGETABLES.

NV N treating of thefe ufeful and beautiful Parts of the

R Creation, I fhall take particular Notice of fuch as
\ are curious in their Make, or ufeful in their Phyfi-
\ cal, or other remarkable Qualities: And when I am
obliged to differ materially, or circumftantially,
from other Writers, it is with no other View but
that of difcovering the Truth ; and after the joint
laborious Inquiries of the paft, as well as the pre-
fent Age, into fo extenfive a Subject, we may ftill
fay with Seneca, Multa venientis evi populus ignota nobis /ciet. Multa fe-
culis tunc, cum memoria nofiri exoleverit, refervantur ; 7. e. “ Many are thofe
“© Secrets which are hid in Obfcurity from the prefent Age, and arereferved
** to blefs Pofterity with their Difcoveries.”

In our Inquiries into this Part of the Creation, we fhall be entertained
with an agreeable Mixture of Knowlege, Profit, and Pleafure. We a
’ Cc

.

98

The Natural Hiftory of the Book IY,

find every Individual repleté with unerring Defign, Elegancy, and Wif.
dom, each contributing to. the Harmony of the Whole.

The Eye is ravifhed with beholding the majeftic Height, and agreeable
Verdure, of fome ; whilft the Flowers of others delight us with their Pro.
fufion of Sweets, and varied Beauties: ‘‘ And, (6) could our Eyes attain
“to the Sight of the admirable Texture of the Parts, on which the {pe-
“ cific Difference in Plants depends, what an amazing and beautiful Scene

-“ of inimitable Embroidery fhould we behold! What Variety of mafterly’

“ Strokes of Machinery! What evident Marks of .confummate Wifdom
“ fhould we be entertained with! The little that we do know of their
“* Make and Structure is furprifing !”’

What Power lefs than Divine could provide them with fuch Number
and Variety of Veffels, endued with dilating and contraéting Qualities,
capable, by Expanfion, to give room to the excrementitious Juices to fly
off, and by Contraétion to force back their remaining unconcoéted: Parts
to be purified by a farther Circulation and Secretion !

How greatly are we at a Lofs, even to conjeGture, much more explain,
how an Aloe-Plant, and a Sugar-Cane, tho’ planted in the fame Tub of
Earth, and abforbing the fame common Juices; yet each fhall concod
thefe Juices, fo as to render them fuitable to their refpective Natures ;
the one producing a very fweet, the other the moft bitter of Juices !

If from the amazing Structure, and inimitable Beauty, of Plants, we
explore their other Ufes, we fhall find their great Author’s Bounty, not,
like the Patriarch’s, confined to one Bleffing, but as boundlefs as the
World: Thefe are not only pleafant to the Eye, but good for Food,.
The Delicacy and Poignancy of their Fruits, the Fragrancy of their Gums,
Oils, and Balfams, their healing Qualities, and the grateful Tafte of their
Juices in Liquors---all proclaim, that thefe are thy Works, O God! and
convince us, that in Wifdom thou haft made them all.

As this Treatife, with regard to Vegetables, is confined within a narrow
Sphere, it cannot be fuppofed to comprife Rules for a regular Syftem of
Botany ; nor doth it therefore require me to defcend to every minute Cir-.
cumftance neceffary, and expeéted only to be expatiated upon by thofe
who undertake to write Botanic Syftems. ct.

The Method I have taken, in clafling the Plants by their Fruits, is; I
hope, the fhorteft and plaineft, and confequently the eafieft to be under-
ftood by common Readers.

It would perhaps feem an invidious Task every-where to particularize
many of thofe lefler Circumftances, wherein I am obliged to differ from
other Authors. Mr. Miller, of Chelfea, as far as he hath feen our W oft-
India Plants, hath defcribed them with great Judgment and Accuracy.

As to my We/f-India Readers 3 when thefe thall compare my Delfcrip-
tions with the Originals, they muft do me and themfelves the Juftice to
choofe Specimens from perfeé Plants, growing in fuch a Situation as they
naturally love : For the fame Species of Plants, which would flourith, and

grow
(6) Vide Dr. Hale’s Veget. Stat.

Book IV. Sland of BARBADOS.

grow luxuriant, in a particular Soil, or in the Shade, might perhaps be
{carce kept alive, if too much expofed to the Sun, or unnaturally fituated :
Nor are Specimens from Hot-houfes in cold Climates to be depended
upon ; for the Inconftancy of artificial Heat, caufing fudden Tranfitions
from the required natural Degree of Heat to unnatural Cold, frequently
occafions great Alterations in them. This, among many other Inftances,
may be clearly feen in the irregular Growth of the 4werican Torch in
moft Green-houfes.

And, indeed, after all our Accuracy, it muft be owned, that as the
Growth of Plants depends fo much, even in their natural Climates, upon
the different and uncertain Seafons of the Year, it would be more rath
than judicious to pretend abfolutely to afcertain the determinate Size of
the Leaves, or the exact Growth of any Species of Plants.

Nor is the Colour of the fame Plant always the fame. Thus the
young Leaves of the Sea-fide Grape are intirely red; but, when old, alto-
gether green, except the middle and tranfverfe Ribs.

It will likewife be of Ufetoobferve, that as, in the Infancy of fettling this
Ifland, Caprice and Chance had a greater Share, than Botanic Skill and
Judgment, in impofing Names upon our Vegetables; feveral of our
Plants have many and different Names in different Parts of the Ifland.

With this Caution to my Readers, I fhall, I hope, not only myfelf
efcape the Charge of Omiffions, but they will likewife avoid that Con-
fufion, which would otherwife, in the Courfe of this Work, be almoft un-
avoidable.

As to our feveral Trees, Shrubs, and Plants, that abound with Oil,
Gums, or Balfams; the curious Inquirer muft likewife take Notice, that
thefe, generally fpeaking, are not to be expeéted but from Vegetables
that are full-grown, and at particular Seafons of the Year.

After all my expenfive Care and Trouble,.and a ftri@ Attachment to
Truth in all my Obfervations ; yet I make no doubt but this Treatife
hath many unavoidable Imperfections. For, to fpeak with the Poet,

Whoever thinks a faultle[s Piece to fee, »
Thinks what ne'er was, nor is, nor eer foal be.
Porn’s Effay on Crit.

TREE ey FiGhe “Ot Bowe ong ge st AS S07 oes

ah

TESS

a nadie Scars:

peoaca

es ht Sy ie

or Pir
ob beer artes zs

pees
eer

seal hic: i aiteai nei oss re SORA, ire Soph Fy
tne cstigrs reso es a i

sled
eTihee i

Book IV. The Natural Fiiftory, &c. 46r-
Of Nucirerous TREES, SHRUBS, azd PLANTS.

g YHO’ thefe are not generally efteemed among the moft delicious
Fruits ; yet the Kernels of many of them are not only agreeable

to the Tafte, but valuable alfo for the great Quantity of Oil they afford ;
nor are they defigned for the Ufe of Man only, but likewife to be the moft
common, and almoft the peculiar Food of a certain Species of (1) Animals.

Thofe who think meanly of this, or any Part of the Creation, are ge+
nerally Men of narrow Conceptions, and {canty Knowlege, which barely
_ skims over the Surface of Things

Hence arifes that partial Judgment, which would confine the Good-
nels of God, as the (2) Syrians of old would his Power, within narrow
and local Bounds.

Thefe fhort-fighted Obfervers confider not, that the Chait, of which
they fee but a Part, reaches to the Ends of the Earth.

When we extend our Views, and give our Inquiries a greater Scope;
the more will our Ideas bé inlarged, when we find the common Father
of All, every-where prefent, pouring forth his Bleffings with a bounti-.
ful Profufion ; theh every diftin@ Part, which we had before inadvert-
ently looked upon as mean and trivial, will gradually rife in our Efteem,
and appear in its native Beauty.

For Inftance; Let an Inhabitant of a Noithern Climate, where thefe
Fruits we are treating of, are not very inviting to the Palate, trace the
different Species of this kind into other Regions, growing under the be-
nign Influence of a warmer Sun; let him examine the various Species
which the lofty Palms alone produce, and he will find them no lef nume-
rous than ufeful, till he comes at laft to the moft remarkable and valuable
of all others, the Coco-nut.

When he fees and confiders the admirable Texture of the Whole of this
furprifing Fruit, efpecially the thick husky Covering with which itis cafed,
to prevent the piercing Rays of the Sun from abforbing the limpid Water
it contains, fo grateful to Man, and fo neceflary to give Rife and Nourifh-
ment to its delicious Kernel : This, and its Growth, will appear {till more
wonderful, as well as more replete with Wifdom and Goodnefs ; efpecially
when he confiders the Situation of thofe Countries, and the Soil wherein
they generally grow ; and how great will his Admiration be, when he
finds, that Providence hath ordained thefe to thrive and flourith in the
moft barren and fandy Defarts of Ezhiopia, Africa, and Arabia, where
Nature denies almoft every other Herbage!

Let us likewife (at leaft in Imagination) follow our Fellow-Creatures the
Inhabitants of thefe Climates; let us fanfy we view the fainting Traveller
pafling thro’ thefe inhofpitable Defarts, where neither a grateful Verdure:
chears the Eye, nor the Murmurs of even a diftant Stream the Ear; view him
hungry and thirfty, doubting, murmuring, and almoft faying aloud with
the I/raelites, Can God find Food in the W ilderne/s ? when, ona fudden,
fome intervening Hillock is paft, which forbad the pleafing Profpect ; a

(x) Squirrels. (2) 1 Kings xx. 2g% * Dd thick

102 The Natural Hiftory, &e. Book TV,

thick Grove of thefe Trees appears. The Beauty of their grateful Verdure,
their waving Foliage, and the cool Shade which they promife, infufe freth
Vigour ; a few Moments more he is reclined under its welcome. Shade,
and there refrefhed with the moft delightful Viands thefe Nuts afford.

- Thus, as in the refpective Stages of human Life, Providence hath pro-
vided Pleafures and Enjoyments fuitable to every diftinét Period of it ; {o
in every Climate the fame unerring Hand hath adapted to each, by Weight
and Meafure, its proper peculiar Advantages, generally far overbalancing
its Inconveniencies.

If Eg ypt is denied the refrefhing Rains ; the Vi/e fupplies that feeming
Want: If Paleffine is not blefled with fuch a providential Alotment; yet
its Hills and Valleys copioufly drink of the Dew of Heaven : The Hills, by
their high Summits, arreft the pafling Clouds, and caufe them to defcend
on the Valleys in the former and the latter Rain.

Where dreary Defarts deny Support to the generous Horfe, there the la-
borious Camel, patient of great Labour, and long Thirft, is adapted by
Nature to bear the Wants and Fatigues of Journeys thro’ fuch Sun-burnt
Regions.

In fhort, were we capable of taking a general Survey of the Face of
Nature, we fhould find, that Providence hath enriched every Climate with
Bleflings peculiar to itfelf, and adapted to the Neceflities of its Inhabitants;
and for this Reafon we may conclude, that the Abundance of Coco Nut-
trees found in this Ifland, and fuch Places, was gracioufly calculated and
intended for the Comfort and Refrefhment of thofe whom Providence
hath there placed.

The DATE-TREE.

a esas Tree grows to a confiderable Height, often Fifty Feet.
Its Leaves much refemble thofe of the Cabbage-tree ; but their
Pinna are harder, and aculeated.

The Branches, as well as the Spines or middle Ribs of the Leaves, are
guarded with Three-inch-long triangular Prickles, always chanelled on
one Side.

The ftraiteft and youngeft Branches which grow near the Summit of
the Tree, are much ufed here by the Yews, upon their Feaft of the Taber-
nacles : Thefe they ufually gild, and adorn them with various Flowers, and
then carry them in Proceffion to their Synagogue. Whether this is the
fame kind of Palm that was ufed by the//raelites, we know not, or whether
it is not here fuccedaneoufly ufed as bearing the neareft Refemblance
to it. The Branches are fet on /gvammatim, leaving, when they fall, very
deep Impreffions upon the Trunk.

The Dates grow in large fpiral Clufters, about the Bignefs and Shape

. ofamiddling Olive ; but never come to the Perfection here of being eatable;
for they have a very auftere and acerb Tafte; yet the Swine feed upon them
greedily : This crude rough Acidity of the Fruit fhews, that they have a
great deal of effential Salts. ba cag)

Book IV. The Natural Hiftory of, &c. 103

Die Hee

Gj ||H1O° every Part of this Tree, cither in its Make or Ufe, is
ftamped with fo many evident Signatures of Divine Wifdom,
as to make it juftly the Obje& of our Admiration ; yet, in
defcribing it, we ought not to add to it (as moft Writers
—— have done) pretended Qualities, and Excellencies foreign
to its Nature.

For as the Light of the Sun cannot be heightened by that of a Candle,
fo neither can the perfe& Works of God require the Aid of our weak,
much lefs falfe Embellifhments, to fet them forth in a ftronger and more
advantageous Light, left he fhould fay unto us, Who requireth this Thing
at your Hand ?

As the ingenious Mr. Ray was one of the firft Perfons of Charaéter
who was impofed upon, moft other Authors fince his Time, depending
upon his Defcription, have reprefented this Tree as actually capable of,
and really producing, Bread, Water, Wine, Vinegar, Brandy, Oil, Honey,
Cups, Spoons, Befoms, Mafts, Nails, Needles, and Covering for Houfes.

But, fince many of thefe Qualities are merely chimerical, I fhall endea-
vour to defcribe this Tree according to its outward Appearance, and real
Properties.

Its Roots are many, very much refembling, in Colour, Make, Texture,
and Extent, thofe of the Cabbage-tree, being very fmall, and many in
Number.

The Trunk of this likewife fomewhat refembles the former, having
near the Top, furrounding the Heart of the Tree, many Flakes of that
eatable Cabbage-like Subftance.

But the Body of this Tree hath no Claim to a juft Proportion in
Growth, being often near as thick at Thirty Feet high, as it is within Three
Feet from the Ground ; and it generally leans one Way or another,
occafioned, in fome meafure, by the great Weight of Nuts it fuftains
whilft young, which determines the bending of the Tree, which Side

; Dd foever

TO4 The Natural Hiftory of the Book TV,

foever they project ; and, if likewife they grow upon the Brink of a Pond,
the Trunk of fuch Trees always bend. towards the Water.

Some of them grow to Sixty Feet high.

The Bark is more deeply pitted by the Vefligia of the fallen-off
Branches, than that of the Cabbage-tree.

There is likewife this very remarkable Difference: That this keeps its
Afh-colour Bark to the very Place where the Branches begin ; the other,
as hereafter defcribed, always difcovers the Space of near Five Feet, of a
beautiful deep Green, between the Ath-coloured Bark, and the Part where
the Branches begin: The lowermoft Branches likewife in a Cabbage-tree
expand almoft horizontally ; whereas thofe of a Coco Nut-tree bend
more wavingly and irregular.

The Branches come to their full Growth in about Three Months, and
are, in a flourifhing Tree, about Twenty-eight in Number.

Every Branch hath a great Number of pennated Leaves : Thefe are
of different Size, the largeft always near the Trunk, the reft growing lef
towards the Extremity of the Branches: The former are often near Three
Feet long, and refemble, in their Make, thofe of the Cabbage-tree, except
that they want thofe ftrong Thread-like Filaments, which the Cabbage-
leaves afford, neat

And as the Branches of the Coco Nut-tree are often about Fifteen Feet
long, they would be liable to be broken down by high Winds, efpecially
thofe that are prefled upon by the Weight of the large Bunches of Coco
Nuts. Indulgent Nature hath therefore fortified and wrapped the Foot-
ftalks of every Branch with a ftrong, clofe-woven, reticulated, web-like
Subftance arifing from the Tree. This Subftance is of a reddifh Colour.

What is farther remarkable in: this is, that it becomes peculiarly
adapted to the different Growth of the Branches ; for, as thefe increafe
in their Growth, by eafy gentle Degrees, this Web, tho’ of a very ftrong
Confiftence, is yet fo elaftic and pliable, that, growing with the Branch
it never prevents its Growth by too clofe a Bandage, nor fuffers it to .
liable to the Injuries of Storms by too lax a Stri@ure,

This Contrivance of Nature (if I may ufe fo low an Expreffion) is not
only curious in its web-like Make ; but, being often a Foot and an half
long, may, where extreme Neceflity calls for fuch Shifts, be capable of
being fewed together, and made into a kind of Garment, which would
at leaft keep off the Heat of the Sun: And this is the moft probable
Pretenfion the Writers of Wonders have, to fay that this Tree affords
Cloaths.

; As to its being fit for Mafts of Veflels; this is a moft prepofterous Sup-
pofition, or rather an Impofition upon Mankind ; for, without being
anna in Sea Affairs, every one is fenfible, that a Maft of any Veflel
ee t to me and always is, made tapering from the Bottom to the Top;
¥ eared iadk me for the moft part, almoft as thick at the fetting on
of eaves, 4s near the Ground: And as the Infide is {oft and

’ pithy,

Book IV. Tland of BARBADOS, on

pithy, and its whole Strength confifting in the outward ftrong ligneous
Part, which is not above ‘Iwo Inches thick; this prevents the Poffibility
of its being made tapering by the Ufe of Tools.

As to many other of its pretended Qualities, they are as groundlefs
as this.

But to return to my Subjeét : This Tree, if planted in a rich fandy
Soil, will begin to bear Fruit in the Fourth or Fifth Year ; fometimes not
fo foon, if the Soil and Situation are not indulgent to it.

Its firft Appearance of bearing Fruit is a ligneous, pod-like, husky
Spatha, of about Two Feet long, and about Three Inches broad, narrower
towards its Footftalk than towards its Extremity. The Whole is of a
brownifh Green on the Outfide, and white within: It comes to its full
Growth in Three Months from its firft Appearance.

As the Foot-ftalk is continued thro’ this husky Spatha, there it wreaths
and twines itfelf, as well as its partitional furrounding Twigs, into man
Bendings. When the Spatha comes to its Maturity, it burfts in the Middle,
on the upper Side ; and the inclofed Twigs appear thick-fet with pale-
white Flowers, inclinable to a yellow Colour.

Each of thefe are compofed of Three rigid fharp-pointed Leaves.

From the Middle of thefe rife Six yellow Stammia, with a fhort whitith
Style, cleft at the Top into Three Parts: Thefe Flowers have a weak
faint Smell ; and, in about Five Days from their firft Appearance, they
fall to the Ground : Then the Nuts, by degrees, are formed : Thefe, when
young, are round, and their Shell of a foft Texture. The outward husky
_ Covering is of a fomewhat reddifh Colour ; each Nut round the Foot-

ftalk being clofely embraced with the Calyx, which is compofed of many
ftiff roundifh Leaves, which clofely ftick to the Nut, like fo many lami-
nated. Scales.
- The Cavity in the Nut, whilft thus young, is narrow and {mall, grow-
ing both larger and rounder with Age. 4
- Each Nut, on the Part next the Stem, hath in it Three Holes clofely
{topped ; one of thefe being both wider, and more eafily penetrated, than
the reft : From this, when the Nut is planted, rifes the Gerzmen, or youn
Tree: Thro’ thefe Holes likewife is the Water copioufly diftilled into the
Nut from the Roots of the Tree. This is evident from the Saltnef& of
the Liquor in thefe Nuts, if the Tree grows near a brackith Spring ; but,
if they are planted in an agreeable Soil, the more fandy and loofe, the
better. The’Water in young Nuts, from fuch Trees, is very limpid, and
extremely fweet.
When the Kernel begins to grow, it incrufts the Infide of the Nut in
a bluifh jelly-like Subftance : As this grows harder, the inclofed Liquid
becomes fomewhat acid, but ftill of a f{weetifh agreeable Tafte, and far
more palatable than any Mixture of thefe Two Ingredients from the beft

of Artifts,
As

106

The Natural Hiftory of the Book IV,

As the Nut ripens, the Kernel becomes till more folid ; and lines at
laft the whole Infide of the Nut for above a Quarter of an Inch thick as
white as Snow, and of the Flavour of an Almond.

Thefe Nuts, when at their full Growth, which they generally are in
Six Months after their firft Appearance, contain from half a Pint to fome-
times above a Pint of the above-mentioned Liquor.

In about Three Months after the Kernel is in its full Perfection, the
husky or outward Coat of the Nut, in a fhort time, begins to be
fomewhat fhriveled ; and the Nut foon after falls from the Tree. ‘This
happens in the Tenth Month from its firft Appearance.

In this Stage the whole Fruit is of a blunt oblong Shape, near, and often
above, a Foot in Length, and otherwife proportionable : The Outfide js
likewife bluntly marked in a triangular manner: The husky Part, which
covers the Nut, for near an Inch thick, is of a pale Brown on the Sur-
face, and of a reddifh Colour within. This confifts of fo many {trong
ftringy Filaments running lengthwife, that it is not without Difficulty
feparated from the Nut ; but when taken off, and cleared of the inter-
mixed pithy Subftance, it then refembles coarfeOakum ; and it is fo called
by moft Authors, and may perhaps, in Cafes of Neceffity, be ufed as fuch.

The Nut likewife, when cleared of its husky Tegument, appears
flightly marked on the Outfide with Three Sutures, the whole Nut being
of a blackifh Colour.

If thefe are planted, the Kernel will, fome time after, firft bud, and
ramify, and fill the whole Cavity of the Nut; and then fhoot out at the
above-mentioned Hole in the Top, and foon appear above-ground in’ Two
narrow Leaves.

As the Kernels of moft Nuts are more or lefs pregnant with Oil, it
will perhaps be here worth obferving, that tho’ Oils in general, when in
the common Way extraéted, are not mifcible with Water; yet they may
be brought to mingle with it in the Form of Cream.

For Inftance ; Let any Quantity of Coco Nut-kernel be pounded in a
Mortar, with a Quantity of Water fufficient to penetrate into the broken
Interftices of the Kernel : This, being again mixed with a great Quantity
of Water, and fuffered to fettle for a few Hours, will neceffary contract
a white creamy Subftance upon the Surface, in which Form the Oil then
appears. a

Its Parts, by being thus pounded, and abforbed in the branny Subftance
of the Kernel, and mixt with Water, are rendered too {mall to cohere,
and to form vifible Drops.

On the other hand, if the Oil, drawn from the Kernel by Expreflion,
be fhaken ever fo much in Water, it will almoft inftantaneoufly collect its
{eparated Parts, and form itfelf into its genuine tenacious oily Drops :
Which Oil, when firft expreffed, is very mild, and of an infipid Tafte ; but
in a few Days, unlefs kept very cool, which is fearce practicable in hot
Climates, it will become rancid. :
; The

ieee
Bayt yorten

Sly

Vorag

———
——

i
|

on
a

Book IV. Hand of BARBADOS.

The great Boerhaave obferves, that the frefh Oil of Sweet-Almorids,
taken in a Linéfus, proves an excellent Emollient, where the Fauces are
grown rough with an Azgina : And yet, if the fame fhould be taken by
a Perfon in Health, after it had ftood in the Heat of a Summer’s Day, it
would corrode and inflame them. Add to this, that the fweeter thefe
Oilsare, when frefh, the more acrid they are, when they are old and rancid.

Hence the fame ingenious Author’ obferves, how abominable are
Almonds, Walnuts, and Piftach-nuts, when they once become rancid ;
and how eafily they will caufe an Angina, and raife a Fever, by inflame-
ing the Throat, Oefophagus, Stomach, and Inteftines: ;

How inexcufable therefore muft thofe Praitioners in Phyfic here be,
who for the above Purpofes ufe the rancid Oil of Almonds, when they
might every Day extract the beft and {weeteft of Oils from the Coco
Nut-kernel !

From this feeming Digreflion, concerning the Nature of Oils, we may
proceed to obferve, that, if the Liquor in the Nut ke firft fermented, I
make no doubt of its producing, upon Diftillation, a ftrong Spirit ; and
likewife, if a confiderable Quantity of it were boiled for a long time, it
would probably yield a fmiall Quantity of Sugar.

This Tree is delineated in P/aze IIL.

The BARREN Coco NutT-rTREE.

AG HIS differs very little, if any thing, in its Shape and Texture, froni
that already defcribed : However, this never bears any Nuts, but
an husky Subftance only, refembling in Shape a common Coco Nut.

Thefe are fo rare, that I never faw any myfelf ; but had them defcribed
by a Perfon of great Veracity.

The CaBBAGE-TREE ; Lat. PaLMA Maxima.

apres Tree is by fome Authors called The Palmeto Royal. And well

may it be called Royal from its great Height, majeftic Appearance,
and Beauty of its waving Foliage: Neither the tall Cedars of Lebanon,
nor any of the Trees of the Foreft, are equal to it in Height, Beauty, or
Proportion ; fo that it claims among Vegetables that Superiority which
Virgil gives to Rome, among the Cities of Italy :

Verum hec tantum alias inter caput extulit urbes,
Quantum lenta folent inter viburna cupreff. Ecl. I.

Imperial Rome o’er other Cities tow’rs,
As lofty Cyprefs humble Shrubs o’erpow’rs.

Its Roots are innumerable, refembling fo many round Thongs, of a
regular determinate Bignefs, feldom exceeding the Size of the little Finger,
Ee but

108

The Natural Hiftory of the Book IV,

but of a great Length, penetrating fome Yards into the Earth, efpecially
where the Soil is fandy, or otherwife porous: Thefe Roots are of a darks
brown Colour. :

The Trunk jets or bulges outa little near the Ground, by which means
it hath the becoming Appearance of a fubftantial Bafis to fupport its
towering Height. It is generally as ftrait as an Arrow 5 and {carce can a
Pillar of the niceft Order in Archite@ure.be more regular, efpecially when
it is of about Thirty Years Growth; And as there isa natural involuntary
Pleafure arifing from the Harmony of juft geometrical Proportions, ftrike~
ing the Eye of the moft unskilful and ignorant Beholder, it is not ftrange
that thefe Trees are univerfally admired.

‘Writers of Wonders reprefent fome of them to be Three hundred
Feet in Height : However, the higheft in this, where they are more nu-
merous than in any of our neighbouring Iflands, is but an Hundred and
Thirty-four Feet.

The Trunk of this, near the Earth, is about Seven Feet in Circum:
ference, the whole Body growing tapering to the Top.

‘The Subftance of the Tree, for about Two or Three Inches of the Out-
fide, but within the Bark, is of a blackith Colour, and extremely hard
and folid : This furrounds the inner Subftance, which is a whitith Pith,
intermixt with fome {mall Veins of a more ligneous Texture.

The Colour of the Bark much refembles that of an Ath-tree, and is
very faintly clouded, at about the Diftance of every Four or Five Inches,
with the /effigia of the fallen-off Branches: This Colour of the Bark
continues till within about Twenty-five or Thirty Feet of the Extremity
of the Tree: There it alters at once from an Afh-colour to a beautiful
deep Sea-green, and continues to be of that Colour to the Top.

About Five Feet from the Beginning of the green Part upwards, the
Trunk, is furrounded. with its numerous Branches in a circular Manner ;
all the lowermoft {preading horizontally with great Regularity ; and the
Extremities of many of the higher Branches bend wavingly downwards,
like fo many Plumes of Feathers.

Thefe Branches, when full-grown, are Twenty Feet long, more or lef;
and are thickly fet on the Trunk alternately, rifing gradually fuperior one
to another: Their broad curved Sockets fo furround the Trunk, that the
Sight of it, whilft among thefe, is loft, which again appears among: the
very uppermoft Branches, and is there inveloped in an upright green conic
Spire, which beautifully terminates its great Height.

The above-mentioned Branches are fomewhat round underneath, and
flightly grooved on the upper Side: They are likewife decorated with a
very great Number of green pennated Leaves: Some of thefe are near
Three F eet long, and'an Inch and an half broad, growing: narrower towards
their Points, as well as gradually decreafing in Length towards the Extre-
mities of the Branches,

3 oie As

Book IV. Yland of BARBADOS. tdé9

As there are many Thoufand Leaves upon one Tree, every Branch
bearing many Scores upon it, and every Leaf being fet at a fimall and
equal Diftance from one another, the Beauty of fuch a regular lofty Group
of waving Foliage, fufceptible of Motion by the moft gentle Gale of Wind,
is not to be defcribed.

The middle Rib, in each Leaf, is ftrong and prominent, fupporting it
on the under Side, the upper appearing {fmooth and fhining. The pithy
Part of the Leaf being {craped off, the infide Texture appears to be fo
many longitudinal thread-like Filaments.

Thefe, being {pun in the fame manner as they do Hemp, or Flax, are
ufed in making Cordage of every Kind, as well as Fifhing-nets, which
are efteemed ftronger than thofe ufually made from any other Material of
the like Nature.

_ Itis obferved, that the lowermoft Branch, for the Time being, drops
monthly from the Tree, carrying with it an exfoliated circular Lamen of
the green Part of the Tree, from the Setting on of the Branches to the
Afh-colour Part, which is about Five Fect in Length, and, in Breadth, the
Circumference of the Tree at that Part, This, and the Branch to which
it is always fixed, fall together.

When the Lofs of this-lower Leaf happens, then the green conic Spire,
which iffues from among the Centre of the uppermoft Branches, and rifes
fuperior to all, partially burfts, and thrufts from its Side a young Branch,
which continues the uppermoft, till another of the lowermoft Branches
drop off : Then the Spire, the common Parent of all the Branches, fends
forth again another Branch, {uperior in Situation to the lat: So that the
annual Lofs of the Branches below is providentially fupplied in this
manner by thofe above..

The green-coloured Part of the Tree, already mentioned, differs from
the Afh-coloured Part no lefs in Subftance than Colour : The former, ins
ftead of being extremely hard on the Outfide, and pithy within, is com-
pofed of fo many Coats, or fepatate Lamine, of a tough bark-like Sub-
ftance of near a Quarter of an Inch thick, and fo very clofely wrapped
together, that they jointly compofe and conftitute that green Part of the.
wlitces

As the lowermoft, as well as each other higher Branch, when they fuc+
ceflively grow to be old, is joined by the broad Socket of its Foot-ftalk
to this outward Coat, Lamen, or F olding, it is obfervable, that fome time
before the lowermoft Branch is intirely withered, this green circular Coat,
which to the Eye appeared fome Days before to be a folid Part of the
Tree, flits open lengthwife, from the Setting on of the Branches to the Ath-
coloured Part beneath, being about Five Feet in Length, and the Circum-
ference of the Tree in Breadth; and, peeling off, it falls with the falling
Branch to which it is joined by many {trong Cartilages, leaving the next
fuccceding Coat, to appear for a time as a conftituent Part of the Tree,
till a fucceeding withered Branch carries this off likewife.

Having

TIO The Natural Hiftory of the Book IV.

Having felled one of thefe ftately Trees, to examine its Make, Tex.
ture, &c. I obferved, that the feveral Exfoliations of its green Part were
equal in Number to the Branches.

The Firft, Second, Third, and fometimes the Fourth of thefe Laming
are green on the Outfide, and perfeétly white within: All the remaining
inner Coats, or Foldings, are of a bright Lemon-colour without, and
white within.

When thefe very tough husky Exfoliations are taken off, what is called
the Cabbage, lies in many thin, fnow-white, brittle Flakes; in Tafte
fomething like the Kernel of an Almond, but fweeter: It is fo full of
Oil, that a curious Obferver may fee feveral very fmall Cells aboundin
with it. Thefe Flakes are called, from fome Refemblance, when boiled, the
Cabbage, which then eats fomewhat fweet and agreeable: Yet I have

~ always thought it the Height of Extravagancy and Luxury to fell fo ftatel
a Tree, which would be an Ornament to the moft magnificent Palace in
Europe, to gratify the Tafte of any Epicure, efpecially as there is but a
very {mall Part of it eatable.

What is called the Cabbage-flower, grows from that Part of the Tree
where the Afh-coloured Trunk joins the green Part already defcribed.

Its firft Appearance is a green husky Spatha, growing to above Twenty
Inches long, and about Four broad ; the Infide being full of fmall white
ftringy Filaments, full of alternate protuberant Knobs, the fmalleft of -
thefe refembling a Fringe of coarfe white Thread knotted: Thefe are
very numerous, and take their Rife from larger Footftalks; and thee
Footftalks likewife are all united to different Parts of the large Parent-
ftalk of all.

As this husky Sparha is opened, while thus young, the farinaceous
yellow Seed, in Embryo, refembling fine Saw-duft, is very plentifully di-
fperfed among thefe ftringy Filaments, which anfwer the Ufe of Apices in
other more regular Flowers : Thefe Filaments, being cleared of this Duft,
are pickled, and efteemed among the beft Pickles, either here or in
Europe. ;

But if this Sparha is not cut down and opened, whilft thus young ; if
it be fuffered to continue on the Tree till it grows ripe and burfts; then
the inclofed Part, which, whilft young and tender, is fit for pickling,
will, by that time, have acquired an additional Hardnefs, become foon
after ligneous, grow bufhy, confifting of very many {mall Leaves, and in
time produce a great Number of {mall oval thin-fhelled Nuts, about the
Bignefs of unhusked Coffee-berries: Thefe, being planted, produce
young Cabbage-trees.

The greateft Number of thefe Trees uncultivated, are in Mrs. Aleyne’s
Wood, in that Part of the Ifland called Scotland 3 at Mr. Aolder’s, and
at Codrington’ s-College ; and by far the longeft planted Walk is at Mr.
Ball's Eftate, commonly called Farmer’ s Plantation in St. Thomas’s Parith:
But the moft regular in Growth, Proportion, and Beauty, either in this

: Ifland,

See

Pla:

Mii?

td Plate ih,

pit.

G. D. Lhret. deli. kr ) foudlfe:

Book IV. land of BARBADOS, itt

Tfland, or perhaps in the World, is a fmall Walk at the Eftate of Mrs,
Warren, at the Black-Rock ; and another, tho’ much inferior to it, at the
Eftate of Yo/feph Terril, Eq; in St. Luty’s Parith.

It is obferved, that when thefe ftately Trees are felled, either inten-
tionally, or by the Violence of the Wind, there breeds in the Pith of the
Trunk a kind of Worms, or Grubs, about the Size and Length of the
firft Joints of the Thumbs: Thefe are eaten, and efteemed great Delica-
cies, by the French of the neighbouring Iflands, ; '

Thefe Trees grow on the Tops of Hills, as well as in Valleys. The
hard outfide Part makes very durable Laths for Houfes,

This beautiful Tree is delineated in Plate IV.

‘The fmall Caspacu-rTReEE,

Te IS, even at its greateft Growth, is far lefs than the Gabbage-tree’

already defcribed, having likewife the green Part, near the Top, much
lefs in proportion to its Bulk, than the former 3 and the Spatha likewife’
is fomewhat redder. -

As the Trunks of thefe Trees are fo convenient to make long and.
durable Pipes, or Gutters, to convey Water, and other Liquids, from one
Building to another, there are {carce any of them left growing in the
whole Ifland.

The Paum Orn-TrEE; Lat.Patma OLzosa.

ff ae S grows about Fifty Feet high. ;
Its Roots much refemble thofe of the Cabbage, or Coco Nut-tree,
The Trunk is lefs tapering than the former, but generally ftraiter than
the latter: It is likewife very deeply marked with the /% efigia of the
fallen-off Branches, tho’ not fo {caly and rough as that of the Date-tree,
Its Branches fomewhat refemble thofe of the Cabbage, or Coco Nut
tree ; but they are far more ragged, lefs uniform, fhorter, and lefs ver=
dant, than either the Cabbage, or Coco Nut-leaves. ee
The Spine or middle Rib of each Leaf is likewife thickly ftudded with
fharp-pointed Prickles, each Two Inches long. ‘7 ae
The firft Appearance of the Fruit is an husky Spatha. When this opens,
it expofes to view a great many {mall Nuts: Thefe are covered with an
husky Tegument of a yellowith Colour, containing in its many Interftices,
when ripe, a confiderable Quantity of fine {weet: Oil, which the Slaves,
after the whole Fruit is firft roafted in the Embers, greedily fuck.
_ When this outward husky Covering is taken off, the Nut appears :
This is of a fomewhat blunt conic Shape, the Infide being filled with a
white Kernel, of the Nature of the Coco Nut-kind, but in Tafte not
fo agreeable. :
The Nut, being bored and emptied of its Kernel, is much worn by feve~’
tal Nations of Negroes, by way of Ornament, about their Necks,
, F f

TrE2

The Natural Hiftory of the Book IV,

© ftis evident from the Hiftory of Mofes, that this Tree was of great
Walue and Efteem among the J/raelites. This appears from the {everal
Portraitures of it in the Temple, even in the mott facred Place.

Several Cities in Paleffine were likewife called the Cities of the Paln-
trees, efpecially Yericho: And Deborah, when the judged [/rael, dwelt
under the Palm-tree, between Ramah and Bethel.

Thefe, and the Olive-trees, were of great Efteem ; becaufe they afforded
fuch a Quantity of Oil, which was of fo much Service, both in facred
and common Ufe. ;

As to the Firft, the Nature of my Subject will neither require, or even
permit me to fearch into the Origin of that Cuftom. As to the latter,
we have numberlefs Inftances to prove, that the Zews mixed it with Flour,
to make, at leaft, their unleavened Bread ; efpecially from the Anfwer of
the Widow-woman of Sarepta to the Prophet E/jah, when he defired
her, in the time of Famine, to fupply him with a Cake of Bread : And
foe faid, As the Lord thy God liveth, I have not a Cake, but an Handful of
Meal in a Barrel, and a little Oil in a Crufe: And, behold, I am gather-
ing two Sticks, that I may go in and drefs it for me, and my Son, that we
may eat it, and die, 1 Kings xvii. 12.

Neither was this the only domeftic Ufe of Oil among the antient "ews;

: for they, made great Ufe of it to anoint their Bodies, which is plain from

feveral Expreflions of the Royal Pfalmift; efpecially when he fays, That
he fhall be anointed with frefo Oil : And in another Place, after enume-
rating the feveral temporal Bleflings received from God, he mentions that
of Oi/ to make his Face to fhine.

The Inhabitants of -4/rica, where Palm Oil-trees abundantly grow,
are living Comments upon thefe Two Parts of Scripture; for, to this
Day, they mix Oil with their boiled Rice, and other Vidtuals ; and anoint
their Bodies with it, to fupple and relax their ftiffened Nerves, as well as
to prevent a too plentiful Perfpiration.

‘This is fo univerfal a Cuftom, that all the Slaves, brought now from

any Part of Africa to this, or any of our neighbouring Iflands, are always,
before they are brought to Market, anointed all over with Palm Oil,
which, for that Purpofe, is brought from Gwimey: Being thus anointed, |
their Skins appear fleek and fhining.
_ This Cuftom, however, was not peculiar, even in the earlieft Ages, to
the Yews alone ; for the Perfians, Greeks, and Romans, at certain Seafons,
efpecially at their Feafts, anointed themfelves with Oil, which was mixed
with Spices.

Alexander, when he took the Tent of Darius, found there feveral
Caskets of Ointments and Perfumes.

- Many Inftances from Homer make it evident, that it was then in Ufe:
And the warlike Spartans, at the Streights of Thermopylae, are reprefented
combing their anointed Hair, in Sight of the numerous Army of Xerxes.

And that it was a Cuftom among the Romans, will appear from the

_ following Paflages : Lyrrhena

Book IV. Iland of BARBADOS,

Tyrrhena Regum progenies, tibi
Non ante verfo lene merum cado
Cum flore, Macenas, rofarum, &
Preffa tuis balanus capillis
famdudum apud me ef. -- - Hor. Carm. L. Ill. Od. 29.

= - - Dum licet, Affyriaque nardo
Potamus untti. - - - - Hor. Carm. L. Il. Od. 11.

Thefe are fome, out of the many Inftances, fuch as perfufus liguidis
odoribus---nitidi capilli-—- with many others too tedious to be mentioned.

Nor was this Cuftom intirely difufed, nor the Ointment thought of
little Value, even fo late as the time of our Saviour : For, when a Woman
_ in Bethany poured on his Head a Box full of precious Ointment, there
were fome who had Indignation among themfelves, and faid, Why was
this Wafte of the Ointment made ? for it might have been fold for more than
Three hundred Pence. .

From what hath been faid, with regard to the Cuftom of Anointing
among the Yews, I would not be underftood to mean, that Palm Oil
alone was made ufe of ; for the Oil of Olives is what is chiefly mentioned
in Scripture: However, there are fome Circumftances, which may induce
us to believe, that both thefe Oils were promifcuoufly made ufe of.

This, I think, is very probable, from the feveral Places of Scripture,
where the Growth of the Palm-trees is made a Part of the Bleflings of
the Land of Canaan; and the very natural, eafy Method of coming at
their Oil makes it more than probable.

Thefe Trees are very {earce in this Ifland, except at Drax’s-Hall, the
Eftate of Henry Drax, Efq; and even there they exceed not Twelve in
Number. ©
Among thefe, there is one young Tree about Twenty-five Feet high,
which is remarkably incorporated within a growing Fig-tree ; nor was the
following manner of its being thus inveloped, lefs furprifing.

' About Nine Years ago, a ripe Fig, carried by Birds, or otherwife, was

‘dropped among the upper Branches of the Palm-tree: As thefe are large
and {cooping near the Parent Trunk, and being fet on in Scales, they re-

tain a confiderable Quantity of Duft, and rotten Leaves, as well as

Moifture, their curve Shape, and clofe Junéture to the Trunk, being capa-

ble of retaining both. The Fig, depofited in fuch an earthy moift Place,

foon germinated, and took Root ; and, in a fhort time, its new-produced

Roots, which extended themfelves among the Sockets of the neighbour-

ing Branches, meeting there with the like Nourifhment, vigoroufly grew,

and furrounded the Top of the Trunk in feveral cartilaginous Thongs :

From thence, growing downwards, thefe innumerable fibrous pliable

Roots fwathed the Tree with many Bandages, which in time reached the

Earth, and took frefh Roots: By this means their Growth was foon
, greatly

113

114.

The Natural Hiftory of the - Book lV,

greatly advanced, by the Nourifhment they received from: thence, This
new Supply gave likewife Birth to many Branches of the Fig-tree, Tifing
from the Top, and growing among the natural, Branches of the Palm-

‘tree; the Roots of the other, in the mean time, continuing daily to fur.

round the Trunk.of the Palm,. which, at prefent, being almoft intirely
caled_ or covered by the Fig-tree, is deprived of a great Part of its
former Nourifhment ; arid-the few remaining Branches are far from being
in a thriving Condition. eS meee
Nog alee en SO, ob feared.

By creeping Ivy, or by fordid. Mofs,

Some lordly Palace, or flupendous Fane,

Magnificent in Ruin lies.----~-.. ° Glover's Leonid,

- ‘There is another Inftance, fimilar to this, on Flor fam’ s-Hill, in the

_ Parith of St. Perer’s ; where, in like manner, a Fig, depofited among the

Branches of a Cherry-tree, hath grown, and will, in a few Years, intirely
cafe, if not deftroy it? °° ~~

The MAcKAw-TREE.

FIS is of the Palm-kind, having a great many ftrong Roots, like
- thofe of the Cabbage-tree, or Coco Nut-tree.
_ The Trunk is very ftrait, round, and tapering : This, is almoft intirely
covered with black Prickles, of about the Length, and very near as
fine, as a large Stocking-needle. FAR eS Lar
_. The-Leaves much refemble thofe of a Coco Nut, except that the mid-
dle Spine of ‘this is always thickly covered with Prickles, and the
Branches always ending in a Square, rather than a fharp Point, as if their
Tops were fheared or clipped off.

‘The Infide of the Body of the Tree affords what we have, in the Coco
Nut-tree, called Cabbage. .

From among the Branches rifes up an hard falcated Spatha, or Sheath,
much ‘tefembling that of a Turkifb Scimiter : This is near Three Feet
long ; and,.when.it opens, it difcoversa round cartilaginous ftrong Twig,
which runs the whole Length of the Pod, a great many thin-fhelled Nuts,
and fomewhat bigger than a Sloe, Bes ee es

os he Sanp-pox TREE; Lat, Hur.
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fhort ftubbed Prickles; and the Branches, cloathed with fhining-green
fharp-pointed Leaves, are {et on alternately : Thefe are about Four Inches

Jong, and Three broad, The Extremity of the Branches bears both Male
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Book IV. Iland of BARBADOS, tis

The former are of a blunt conic Shape, having their Surface thickly
ftudded with reddifh Knobs, each incricled with Two Rows of farina-
ceous whitifh Duft : The Female Flowers are funnel-like Tubes, of a red
Colour, whofe thick Labia are much defle@ed back, and cut into Fifteen
or Sixteen blunt Segments. ee

This is fucceeded by a very Hat round Fruit, deeply fegmented into,

enerally, as many regular Divifions, or feparate Cells, each inclofing a
flat Kernel.
Thefe, if eaten, operate by way of Purge ; tho’ it fometirnes proves

an Emetic. —_-

This Tree is of very quick Growth, efpecially if planted in a fhady
Place, and near a Spring of Water. ae.

The Trunk of one of thefe, planted in fuch a Situation, may be now
{een at the Eftate of Richard Effwick, E{q; and is not above Fifteen Years
old, which girts round Nine Feet within Two Feet of the Earth; and its
‘Top hath feveral Branches proportionably large. : Bik os

‘There is another at the Eftate of the Reverend Mr. Reynold Foffer, the
Diameter of whofe Shade is above Sixty Feet.

And, tho’ I have taken the Dimenfions of thefe Trees myfelf 3 yet, as
their Stature is fo very extraordinary even here, I thought it proper to
mention the Place of their Growth, that the Curious may, if they pleafe,
be further fatisfied in this Particular: And I am well affured, that, if any
one takes the fame Trouble I have done, he will find their Dimenfions
confiderably larger than I have réprefented them.

There is another Tree of this kind, near the Manfion-houfe in the
Leeward Eftate of George Hannay, Efg; in St.Lucy’s Parith, which is little
inferior to the above-mentioned, in its great Growth.

Thefe Trees are called Sand-boxes, from the Ufe that is made of their
Fruit to that Purpofe. j

This is delineated in Plate V.

The Puysic-Nut-TREE; Lat. Ricino1pEs.

Sle S is generally a knotty fhrubby Tree, feldom growing above
Twelve Feet high.

The Extremities of the Branches are covered with Leaves, fomewhat
round, having their Edges waved, as well as flightly indented.

The Flowers are of a green herbaceous Kind, and pentapetalous, fet
on in an Umbel-fafhion round the Extremities of the Branches, but efpe+
cially the main Stalks, é

Thefe are fucceeded by as many Nuts, whofe outward Tegument is green
and husky: This, being peeled off, difcovers the Nut, whofe Shell is black,
and eafily cracked : This contains an Almond-like Kernel, divided into
Two Parts: Between this Separation lie Two milk-white thin membra=
naceous Leaves, eafily feparable from each other: Thefe have not only
: Gg a bare

116

The Natural Hiftory of the Book IV.

a bare Refemblance of perfeé Leaves, but have, in particular, every Part,
the Stalk, the middle Rib, and tranfverfe ones, as vifible as any Leaf
whatfoever. a

The Kernel is not only eatable, but hath a delicious Almond-tafte, he

It is the common Opinion, that the purgative or emetic Quality lies
in the Two membranaceous Leaves, that feparate the Kernel into Two Par-
titions : But this is a Miftake ; for I have, as well as others, tried it both
ways ; and its phyfical Effects were, with or without thefe, always the
fame.
The Leaves, and tender Buds, emit a milky Juice, which either by In-
folation, or being rubbed on the Palm of the Hand, turns to the Con-
fiftence of a Salve, which is looked upon to be very good to heal any
green Wound. ache

The Nut likewife, when ripe, pounded and boiled, will yield a confi
derable Quantity of Oil: A Spoonful of this fwallowed, whilft freth, is
looked upon to be a good Purge, to abate Swellings in Dropfical Dif

“orders.

The Frencu Puysic-nutr; Lat. Rictnorpes,
} | HIS Shrub often grows to be Ten Feet high.

; The main Stalk divides into very few Branches, and is covered
with a greyith white Bark.

The Leaves ftand upon Six-inch Footftalks, furrounding the main
Stalk, generally near the Top, in an irregular Order: Thefe are very
deeply digitated : Each Digit, by the feveral Subdivifions that grow from
its Sides, in Shape, much refembles a Branch of the palmed Hart’s-horn.
~. The Flowers. grow in Bunches, Umbel-fafhion, upon the Extremities
of each large Stalk, very much refembling, at their firft Appearance, a
Bunch of red Coral: Thefe afterwards open into {mall five-leaved pur-
ple Flowers, and are fucceeded by Nuts, which refemble the common
Phyfic-nuts in Shape and Qualities.

_ This is delineated in Plave VI.

Of: The CEDAR.
: | ‘HIS grows to be a large Tree, with a dark-coloured Bark.

Its Leaves are of a pale Green, about Two Inches long, one broad
and fharp-pointed ; their Edges being irregularly ferrated. ap OF.
The Flowers are fucceeded by a Fruit as big as a Damafcene: Thefe,
when tipe, are of a ruffet Colour, and fplit into Four Parts, difcovering a
thin flat Seed.

This differs from the Carolina Cedar, chiefly by the far clofer Grain of

the Wood: It wants alfo the fragrant Smell of the former,

The

Book IV. Sland of BARBADOS, 116

The CALABASH-TRE E.
THE Fruit called Calabafhes are of Two Sorts 3 the one fimall and

round, containing (when the pulpy Subftance, and numerous white
flattifh Seeds, are {cooped out) from One to Four Pints ; the oval Sort
often containing Fifteen Pints.

The Tree bearing the former is taller, and hath a lefler Leaf, and is
alfo of a paler Colour, than the latter.

_ The Bark of both Trees is rough and fhagged, if not fulcous in fome
‘old Trees ; and what fome Authors call Capfular Leaves, are only a Sea
paration in the green husky Part of the Calyx ; for this Tegument feems
indeed to have been defigned by Nature only to proteé the Fruit, whilft
‘tender, and in its infant State; and when that hath expanded itfelf on
the Infide, and is become ftrong enough to bear the Air, it then burfts
its Way thro’ the former Covering.

This Tree, when full-grown, is about Eighteen Inches Diameter ; and,
in Height, from Fifteen to Twenty-five Feet ; dividing generally into
many {piral Branches, ending in a blunt Point.

The Flower is a large yellow Cup, freckled with Red, a Piftil rifing
from the Middle. ‘The Stamina take their Rife from the Side of the Petals,

The Fruit is often fo large as to contain (when cleared of its Seed, and
white foft Pulp, with which it is filled). Two or Three Quarts, efpecially
thofe which grow of a blunt oval Shape; but the round fort are much
fmaller. Each make very convenient Drinking-cups, and are ferviceable
to many other Ufes.

The GALL-TREE.

3 there are very few, if any, of thefe Trees, left undeftroyed in the

Ifland, I am obliged to reprefent it from the Defcription of it given
me by a Perfon of equal Knowlege in Plants, and Integrity in defcribing
them. &

This Tree feldom rifes above Twelve Feet high, covered with Leaves
of the fame Make with, but fomewhat longer than, thofe of the baftard
Lignum Vite. ,

The Trunk, which is covered with a whitith Bark, foon divides into
very many bufhy Branches: The Extremities of thefe bear many {mall
bluifh Flowers in Groups, which are fucceeded by numerous Berries, or
Galls hanging on fhort Footftalks: Thefe are about the Bignefs of a Sloe,
of an Afh-colour on the Outfide, and black within. a

This, with the Pods of Achafee, boiled together, makes good Ink.

. The Necro Ot.-susn , Lat. Pauma Curisrt,

ae IS fhrubby Plant is diftinguifhed into the red and white Sort.

The Oil, extracted from the Berries of the Red, is lef rank than:
that of the other ; and is fometimes made ufe of by feveral Nations of.
Negroes in their Soups. pitti

118 | The Natural Hiftory of the Book IV,

The Trunk of this Shrub, which often grows to above Five Feet high,
is ftrong, and clofely jointed. ;

The firft-mentioned hath a reddifh, and the other a greenith Stalk ;
both generally clouded over with a glaucous Mealinefs.

The Leaves are many, furrounding the main Stalks, as well as the
Branches (efpecially towards the Top): Thefe are very large, often above
Twenty Inches Diameter, being cut into feveral, feldom lefs than Eight,
fharp-pointed Divifions : They are fupported upon Footftalks of about
Thirteen Inches long, centring in almoft the Middle of the Leaf.

The Flowers, which furround the Summits of the main Stalks, for
about Seven Inches in Length, firft appear in the Form of {mall green
Cap/ule, of a blunt conic Shape, which foon divide into Five fharp-
pointed green Leaves ; and by deflecting towards the Footftalk, difcover
innumerable {mall, pale, yellow, ftamineous Flowers, tipped with pices,

Thefe Flowers, at firft, are fucceeded by greenifh Berries, thick-fet
with harmlefs Spinule : As they grow riper, thefe drop almoft intirely off,
and the foft brownifh Husk of the Nut is difcovered.

This is of a triangular Shape, divided into Three Parts, touching one
another at Right Angles, and compofing one Body, flightly rimmed with
a brownifh Fur, the Nut ftanding upon a pendulous bluifh Footftalk.

When the outward Skin is taken off, it difcovers a {potted Kernel.

_ Thefe are fo oily, that Ten Pints of them, being bruifed, and
then boiled, afford a Pint of Oil.

This Plant, or rather Shrub, thrives beft in a fandy Soil, near the
Sea; and as the Heat in fuch Places is intenfe, from the very ftrong
Reflexion of the Sun from the Sand, I am of Opinion, that Nature in-
tended it fuch a Situation, to ferve (as it were) inftead of an Alembic, to
force up to the Extremities of the Branches, where the Berries are, fuch a
great Quantity of Oil.

The BLack NicKkER-TREE.

pees grows to be a confiderable large Tree, covered with a Bark
of a greyifh White.

The fmaller Branches are thickly cloathed with feveral Pairs of pen-
nated Leaves: Thefe are Four Inches long, and an Inch and an half
broad, {mooth-edged and fharp-pointed.

The Flowers are fucceeded by a round Snuff-coloured Fruit, fome-
what bigger than a large Cherry, or rather of the Make of the {mall
round white Plumb in England.

The outward Subftance is tough, and very gummy: This, when ripe,
feparates from the Nut within, which is black and round.

When this dark-red fhelly Covering is broken, it difcovers a white bit-
terifh Kernel. :
If the outward Husk, which is no thicker than a Crown-piece, is put
in Water, it will raife a Lather much fooner and ftronger, than an equal
Quantity of any Soap would do. Lhe

Book IV. land of BARBADOS. tig

The JAcK-IN+A-Box; Lat. HERNANDIA.

7 eee is of a very quick Growth ; and, when at Maturity, is very
feldom fhort of Forty Feet high. rth

Its main Branches are numerous arid ftrong: Thefe are fubdivided into
{everal leffer ones, which are alternately cloathed with large Heart-like
Leaves, being Ten Inches long; and Six broad. batt

The Flowers iffue in Bunches from the Extremities of the Branches:
Thefe ftand upon Two-inch long Footftalks, and are compofed of three
whitifh feemingly capfular Leaves, furrounding Three leffer white Petals :
Thefe alfo inclofe feveral fhort stamina, tipped with yellow Apices.

The Socket of the Flower difcovers, near the Roots of the Stamina,
feveral {mall yellowith farinaceous Grains.

As the Piftil grows in Strength, it becomes the Rudiment of the Fruit;
which, when ripe, is of a blackifh Colour, narrow at each End, and Three
quarters of an Inch long. en

From each Extremity, it grows in the Middle to a roundifh Body, of
about Two Inches and an half in Circumference, deeply furrowed into
feveral irregular Chanels.

This blackifh Coat inclofes a Nut, whofe Kernel is very near as large
as a {mall Nutmeg, and much refembles it in the Colour of its Veins.

The Whole of this Fruit is furrounded with a thin husky brittle Cafe;
or Covering, which never touches the Fruit, nor the Stalk, but where it
furrounds it at the Bottom. This hollow Cap/ula is of a tawny yellow
Colour, which is capable of containing, at leaft, a Gill of any Liquid,
having an Aperture, at its Extremity, of about half an Inch Diameter :
Thro’ this the Fruit may be eafily feen in the Cavity or Womb of
this capfular Husk; which, when ripe, hath a very ftrong fragrant
Smell.

The Tree is never known to be without both Fruit and Flowers.

The Wind, blowing into the Cavities of thefe Husks, makes a very fono-
rous whiftling Noife.

The inclofed Kernels are very oily.

It grows chiefly in fhady Places.

The End of the Fourru Boox.

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T HE

NATURAL HISTORY

Ifland of BARBADOS.

BOOK VV.

Of TREES, SHRUBS, and PLANTS,

of the PomirERous Kind,

, Y Pomiferous Fruits, I would be underftood to mean -
all of the Apple-kind, fuch as have a thick flefhy
Subftance, inclofing many Seeds.

It is obfervable, that where the Climates begin to
be too hot for the Growth of fuch Apples as are pro-
duced in fome Northern, and alltemperate Climates ;
there the gradual Chain is progreflively carried on,
and the delicious 4fatic Fruits begin to take place,
fuch as the Pine-apples, Shaddocks, Forbidden

Fruits, and Oranges.

It is alfo worthy our Notice, that moft of our Summer Fruits, efpeci-
ally in hot Countries, tho’ delicate in their Tafte, have a great Mixture
of a latent Acid in them, which is neceflary for the Prefervation of Health
in

129 The Natural Hiftory of the Book V,

in hot Climates. And as moft kinds of fuch Fruits are beft adapted to
qualify by their Coolnefs the Heat of the Body in Summer Seafons std
we find, that they grow, and are in Plenty, in Winter Countries, only at
fuch times as they are moft wanted: But as the Climates within the Tro-
pics have, almoft without Exception, a continual Summer, fo the fame
Divine Hand hath provided for the Wants of thofe Places, by bountifully
fupplying them with a conftant Series of various frefh Fruits of this kind,

The MANCHANEEL-TREE ; Lat. MANCANNILLA.

TT HIS, among many others, is very imperfectly defcribed by all for-

mer Authors: And, tho’ the Juice of this Tree is confeffedly poi-
fonous ; yet the Force and Malignity of its Poifon are extravagantly
enhanced.

One (1) Hiftorian, in particular, who loved to dwell upon the Marvel.
ous, fays, That-the Heads of People, who happen to fleep a fhort time
under its Shade, {well ; and thofe who have fo flept, grow blind ; but if
they fleep for a confiderable time, they recover their Sight ; likewife, that
if the Leaves but touch the naked Skin, they raife Puftles, which caufe
deadly Pains, unlefs helped with, Water and Salt, or. fafting Spittle ; arid
that even {melling the Wood is dangerous. P

This Defcription is fabulous in every Article: For fleeping under its
Shade-hath-no-manner of bad Effe@ upon the Head or Eyes; nor is any
ill Confequence to be feared from the Leaves touching the naked Body,
unlefs thefe-are -bruifed, and the white milky Juice they contain is fuffered
to pervade the Pores; which if it does, it raifes Blifters, like thofe of the
Confluent Sort in the Small-pox, caufing acute Pains; but the fimple
Drops of Rain-water, falling from thefe Leaves upon the Skin, will not,
as is falfly afferted, have any bad Effe@ ; which I have often, upon re-
peated Trials, experienced.

There are fome feeming Inftances urged to confirm the contrary ; efpe-
cially of a Perfon wathing in Indian River, who, upon an unexpected
Storm of Rain, and high Wind, fheltered himfelf naked under the adja-
cent Shade of this Tree; where he had not been long, before he felt fome
Part of his Skin, about the Shoulders, fmart, and foon afterwards an
Eruption of painful corrofive Blifters,

I will lay no Strefs upon the great Heat of the Sun, during the time
of his Bathing, which often, near thofe fandy Bays, raifes Blifters upon
the Part expofed out of the Water ; but am fatisfied, and well convinced,
that thefe Blifters were occafioned by Drops falling from this Tree 3 tho’
at the fame time, I mutt deny, that they were merely Drops of Rain-
water : However, we cannot be at a Lof& to account for the Bliftering,
and its painful Caufe. If we recollect, that the Wind was very high in

this
(1) Peter Martyr,

Book V. Hland of BARBADOS. 123

this Inftance, and the Rain very heavy, the former, by violently tofling
and beating the tender Buds and Leaves againft one another, bruifed
them; by which means, the milky poifonous Juice iffued out in great
Plenty, and wafhed off from the Leaves, with the Drops of Rain, upon
the Perfon fheltering under the Shade.

From thefe Remarks upon the Miftakes of others, I proceed to give
the beft Defcription I am able of this Tree, both with regard to its out-
ward Appearanee, and its real Qualities.

The firft thing that is to be obferved, is, that it is of a very quick
Growth, and feldom or never found growing to any Perfection, but in loofe
fandy Soil, near the Sea, or other Water.

Its Roots are {trong and numerous. ;

The Trunk of a full-grown Tree is, generally fpeaking, from Two Feet
and an half to Three Feet Diameter, branching, moft commonly, from
Three to Fifteen Feet high from the Ground.

The Heart, which is very {mall, in proportion to the Bulk of the Tree,
is very hard and folid, of a pale Yellow, with a greenifh Caft, interfperfed
with {mall blackifh Veins, the Grain fmooth, and the Wood durable ;
the Bark of a fleek whitifh Grey, the Branches many in Number, and full
of thick, fmooth, fhining Leaves.

There are here and there, among the Branches, long pendulous Kat-
kins, which are produced at remote Diftances from the Embryo’s.

It bears a Fruit much of the fame Make as the round fort of Crab-
apples, which we have in England; and both, when ripe, have the fame
fragrant Smell.

The Pulp of thefe Manchaneel-apples exceeds not, in Breadth, one
Seventh of an Inch, the Infide being an hard ftony Kernel, deeply and
irregularly fulcated ; in which are included the Crab-like Seeds.

The Juice of the Apple is of the fame Colour and Quality, as that of
the Leaves.

But however ftrong the Poifon really is at fome Seafons, and at certain
Growths of thefe Apples ; yet I have known a Woman, big with Child,
who longed for them, to have eaten of them, without any apparent. bad
Effect: However, I cannot fay, that the Fragrancy of their Smell, or
their tempting Looks, have induced others to try and follow her Example
by fo dangerous an Experiment.

If fome of this crude milky Juice falls upon even an Horfe, the Hair,
from the Part affected, foon falls off, and the Skin rifes up in Blifters,
which will require a long time to heal.

One Inftance of its Malignancy happened about Two Years ago. in
Speights-Town: A certain Slave, conceiving herfelf injurioufly treated,
poured into her Mafter’s Chocolate about a Spoonful of this Juice: Im-
mediately after he had fwallowed it, he felt a violent Burning in his T oe

iE an

124 The Natural Hiftory of the Book V:

and Stothach ; and, fufpecting he was poifoned, he ftrove, and with good
Succefs, to vomit ; and, having taken after this feafonable Difcharge, a
regular Emetic, his Stomach was, in a great meafure, fuddenly cleanfed
of the Poifon, tho’ it coft him a long time to perfeét the Cure.

Iam likewife of Opinion, that the Vehicle, in which it was conveyed,
contributed not a little to prevent its otherwife very ill, if not fatal Effeéts;
for, as moft Oils are Antidotes againft Poifon, the Chocolate, being rich
of the Nut, might be fo very oily, that the poifonous Salts were fheathed
or blunted in that Vehicle.

It hath been alfo obferved, that Fifh, as the Barracuda, and others,
which eat thefe Apples, dropped cafually into the Sea, are often found
dead in the Wath of the Water ; and, if taken, whilft alive, and eaten,
often prove poifonous; and even the large white Crab, that burrows in
the Sand, is not, if near thefe Trees, to be made ufe of for Food.

I hall conclude the Defcription of this Tree with a remarkable Obfer-
vation, generally found to be true; whichis, that where-ever a Manchaneel-
tree grows, there is found a White-wood, or a Fig-tree, near it;
the Juice of either of the latter being an infallible Antidote againft the
Poifon of the former.

Salt Water is no lefs efficacious ; and as thefe always grow up by the
Sea-fide, this Remedy is near at hand.

Formerly no one dared to cut down thefe Trees, without firft having
made a large Fire round them, in order to burn the Bark, and dry up
the Spry and Juices that fly from them in cutting: But now naked Ne-
groes venture to cut them down green, only ufing the Caution of pre-
vioufly rubbing their whole Bodies with Lime-juice, which prevents the
Juice from corroding or ulcerating their Skins.

Bruifing and mafhing the tender Leaves and Boughs, in Fifh-ponds,
hath often been likewife a roguifh Praétice of taking and deftroying Fith;
for the Fith very foon after will grow ftupid, float, with their Bellies up-
wards, on the Top of the Water, and often die.

The SHADDOCK-TREE; Lat. AURANTIUM Epguctu
Maximo Inpra# ORIENTALIS.

G ta E Tree, bearing the large white Shaddock, hath many {trong Roots.
When full-grown, it is often above Sixteen Feet high, divided near
the Top into many {trong Branches, cloathed with numerous blunt-
pointed Leaves, of about Four Inches long, and near Three in Breadth,
of a deep Green above, and pale underneath ; refembling, in their Make,
that of a four Orange.
coulle Flowers are like the Orange, furrounding numerous Stamina
tipped with pices. ji
‘Thefe are fucceeded by the Fruit, fomewhat in the Shape of a Pear;
but far larger, and fomewhat rounder. ee
The eutfide Skin is yellowith and fmooth, s This

Book V. Tland of BARBADOS. 125
' This Fruit was brought firft from the Ea/-Indies, by Captain Shad-

dock ; from whom it derives its Name.

The Leffer SAADDOCK*TREE.

1 oa is about the Bignefs of a China Orange-tree; the Leaves dif-
4 fering in this only, that they are not above Two Inches and an
half long, and about an Inch and an half broad.

The Flowers are monopetalous, deeply fegmented into Five feeming
white Petals, furrounding a great many Stamina, tipped with pices.

The Fruit is diftinguifhed into the red and white Sort, each larger than
either an Orange, or a Forbidden Fruit ; and is juftly efteemed to have a
fine delicious Tafte.

The Witp SHApvocK; commonly called, The Large
LIME-TREE.

peas grows fomewhat larger than an Orange-tree ; tho’ the Leaves
of this, as well as of all other Trees of this Clafs, differ very little
in their Shape ; andthe Difference in their Flowers is hardly percepti-
ble.

This is by far the largeft Fruit in the Ifland, growing often to be
Twenty Inches in Circumference.

The feveral rough Indentings and Knobs on its Outfide, as well as the
internal Make and Tafte of its Juice, determine it to be rather of the
Lemon, than either of the Shaddock or Lime-kind.

Thave known near half a Pint of four Juice {queezed out of one of
thefe Fruits.

This ferves to fupply the Want of Limes or Lemons in making Punch. -

The Sour OraNnGE-TREE ; Lat. AURANTIUM.

G ts IS grows in a rich Soil, to the Height of about Seventeen Feet.
Its Roots are ftrong, deeply penetrating into the Earth.

Its Branches are numerous, efpecially towards the Extremity of the
Tree; and are cloathed with fharp-pointed fmooth Leaves, of a deep
Green above, and fomewhat pale underneath.

Thefe are about Three Inches long, and near Two broad, fupported.
by an Heart-like Footftalk, an Inch in Length.

The Bark of the Trunk is generally of a dirty-grey Colour, and of the
4malleft Branches, towards the Top, of a deep Green.

Its numerous white Flowers are monapetalous, divided into Five Sec-
tions, fo deep, that they refemble pentapetalous Flowers.

_Thefe are fucceeded by the Fruit, which is too well known to require
a Defcription. :
I

126 The Natural Hiftory of the Book V;

"Tf thefe Fruits are not gathered when ripe, thofe which drop not off,
will feemingly wither upon the Trees; yet thefe will revive, flourith,
and be again, as it were, ripe, at the ufual-Seafon in the following Year,

I have feen an Inftance of this kind in'the Eftate of the Honourable
Colonel Yobn Maycock, in St. Lucy’s Parith. 2

The larger Branches of thisTree are, in common with all Orange,
Lemon, Shaddock, Forbidden Fruit-trees, and Lime-trees, ftudded with
many fharp flrong Prickles.

The CHINA ORANGE-TREE.

Gf Pea Tree, either in regard to its Roots or Size, Difpofition or Make
of its Leaves, differs very little, if any thing, from the four Orange-
tree already defcribed, unlefs that its Leaves have an Heart-like Appen-
dix joined to them, ferving as Footftalks : Thefe are fomewhat narrower,
or fharper pointed, than in the former.
The Flowers are of the fame kind as thofe of the four Orange already
defcribed, except that thefe are alfo lefs, and the Petals not fo thick or
flefhy.

The GuinEy ORANGE.
es Fruit, I think, ought rather to be called the Sour Forbidden

Fruit ; for in every Circumftance (except in the Sournefs of its
Juice) it refembles that Fruit; but it is much lef than the eatable For-
bidden Fruit.

The GoLDEN ORANGE-TREE.

(ges Tree differs not in either its Trunk, Leaves, or Flowers, from
that already defcribed.
It bears a large fine Orange, of a deep Yellow within ; from whence it
derives the Name of a Golden Orange.
This Fruit is neither of the Seville or China kind, tho’ it partakes of
. both, having the Sweetnefs of the China mixt with the agreeable Bitter-
nefs and Flavour of the Sevil/e Orange.

The PUMPLE-NOSE-TREE,

“| eae S Tree refembles the Shaddock in every material Circumftance.
The Fruit nearly reprefents, in its Make, that of the leffer Shad-

dock ; and is in Bulk fomewhat le than a Shaddock, and larger than the

largeft Orange.

_ Thefe Fruits are eatable, their inward juicy Veficule being much the

fame as thofe of Shaddocks : However, they are often too four to be

efteemed a very defirable or delicious Repatt.

The

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Book V. land of BARBADOS,

The BURGAMOT-TREE.

HIS Tree, in its Bulk, Make of its Leaves, or Colour of its Bark,
differs very little, if any thing, from the laft defcribed.

It bears a Fruit fomewhat larger than an Orange, whofe Infide affords
very little Juice ; and what it yields is not palatable, being too four to
be eatable. Pe

What is moft valuable in this is its Oil, which is extracted, by flicing
the outward Skin, and {queezing both the Oil and Spry into a Glafs: The
Oil will immediately feparate from the Juice, and fwim upon the Surface.

This, being carefully drained off, and preferved, is what alone ought
to be called the genuine Burgamot Oil.

The Portuguefe have a Method of molding the Rind of this Fruit, to
make Snuff-boxes: Thefe Boxes retain, for a very long time, the grateful
Fragrancy of thie Oil and Spry. .

For BIDDEN-FRUIT-TREE;
HE Trunk, Leaves, and Flowers of this Tree, very much refemble

- thofe of the Orange-tree.

The Fruit, when ripe, is fomething longer and larger than the largeft
Orange 5 and exceeds, in the Delicacy of its Tafte, the Fruit of every
Tree in this or any of our neighbouring Iflands.

It hath fomewhat the Tafte of a Shaddock ; but far exceeds that, as

well as the beft Orange, in its delicious Tafte and Flavour.
This is delineated in Plate VII.

The C1iTRON-TREE,

HE Encomiums that are often, by European Writers, beftowed upori

this Tree, and generally ufhered in with a pompous Defcription of

the Beauty of its Flowers, Fruit, and delightful Shade, are fomething like

the poetical Reprefentation of a Shepherd’s Life, embellithed with purling

Streams, and fhady Groves ; but not a Word of their coarfe Fare, nor of
their enduring the uncertain Viciflitudes of Heat and Gold !

What bears the Name of a Citron-tree is, in Reality, fo far from afford-=
ing a friendly Shade, that it is but a groveling prickly uncouth fhrubby
Tree, having neither Beauty in Appearance, nor Delicioufnefs in the
Fruit, unlefs what the Rind affords by Diftillation.

The Leaves, which are fet alternately upon the Branches, are about
Four Inches long, and {fharp-pointed.

The Flower refembles that of an Orange ; and the fucceeding Fruit is
large and yellow, when ripe; the Outfide being irregularly indented,
mixt with numerous Protuberances: TheInfide refembles that of a Lemon.

There lies between the outward Coat, and the juicy Part, a thick
fpongy whitifh pithy Subftance.

wrk The

129°

The Natural Hiftory of the — Book Y.

The Sr. HELENA LEMON-TREE.
Ges! S is rather a prickly branching Shrub, than a Standard.

It branches very near the Ground ; and, as the Branches are many
in Numter, they interfere with each other ; and their Tops, efpecially
when loaded with Fruit, bend wavingly downwards, almoft to the Ground.

The Leaves, which are fet alternately, are longer and paler than thofe
of the Orange-trees, and want likewife their Heart-like Footftalks.

Its Blofloms refemble thofe of the juft-mentioned Tree; and the
Fruit, when ripe, is of a pale-yellow Colour, and oblong in Shape, end-
ing with a Nipple-like Protuberance. :

_ Thefe are but very moderately four, and very grateful to the Stomach :
‘Therefore it is much made ufe of in all Sawces, which require any Acid.
it grows beft in fhady Places. :

Gulielmus Pifo, in his Natural Hiftory of the Weft-Indies, has been pro-
fufe in his Encomiums upon the Virtue of Lemons ; which appears from
the following Words: |

Peritiffimi nonnulli Indiarum orientalium & occidentaliummedicafri, pra-
ter vuleares illas toto orbi celebratifiimas limonum & citreorum vires, quas
quoqg; perpetuo commendabiles habent, plus prefidii a duabus his limonum
partibus (femine, [cilicet, medulla) ponunt contra malignos morbos, &
pefiilentes febres, atg; ipfa denig; venena, quam in lapide bexoardico, & fa-
Jiidiofa theriace compofitione. Pifo, Pp: 314.

Anfam mibi fuppeditari autumabam aliquid ad artis nore incrementum
edi/cendi ; idque aliquoties tentans, non infeliciter proceffit : in febribus, /e-
licet, intermittentibus, circa initium paroxy/mi, hauftu calido fucci limonum,
cum facchari & aque fontane tantillo, Jemel atg; iterum exbibito, exacer-
bationes vel in totum cefféffe, vel faltem indies preter expetiationem, fru
cum fitt, deferbuiffe, & intra pautos dies plane filuiffe, deprehendi, Jubje-

quente utig, manifefo affettu urine, feilicer, & wmprimis fudorum larga

promotione. Ibid. p. 315. Vide p. 313.

The SpantsH Lemon-rree; Lat. Limon.
‘qe IS groveling fhrubby Tree feldom grows to what we may properly

| call a Standard ; for it generally divides near the Earth into many
weak Branches, which rife about Ten F eect high; and then, efpecially if
loaden with Fruit, they bend downward, often fo low as to touch the
‘Ground. |
_The Leaves are about Four Inches long, and about Two in Breadth,
of a faint yellowith-green Colour, and {et on the Branches alternately. _
The Flowers are the fame with the foregoing ; and are fucceeded by

an oblong yellow Fruit.

Book V. —- land of BARBADOS,

The LIME-TREE.

HIS Tree, generally {peaking, foon divides into many Branches, and
thefe into {till leffer ones, thickly cloathed with Prickles, as well as
deep-green {mooth fharp-pointed Leaves, which are near Two Inches
long, and above an Inch broad.
It bears a very great Number of fmall white monopetalous Flowers,
divided into Five feeming Petals.
Thefe are fucceeded by the Limes, which are a round Fruit, about as
big as a Crab-apple.
Thefe are yellow, when ripe; and afford a great Quantity, confidering
their Bulk, of a thin and very four Juice.
This, or the Juice, or Lemon, is the chief Ingredient of the acid kind
in both Sherbet and Punch.
The Infide affords a great many {mall white Seeds of the Apple-kind.
The Trees are propagated from thefe Seeds, planted about an Inch
deep in the Earth.
_ The Limes, when young, are preferved, and make a Part of our Bar-
bados Sweet-meats.

The SucAR-Appie-TREE; Lat. GUANABANUS.

HIS is of a middle-fized Growth, cloathed with weak pale thin
Leaves, of about Four Inches long, one in Breadth, and {mooth-edged.

Thefe are fet on the Branches alternately.

The Flowers are compofed of Three thick narrow herbaceous Leaves,
white within, and green on the Outfide.

From the Centre of thefe grows the Fruit ; which at firft appears in a
green Button; but as it grows, enlarges, and becomes of a blunt conic
Form ; the Outfide divided into feveral bluith irregular {quamous Protu-
berances.

Thefe afford a foft, ftringy, {weet, pulpy Subftance, inclofing a blackifh
oblong Stone or Kernel.

The Fruit is looked upon to be wholfome.

The MonxEy AppLE-TREE.

| pao grows to about Twenty Feet high.
Its Branches are thickly covered with Leaves, much refembling
thofe of a Sourfop-tree.
It bears a large round Apple, the Infide refembling the Sourfop-fruit.
The Tree, Leaves, and Fruit, emit a very offenfive Smell in rainy
Weather.
The Fruit hath its Name from its being eaten by Monkeys. 4,
he

The Natural Hiftory of the Book V.

The Avicato PEAR-TREE; Lat. PERSEA.

cps grows to be a large wide-extended Tree, whofe Branches are
— cloathed with many large fharp-pointed Leaves. 2

The Flowers, which are hexapetalous, appear at the Extremities of the
Branches, each fucceeded by a large Fruit of a Pear-{fhape.

Thefe are of Three Kinds; the Red, the Purple, and the Green fort;
The laft is efteemed the bett.

The pulpy Part of this Fruit is foft, when Tipe:

It is looked upon to be very nourifhing.

The moft common Method of eating it is, to mix this Pulp with a
little Sugar and Lime-juice.

The Stone or Kernel is very large, and of a pale-ruffet Colour.

The POMGRANATE-TREE ; Lat. PunIca.

qu FITS is a fhrubby Tree, feldom arifing above Sixteen Feet high.
Its Branches are very many and flender.

Its Flower is of the brighteft Red, compofed of a blunt red conic
husky Calyx, divided, at the Margin, into Six fharp-pointed Seétions, in-
clofing as many Rofe-like fcarlet Leaves.

Thefe likewife furround a great many red fhort Stamina, tipped with
yellow 4pices, yes

The fucceeding Fruit is round, and as big as a large Apple, decorated
at the Top with a Corona, as a Pear.

The outfide Rind is {trong and husky, and generally, when ripe, of a
maiden-bluth Colour.

The Infide is divided into feveral partitional Cells, inclofing a great
Number of granulated fmall Acini, tafting fomewhat like, but more de-
licious than, white Currans in England, when not over-ripe.

The outward husky Peel of this Fruit, when dried and pulverized, is
good for Fluxes, and much ufed for that Purpofe.

The Fruit of fome of thefe Trees is fo fharp, that they are not eatable.

They are generally diftinguifhed into the white and red Sort.

There are of each fort fome particular Trees bearing fweet, others bear-
ing four Fruits.
vngea hefe Trees flourith in every Part of the Land of Paleftine ; and were
in fo great Efteem among the Jews, that the Chapiters of the Pillars, in
Solomon's Temple, were adorned with the Reprefentation of thefe, as well
as of Palm-trees. “Ls

The {mall PoMGRANATE-TREE ; Lat, Punica
AMERICANA.

‘THI S isa fmall woody perennial Shrub, which feldom rifes eee

Four Feet high; and i hiefl : )
@Qacne g and is chiefly planted for Border hedges Z

Book V. land of BARBADOS. 131

It is thickly covered with {mall longifh blunt-pointed green Leaves.

The top Branches fuftain a great manyred blunt conic husky Calpxes,

Each of thefe is divided, at its Margin, into Six regular fharp-pointed
Seétions.

This Ca/yx furrounds Six Rofe-like {carlet Petals.

Thefe likewife inclofe a great many red Stamina, tipped with yellow
Apices.

When the Flower drops, the Calyx becomes the Rudiment of the Fruit,
which grows forewhat larger than a large round Crab-apple ; the Top
decorated with a Corona, like a Pear.

The Infide is divided, by thin membranaceous Lamine, into feveral
larger’ partitional Cells. |

Thefe are filled with granulated 4cini, clofely joined together ; and are
generally too four to be eaten.

The Soursop-TREE; Lat. GUANABANUS fructu e viridi
lutefcente molliter aculeato. Plum.

THIS is a middle-fized Tree, having many Branches, and thefe
cloathed with numerous fharp-pointed Leaves. ;

The Fruit is of an Heart-like Shape, but fomewhat longer, and gene-
rally bending towards the Point ; the Outfide of a glaucous Green, ftud-
ded here and there with foft-pointed Prickles.

The Infide is a foft pulpy Subfance, which is eaten, and looked upon
to be a good Cooler in Fevers.

The ANCHOVEE APPLE-TREE,

ST fae IS grows to the. Bignefs of a large Apple-tree.
Its Branches are many, cloathed with {mooth green {harp-pointed
Leaves, which are Six Inches long, and almoft Three in Breadth.

Thefe are fet on the Branches alternately, whofe Summits fuftain a
fhort conic husky yellowifh Pod, opening into Three Partitions; the
Infide difcovering Seven other yellowifh imperfeét husky thick Leaves.

In the Centre of thefe is the Fruit in Miniature, which is then about
the. Bignefs of. a Button, incrufted all over with a pale-yellow granulated
Subftance.

When the Fruit grows fufficiently ftrong, to bear the feveral Viciffitudes
of the external Air, the Leaves drop off, and the Fruit continues to grow
to the Bignefs of a very large Ruffet-apple ; nor doth its outward Coat ill
refemble that Apple in Colour. . ;

Its Shape is rather of a very blunt Cone, than round.

The Infide is of a fine Yellow ; and the Pulp, which furrounds a great
many Lamine of oblong flattifh Seeds, is of an agreeable {weet Tafte.

iL, 1h The

132

The Natural Hiftory of the Book V;

The GuUAVA-TREE ; Lat. GUAJAVA.

HOLE Fruit called the Guava is diftinguifhed into Two forts ; the
White and the Red ; and thefe, with regard to their Shape, into
the round, and the Pear-fafhioned, or perfumed Guavas.

The latter have a thicker Rind, and are looked upon to ke of a more
delicate Tafte, than any other : However, I think the Difference is very
{mall.

This Tree, if carefully cultivated, and in a good Soil, will grow to
about Eighteen Feet in Height. _

Its Bark is very {mooth, and of a reddifh Grey.

The Leaves are atoutThree Inches long, fharp-pointed, and high-ribbed.

The Flowers are white, and pentapetalous, guarded with Four capfular
Leaves, green without, and white within.

The Petals furround a great many fhort Stamina, tipped with pale-
yellow Apices. .

Thefe inclofe the Sty/us, which is the Rudiment of the Fruit; which,
excepting the perfumed Guava, is round, and about the Bignefs of a large
Tennis-ball ; the Rind, or Skin, generally of a Ruffet, {tained with Red;
the Top adorned with a Corona, asa Pear.

The Skin, or Rind, is lined with an Apple-like Subftance, as thick as
a Crown-piece.

The Infide of this is full of an agreeable Pulp, mixed with innume-
rable {mall white Acizi or Seeds.

The Rind-part of the Guava, when ftewed, is eaten with Milk, and
juftly looked upon to be preferable to any other ftew’d Fruit.

From the fame Part is made Marmalade; and from the whole Fruit,
the fineft Jelly perhaps in the World.

Thefe Trees grow in moft Parts of the Ifland.

The Fruit is ripe about Offober.

The SAPPADILLA-TREE ; Lat. CAINITO.

| ‘HLE Roots of this Tree are confiderably large.
The Bark is very much furrowed, and of a greyifh-white Colour.
The Branches are very many, and {preading. .
Thefe are thickly covered with very fmooth fharp-pointed fhining-
green Leaves, of about Three Incheslong, and an Inch and an half broad.
It bears many {mall monopetalous Flowers, of a pale White, deeply
laciniated, at their Tops, into many Divifions, refembling diftin@ Petals
furrounding a green Piftil.
_From the Sides of thefe feeming Petals rife many fhort Stamina, tipped
with yellow .4pices.
Thefe Petals are guarded with Two Sets of capfular Leaves ; one of
a brown, and the other of a pale White.
Ks The

bre. Be ‘
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Book V. land of BARBADOS. 133

The Piftil becomes the Rudiment of the Fruit ; which, when full-ripe;
hath a ruffet rough Coat, with a Corona upon the Top of it.

This, in Shape; Bignefs, and Tafte, doth not ill refemble a Burgamot
Pear, except that it is fweeter anid fofter ; the Pulp of it inclofing feveral
longith black Seeds.

The Leaves, as well as their Footftalk, and tender Buds, emit, when
broken, a white clammy Milk.

The MAMMEE-TREE,

HIS grows to be a large fhady Tree. ti
The Bark of the Trunk, as well as of the main Branches, is fome-
what fulcated.

The Leaves, which are very thickly fet on in an alternate Order, aré
round-pointed, and fmooth, of a very deep Green, about Five Inches
long, and near Three broad.

The Flowers are white, and pentapetalous, fomewhat larger than
Orange-flowers.

Thefe are fucceeded by 4 round ruffet Fruit, full as big as the largeft
Ruffet-apple. ;

The outward Coat is rather an husky, than a skinny Tegument.

This peels off as the Rind of a Tree in the Spring does, and difcovers
the catable Part of the Fruit; which is of a pretty folid Subftance, of a
fine yellow Colour.

This is about half an Inch thick, furrounding Two or Three largé
Stones, fo joined together, that the Whole makes a circular Figure.

The eatable Part is well tafted, and hath an agreeable Flavour.

The FRENCH WILLow.

HIS is a fhrubby Tree, feldom growing above Sixteen Feet high, |
4 Its Branches are very numerous, and very thickly cloathed with
Leaves of Six Inches long, aiid a Quarter of an Inch broad.
_ Thefe, as well as the tender Stalks, when broken, emit a confiderable
Quantity of thick milky Juice.

The Extremities of thefe Branches fupport feveral yellow Flowers,
compofed of Five Leaves. :

Thefe are fo clofely joined together, that the Flower exaétly refembles
the Bell-fafhion kind ; and are fucceeded by an Apple of about the Big-
nefs of a large Crab-apple. _ :

The Pulp of this furrounds a flattifh Kernel, which is white and foft ;
and the Top of it marked with Two unindented Seams crofling one
another at Right Angles.

This is delineated in Plate VIII.

The

14, The Natural Eiftory Up Me : ee ‘

The Garuick PEAR-TREE.

P'HIS is a middle-fized Tree.
The Colour of the Bark, efpecially on the upper Branches, is of
a Dark-grey, interfperfed with whitith Specks. hig)

The Leaves are of a fine clear Green, of about Four Inches long, and
fharp-pointed.

Thefe are fet upon long Footftalks, in a tripartite Order.

The Flower is compofed of Five {mall Spoonlike Petals, growing very
flender, and {mall at the Bottom.

From the Infide of thefe rife about Fifteen purple Stamina, tipped
with yellowifh-green pices.

From the Centre. rifes the Sty/vs, which bears upon its Top the Rudi-
ment of the Fruit.

As this grows in Bignefs, the Stylus grows in proportion ; and at laft
becomes ligneous, able to fupport the Fruit, which in time gtows to be,
as big as a large Guava ; the Infide being full of an agreeable Pulp, in-
terfperfed with. {mall granulated Seeds.

The tender Buds, from the young Branches, being bruifed, and applied
asa Cataplafm to any Part of theBody, will in time raife a regular Blifter.

It would perhaps be beneficial, if fome of the Learned in Phyfic
would inquire, whether it would intirely anfwer the End of the Cantha-
vides; efpecially as it may not affe@& the urinary Veffels, and confe-
quently not caufe a Strangury. mie

Whilft this Tree is in Flower, it is much frequented by Humming-
Birds, which come to fuck the Honey-dew from the Bloffoms ; and But-
terflies lay their Eggs in great Abundance upon the Leaves of this Tree.

The DunK-TREE, or MANGUSTINE.

TH HIS is a middle-fized Tree.
- The Branches are numerous ; and, after growing to about Fifteen
Feet high, they bend wavingly downward, with a confiderable Sweep,
till they nearly touch the Ground, leaving a circular fine 4yvea between
that, and the Body of the Tree.

The Bark is of a reddifh Grey.

_ The Flowers, which are many and fmall, are white; each confifting
of one ftellated Leaf, whofe Difcws is furrounded with Four {hort white

Stamina. ;
The fucceeding Fruit is, in Shape and Colour, like a {mall Crab-
apple, except that both Ends are fomewhat more depreffed.
Its Tafte is very agreeable ; and therefore efteemed by moft People.
The Tree, when in Bloffom, emits a very fetid offenfive Smell. —

The

Book V. Tland of BARBADOS. 135

The GAsHw-TREE; Lat. ANACARDIUM,

Gh) koe IS is a low wide-fpreading Tree.

Its Branches are generally crooked and ftraggling, cloathed with
oval Leaves, whofe middle Ribs are ftrong and prominent ;_ the tranf-
verfe ones running almoft dire@tly crofs the Leaf.

It bears {mall white five-leaved Flowers. 5

Thefe are fucceeded by the Fruit, which is diftinguifhed into Three
Sorts; the Large White, the Large Red, and the Red-and-white.

Thefe are not unlike, in Shape, to an Apple, called in England, the
Pearmain.

The Infide is very ftringy, full of rough, aftringent, yet pleafant Juice.

Upon the Top of each ftands a Nut, inclofing a Kernel. This Fruit is
the Avacardium of the Antients.

Its Shape is like an Hare’s Kidney, affording a great Quantity of
cauftic Oil ; and the infide white Kernel is roafted and eaten.

The CocHENEEL Survup.

ps very much refembles the Pimploe Shrub already defcribed ;
and differs chiefly from it by its greater Height, which is often
‘Twelve Feet.

Its Leaves likewife are very prickly.

It bears upon conic Footftalks, fuch as the prickly Pear Footftalks, {e-
veral rofaceous Flowers, of a deep Scarlet, furrounding a Tuft of purple
Stamina, tipped with whitith Apices.

In the Middle ftands the Piftil, divided at the Top into Six Starlike
Divifions.

The Flowers are fucceeded by a Fig-like Fruit ; which, when ripe, is
full of a deep-purple Pulp, as well as Juice.

It is to be wifhed, that the fine Colour it ftains Linen with, could ke
fixed.

The AMERICAN TorcH; Lat. Cereus Maximus.

2 B HE Roots of this are fibrous and many.

The reticulated Body of the main Stem, as well as the outward
Lamina, covering the Whole, exadtly refembles the Texture and Colour
of Pimploes, already defcribed. The Body of this, near the Ground, rifes
into feveral upright lefler Stalks, from whofe Top rife others, till by fuch
a Multiplication theWhole grows often to Eighteen or Nineteen Feet high.

Each of thefe are nearly of a Bignefs, being about Eight Inches in Cir-
cumference ; and, from Joint to Joint, about Three Feet in Length.

Thefe are regularly chanelled from Top to Bottom into about Ten
deep-gouged Furrows.

M m The

136 The Natural Hiftory of the Book Ve

The Edges or Eminences of each Furrow are thickly befet, at the
Diftance of half an Inch, with Star-like Tufts of whitith {lender Prickles,
from an Inch to an Inch and an half long. pie

_ Thefe, while young, are nurfed and guarded at the Bottom with a
Cotton-like woolly Subftance, which flies off when thefe are fufficiently
ftrong to endure the Viciflitudes of the Weather.

From near the Top of fome of the largeft Stalks rifes a longifh fealy
green Pod-like Subftance, here-and-there marked with white Spots ; from
which grow many yellowith fharp flender Prickles.

The Flower, which is at the End of this Pod-like Subftance, is com-
pofed of a great many round-pointed. Petals, of a yellowifh-red Colour.

The Piftil and Stamina are tipped with yellow pices.

When thefe Flowers drop, the above-mentioned green Calyx becomes
the Rudiment of the Fruit ; which, when ripe, is full of fmall cz, af-
fording a purplifh Juice.

The Turx’sHe an; Lat. Merocactus AMERICANUS.
?

HIS, I fuppofe, derives its Name from its diftant Refemblance to a

- high-raifed ‘Turbant.

Its outward Texture isa very green skinny Tegument ; its Shape of a
very blunt Cone, whofe Sides are deeply ftriated ; each intermediate Rife-
ing thickly ftudded with long {harp-pointed Prickles.

Near the Summit appear very many red rofaceous fmall Flowers.’

Thefe are fucceeded by fmall oval red Berries, full of an agreeable
Pulp, interfperfed with {mall Acini.

The Root of thefe Flowers and Fruit is guarded with a foft Cotton-
like Subftance.

_ The MuskMELON VINE; Lat. MELo,
6 Be 1S Fruit is diftinguifhed, by the Colour of its Pulp, into thewhite

; and red Sort ; each deriving its Name from the Fragrancy of its
Smell.
As this Fruit is fo well known, both here, and in England,.a particu-
lar Defcription of it would be fuperfluous. :
I thall therefore only obferve, that the Vine is rough, almoft to a
_’Pricklinefs, bearing {mall yellow monopetalous Flowers.
Each of thefe divides into Five Seétions, fo deep, that they refemble
pentapetalous Flowers.

The W atER-MELons.

: | HESE,. as well as the former, are diftinguifhed, by the Colour of
coe their Pulp, into the White and Red ; each deriving its Name of a
Water-Melon from the great Quantity of that Liquid they contain.

By

Book V. land of BARBADOS, 137

By their cooling and diuretic Quality, they are fo ferviceable in hot
Climates, that the poorer Sort in Perfia and Turky, efpecially in the
Levant, for the Summer Months, live almoft folely upon the Musk and
Water-Melon, Cucumbers, and Milk.

The Vine producing the Water-Melon is long and trailing.

Pumxins; Lat. PE po.

Sel HE different Species of thefe are generally diftinguifhed by the
Names of the White, the Blue, the Marbled, and the Garden Pumkin.

The latter differs from all the reft, by having no Seed ;_ but is propa-
gated by Slips.

Thefe are all eafily produced, and of a very quick Growth.

They make a great Part of the Food of the poorer Sort, in the Sum-
mer-time, as well in 4fa and Africa, as in America.

The Vines, bearing thefe different Sorts, are each rough and_ hairy,
both Stalks and Leaves; and the Flowers are yellow, monopetalous, and
very large, divided at the Top into Five deep Seétions.

The Piftil is furrounded with yellow farinaceous Duft, which, byThree
open Slits at the Bottom, drops into the Ovary.

The fucceeding Fruit is generally, whilft young, of a Mixture between
a deep Blue, and a pale White.

They are boiled and eaten with Flefh-meat.

I have feen a Species of thefe Fruit at Paris, which exceeds any in the
Weft-Indies in Bigneds.

It is much ufed by the poorer Sort in Soups.

Seu assHeEs; Lat. MELOpPEpo.

a eee Squafh-vine is long and trailing, the main Stalk multangular
and hairy.

It fupports itfelf by its numerous Clafpers and Tendrils.

The Leaves are large, and very rough. ms

Their Edges are irregularly ferrated, as well as the Leaves in general,
fomewhat fcalloped.

From the Bloffom of the Leaves rife feveral Pedicles, fupporting the Fruit
in Miniature ; whofe Top is decorated with a large reddith-yellow Blof-
fom, which continues on the Fruit, till it is eatable ; which it generally
is, when as big as a Walnut.

When boiled, they are by moft People efteemed to be very delicate
eating.

Thefe are of Two forts; the Long and the Round.
The

| 138

The Natural Hiftory of the Book V.

The large GourD VINE; Lat. CucurRBITA.

ys Vine is long and trailing, of a multangular Shape, and very
hairy.

The Dees which are large, and almoft circular, are covered with
foft Vill, or Hairs.

Thefe Leaves fmell ftrongly of Musk.

The Flowers, which ftand upon Footftalks Six Inches in Length, are
monopetalous, divided into Five deep Sections, and of a dirty-white Colour.
‘ 'Thefe are inclofed in a fmall hairy Calyx, divided alfo into Five
Seétions ; and are fo tender, that they are clofed up as foon as the Sun
fhines upon them.

When thefe Flowers drop, they are fucceeded by the Fruit, which
grows fomething Pear-like in Shape.

* The outfide Tegument, as it ripens, grows hard, fomething refembling
a Nut-fhell, but fofter. The Infide is of a foft white Subftance, intermixed
with flattifh Seeds, like thofe of Melons.

Some of the largeft Species of thefe Gourds are capable, when
cleared of their Pith, to contain Twenty-two Gallons : However, fuch
are very uncommon.

The largeft of thefe that I faw, was at Mr. Richard Fackman’s, in St,
Peter’s Parith.

The fall Gourn; Lat. CovocynTuis.

HIS Vine is round, foft, and hairy, provided with numerousClafp-
ers. With thefe they cling to the neighbouring Buthes.
The Leaves are large, and of almoft a circular round Shape, ftanding
upon Footftalks, Four Inches in Length.
Thefe are fet on alternately ; the Flowers, which are white, and com-
pofed of Five white Petals, furrounding feveral Stamina.
Thefe are fucceeded by the Gourd, which is yellow, when ripe.
The fhelly or husky Outfide inclofes a white bitter Pulp, interfperfed
with whitifh flat Seeds.
An Hole being made in one of thefe ripe Gourds, if a Glafs of
Rum be poured in, and fuffered to remain there for Twenty-four Hours,
and then drunk, it proves a fuccefsful Purge ; but is fo bitter, and leaves

fuch a Vaufea behind, that it is feldom ufed.

The Sweet Gourp.
we TS Gourd differs from the laft defcribed, by its very great Length

and Narrownefs ; being often above Two Feet long, and about
Six Inches in Circumference.

It differs likewife from all others, by its Pulp being rather {weet than
bitter. When

Book V. land off BARBADOS.

When thefe are ripe, the infide foft waterifh Pulp and Seed are fcooped
out: Then there remains, next to the husky or fhelly outward Part, a
Pulp of a more folid Subftance, than what is fcooped out.

This, being likewife taken out in Slices, and fomewhat dried of its na-
tural Juice, is put into feveral Syrups; and at laft, candied or frofted
over, becomes an agreeable Sweetmeat.

BatcHeor’s Pears; Lat. Souanum fructu pyriformi
inverfo. .

aes SE are of Two forts; the one almoft fpherical; the other hath
+ the Refemblance of a Nipple upon the Top.

The Plant that bears thefe, grows to about Three Feet in Height, fup-
ported by very few Roots.

It hath many Side-Branches, which are very prickly.

Thefe are cloathed with deep fegmented rough Leaves, which are
about Six Inches long, and Three broad.

Their middle Ribs, as well as the tranfverfe, are guarded with a great
many fharp-pointed Prickles.

The Flower, which is compofed of one fingle Leaf of a whitifh Blue,
expands itfelf horizontally.

This is fupported by Five fmall fharp-pointed capfular Leaves.

From the Centre rife Five yellow deep-chanelled Stamina.

Thefe are fucceeded. by the Fruit above-mentioned ; which, when ripe,
is of a golden Colour, and about the Bignefs of a Tennis-ball ; the In-
fide being full of {mall Seed.

This Plant grows chiefly invery rich Ground, efpecially upon Dunghils.

BreApD AND CHEESE; or, SUCKING-BoTTLE.

| Rate IS is a ligneous Wyth, with dark Iron-coloured Leaves, each like
thofe of an Orange, having a longifh Heart-like Stalk.

Thefe are about Three Inches long, fharp-pointed, and here-and-
there {nipped on the Edges.

The Stalk of the Vine, as well as the middle Ribs of the Leaves, is
of a purple Colour.

The Flowers are fucceeded by yellow conic capfular Pods, fomewhat in
Shape like a Bottle, each dividing into Three Partitions, having one Seed,
which, at one End, is covered with a whitifh rough Pith, which is fome-
times eaten.
~The Root of thisVine, mixed and boiled with Lime-juice, and the Ruft
of Iron, by way of Plaifter, cures the Body-Yaws.

Nn CusTARD-

140 The Natural Hiftory, &c. Book Y,

Cusrarp-Appie; Lat.Guanasanus fructu aureo, &,
ee molliter aculeato. Plum.
| HI S Tree is about the Bignefs of the lafk-defetibed,
It bears a Fruit nearly round, and of a yellow Colour, BB
ripe.
The Infide is~full of a foft white pulpy Subftance, from whence it
derives its Name.

The End of the Firtn Boox.

THE

a a ae

BEO''O' RAVE

Of TREES, SHRUBS, avd PLANTS,

of the BacctrErovus Kind,

DON’ Y Berries we are to underftand thofe kinds of Fruits,
Gy whofe outward Texture is generally of a thin flexi-
\ ble Make, and whofe Infides are full of Pulp, mixed
\ with {mall cin.

cate Flavour, are not only very acceptable to Man;
but Providence intended many Species of them to

which could not fubfift, efpecially in the Winter
Months, without. them.
The

(1) Quifts and Pivets; &c.

NATURAL HISTORY ~

Iland of BARBADOS

Several of thefe, by their grateful Tafte, and deli=

be a proper Food for feyeral kinds of (1) Birds,

142 The Natural Hiftory of the Book VL

The LicgNuM Vit2, or GUAIACUM.

cee very ufeful Tree grows here in Plenty, but not to any great
Bignefs.

Its medicinal Virtues, either by way of Docoétion, or the Ufe of its .
Gum, are fufliciently defcribed by feveral Authors.

I fhall therefore only obferve, that the Berries, which are of a tefticu-
lated Form, and of a yellow Colour, inclinable to a Red, make an excel-
lent Diet-drink, greatly affifting to purify the Blood.

The upper Branches are many, cloathed with feveral Pairs of fmall
roundifh pennated Leaves, never having an odd one at the End.

The Flowers are pentapetalous, and of the fineft violet Colour that can
be: imagined ; and the Tree is {carce ever to be found without Flowers or
Berries.

This is delineated in Plate IX.

That called the White Lignum Vite {carce differs from this in any
other.Particular, but.that it bears white Bloffoms.

The BAstTARD LicnNuUM VITA.

aC HIS grows to above Twenty-five Feet high, covered with a rough

- brownifh Bark.

_ The Heart of this Tree is almoft as hard, and as durable, as Iron-wood.
It is fometimes beautifully clouded with Veins of Yellow, anda dark Red.
The Flowers are fucceeded by Berries, each near as big as a {mall

Cherry : Thefe are of a purple Colour, whenripe; and tafte very agreeably,
They are much coveted by wild Pigeons, Sparrows, and other Birds.

Tron-Wo op,

ae HE largeft of thefe in this land grow not above Thirty Feet high,
and the Trunk in proportion fomewhat flender.
es is covered with a whitifh Bark, whofe Surface often flightly peels
ORE te RT rn $
__ The Bark upon the upper Branches is of a reddith Grey.
The Leaves, which are fmooth, and of a yellowifh Green, are Two

Inghes and an half-long, and above an Inch broad, narrow near the Foot-

alks.

») ‘Lhe Flowers are many and white: Thefe rife in Groups upon one com-
mon Pedicle, and are fucceeded by {mall Berries, whofe outward Tegu-
ment, as well as inward Pulp, is of the fineft Red, interfperfed with

{mall Seeds.

--It hath the Name of Iron-Wood from its great Weight, its Hardnefs,
and the Clofenefs of its Grain ; for it is proof againft all Weather, and is
{carce known to fuffer any Decay in feveral Ages: It is fo heavy, that it
will fink in Water. 5 The

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Ti ik Lt bunly Inserdbd gee:

Book VI: land of BARBADOS.

The REp-Woop.

HIS grows, efpecially if theltered from the Wind, to be a very large
Tree, affording Boards of a clofe fine Grain, of a reddifh Colour,
remarkably and beautifully clouded with black Veins.

The Trunk is cloathed with a dark-grey Bark, which is fomewhat ful-
cated.

The Leaves on the upper Side are of a deep Green, and paler on the
under: Thefe are fmooth-edged, and fharp-pointed,. generally. about Six
Inches long, and Three broad.

The upper Branches bear many red Flowers, which are fucceeded .by
middle-fized Berries, of a dark-purple Colour, when ripe, containing
many reddifh {mall Seeds. :

Thefe Berries are eatable, and looked upon neither unpleafant nor
unwholfome.

It is faid, that the young Leaves, applied to the Temples, give great
Relief in the moft violent Head-ach. ;

The Witp CiNNAMON-TREE; Lat. CINNAMOMUM
SYLVESTRE.

Spa Tree grows to a confiderable Height.

The Trunk is cloathed with a brown rough fulcated Bark, which
taftes hot and biting ; and hath fomething of the Fragrancy of the true
Cinnamon.

Its Leaves are of the Laurel-kind, {fmooth, green, and fharp-pointed :
Thefe are about Four Inches long, and, one and an half broad ; and, when
bruifed, yield an agreeable aromatic Smell.

It bears {mall yellow Flowers : Thefe are fucceeded by {mall red Berries.

The LoBLOLLY-TREE.

TF HIS isa middle-fized Tree, whofe Leaves, which are about Three
Inches long, are generally in Tufts upon the Extremity of the
Branches.
Among thefe rife a great many Bunches of white Flowers.
Thefe are fucceeded by {mall white Berries.
They ferve as Food for feveral Species of Birds.

The BatsaM; or the SEA-SIDE SAGE.

2 HIS is a large bufhy Shrub, growing fometimes to about Nine Feet |
high, and its Leaves finely ferrated.
A fubtile reGinous Juice perfpires thro’ the Leaves, and their fmall
Footftalks ; which, by the Heat of theSun, is granated, and intirely incrufts
them. Oo This

144, The Natural Hiftory of the Book VI,

ThisIncruftation, as wellas the tranfparent Liquid, which inftantaneoufly
iffues from the broken Footftalks of the Leaves, hath a fine aromatic Smell.
_ A few Drops of this, rusbed with the Finger on the Palm of the
Hand, foon thicken to the Confiftency of a Salve, tafting hot and bitter :
This is excellently good to cure green Wounds.
This is delineated in Plate X.

The Poison-TREE ; Lat. Tox (CODENDRON.

4 ae is diftinguifhed intoTwo forts ; the one bearing a {mall {mooth-
edged narrow. Leaf. Ss

The Trunk of this is very folid, and good Timber for Building.

The other bears a large green fmooth-edged fharp-pointed Leaf.

The Timber of the latter is very foft and perifhing.

From each of thefe Trees iffues, when wounded, a great Quantity of
milky corrofive poifonous Juice.. :

This, when expofed to the Heat of the Sun, turns fo very clammy, that
it proves a good Bird-lime, and is with great Succefs made ufe of to that
Purpofe.

Each of thefe Trees have their Branches near: upright and {piral,
cloathed with a whitifh grey Bark.

The Flowers are fucceeded by a greenifh-purple Berry, marked with
flight indented Seams into Three Parts.

A Cataplafm of the new-extracéted Juice, applied to the Feet, is of
Service to kill the Vermin called Chigers.

The Rop-Woopn.

ates grows to be a large Timber-tree.
The Bark on the lefler Branches is of a light whitifh Grey.

The Leaves, which are fet on alternately, are of a yellowith Green,
efpecially the middle Rib.

The Footftalks of thefe Leaves, at their fetting off from thefe Branches,
are remarkably welted with a ftrong greenifh husky Subftance, which
furrounds the Footftalk, as well as the Branch. I take it that this Band-
age is intended to fecure and ftrengthen the Leaves; for; as the leatt of
thefe are about Ten Inches long, and Five broad, their Weight would
otherwife be too heavy for the {maller Limbs to bear.

This Tree bears round white Berries.

The Biacu-Guw-rtREE.

! ] ‘HIS grows to be a middle-fized Tree.

‘Its Bark is of a reddith Colour, and fmooth, fomewhat refembling
that of a Birch-tree,

From

PlaleXX

First Lord Con Of a
Trade avd Plantations .. ms

Liate i humbly Insoribil?

\ \ =
‘ Ki K\
AY NN NN)

Nh

\\

AY
NS
SA

Book VI. Tfand of BARBADOS. 146,

From thence, and from the great Quantity of tranfparent Gum that
its wounded Trunk and Branches afford, it derives its Name.

_ Its upper Branches fuftain a great many {mall apetalous Flowers.
Thefe are fucceeded by feveral red Berries, near as big as fmall Cherries.
The Gum is looked upon to Le very ferviceable in all inward Bruifes,

or Strains, of what kind foever. ‘

“The Branches of this Tree, being ftaked into the Earth, will grow ;
and I have known aBranch of it, tho’ {tripped of its Leaves, and expofed
to Wind and Weather (as Part of an Arbour for a Grape-vine), which, in
this Situation, budded, and put forth young Shoots and Leaves.

It grows in moft Parts of the Tfland.

The BAY-BERRY-TREE; Lat. Myrrvus arborea aromatica.

HIS is a beautiful upright Tree, its Trunk often of near T'wo Feet
Diameter.
Its Bark, until the Seafon of its peeling off, is very fmooth, and fome-
what reddith. 4 “te
The Trunk divides into numerous Branches, the lower always the
longeft ; fo that towards the Summit it ends pyramidically, being very
thickly cloathed with middle-fized fharp-pointed {mooth very green
Leaves.
This continual Verdure, added to its manner of growing, makes it ap-

pear very beautiful.

Its Berries are well known by the Name of Famaica Pepper.

There is another of the fame Species called the Black Bay-tree.

This differs from the other, chiefly by having its Bark and Leaves of
fomewhat a darker Colour than the above-defcribed.

The Witp BAY-BERRY-TREE; Lat. Myrrtvs.

HIS is a far lefs Tree than that laft-defcribed.
Its Bark is as fmooth as, and much redder than, the former.
Its Leaves and Berries are of the famie Make and Texture with the true

’ Bay-berry-trees.

However, the Berries want the Virtue, as well as the fragrant Smell, of
the former.
BLACK-BERRY-HUNTERS.

a fia IS Shrub hath a great many ftrong Roots.

Its Trunk is covered with a dark-greyifh Bark.

The Leaves are fharp-pointed, and in Length above an Inch and an
half, and about an Inch in Breadth.

It bears white fmall Flowers, fucceeded by {mall black Berries.

FIpDLE-

t46

The Natural Hiftory of the Book VI.
FrppLE-Woop-TREE.
‘HSE are common in this Ifland, and grow to a confiderable °

Height

They ite diftinguifhed into the White, the Red, and the Black fort.

The latter is by far the moft durable Timber, and not often to be met’
with. |

The Body of the Trunk is covered with a light-brown Bark.

Its upper Branches are thickly cloathed with Leaves of above Three
Inches long, and an Inch and an half broad. :

The Extremities of the Branches end in feveral {lender pendulous green
Strings or Ligule, which are almoft furrounded with {mall white penta-
petalous fweet-fcented Flowers, each ftanding in a {mall green Calyx.

Thefe are fucceeded by {mall pulpy Berries, which are at firft of a

green Colour ; afterwards red ; and, when ripe, black.

The BreE-Woop-TREE.

HIS is a large fhady Tree, cloathed with numerous fmooth green
Leaves, of Four Inches long, and Three broad.

Thefe have a great many round Excrefcencies growing on them in the
Shape of Galls, tho’ not much larger than a Grain of black Pepper.

Thefe are Nefts of fome {mall Infeéts, which make an Hole in each of
them ; and then either creep, or fly away.

The Top-Branches bear feveral Bunches of {mall white Flowers.

Thefe are fucceeded by ffnall Berries, whofe Pulp is of a purple Colour,
when ripe. : : ;

The Fustic-trreEE; Lat. Morus.

qT? IS grows to be a large Tree, having generally a ftrait Trunk.
The Bark is of a greyifh Brown, flightly furrowed. a
It bears Katkins; and the Fruit hath many Jdcimi, which are as large
as a large Strawberry, green within and without. |
The Heart of this Tree is very yellow, and is well known. for its Qua-
lity in Dyeing. | ae)
| YextLow HeErcvuues.

_” | HIS grows to a middle-fized Tree, having a great many Roots.

| It is chiefly diftinguifhed from the White Hercules, by the Yel-
lownefs of the inner Bark, which, when properly prepared, affords an
excellent yellow Dye: Perhaps it might be very ufeful in that Way, if in
the Hands of skilful Dyers. | |

The outward Bark is-of a reddith Grey, thickly covered with fhort ftub-

bed Prickles.

The

Book VL land of BARBADOS. 147

The Leaves, which are fet on alternately, are about Four Inches long,
and Two broad, having their middle Ribs ftrong and prominent.
Its numerous {mall herbaceous Flowers grow in Clufters at the Extres
mities of their Stalks ; and are fucceeded by {mall round Berries.
The inner yellow Bark of the Root, bruifed, and fteeped in boiling
| Water, tinges it with a yellow Colour.
| Wathing fore Eyes with this Water hath of late been difcovered to be
a fovereign Remedy in moft Diforders of the Eyes.

The PyE-crusT.

HIS is a middle-fized Tree, having many ftrong Roots.
The Bark of the main Body is of a dark Grey.

The Leaves are very many, thick, {mooth, and round-pointed, but very
narrow towards their Stalks.

Thefe are of a deep {mutty Green on the upper Side; and fomewhat
lighter on the under, and fet on the Branches in an irregular manner.

They bear feveral apetalous Flowers, which are fucceeded by yellow
Berries, of the Bignefs of a middle-fized Olive, whofe yellowifh bitter
Pulp inclofes Three whitifh Seeds.

The Texture of the Tree is very brittle, from whence it derived the
Name of Pye-cru/t.

The DwarF MANGROVE.
| HIS Shrub grows by the Sea or Pond-fides in wet Places.

The Trunk and numerous Branches are cloathed with {fhining
green Leaves, Two Inches and an half long, and an Inch and, an halt
broad.

Among the upper Branches are many {mall tubular Flowers, filied with
yellow Stamina, fucceeded by {mall Berties.

Montraspa, ahas TRUBBA.

a Oe IS is a low fhrubby Buth, divided into many Branches ; the out-
| - fide Bark of a whitifh Grey, covered with an hoary Mealinefs.
The Infide is of a ligneous Subftance, which furrounds a greenifh Pith.

The Roots are many. and white.

The Leaves are fet on alternately ; and thefe are of a green Colour
above, and whitifh underneath ; their Length about Five Inches, and
above Three in Breadth, efpecially at fuch Places where they are bluntly
j and irregularly {calloped about their Edges.

; The Flowers are monopetalous, and of a reddifh White, expanding, in
the Heat of the Day, almoft horizontally flat; their Ore being flightly
: - fegmented, and divided into Six fharp-pointed Angles.
From the Centre of the Flower rifes a white Piftil, furrounded by Six
yellow thick triangular Stamina. :

2D The

148 The Natural Hiftory of the Book VI,

_ The Flowers are fucceeded bya Pumkin-like Fruit, of a fine deep Pur-
ple on the Outfide, and whitifh within ; the Pulp interfperfed with white
flattifh Seeds.

This Fruit is boiled and eaten as a Pumkin.

The fmall Rep TRUBBA.

ee Plant grows to about Four Feet high.

Its Branches, as well as the Leaves, are few and ftrageling ; the
latter about an Inch and an half long, and an Inch broad.

Its Flowers are compofed of Five’ white Petals, furrounding feveral
Stamina.

Thefe are fucceeded by a fcarlet Button, whofe Infide is full of Juice,
and fmall whitifh cini or Seeds.

This Fruit is chiefly ufed by Negroes, in their Soups,

It hath, when boiled, a bitterifh Tafte; and is by them looked upon
as ufeful to alleviate any colicky Diforder of the Stomach.

TAMMATAs SHRvuB; Lat. Lycopersicon.

| [ees S is likewife a fhrubby Plant, much refembling, in its Make, that
which produces the Bachelor’s Pear ; with this Difference, that the
Prickles on this are not fo ftiff.

The Fruit is about as big as an Hen’s Egg, red when ripe.

They ate generally made ufe of, boiled in Broth.

Thefe were brought hither by his Excellency Governor Wor/ley, from
Portugal.

The MaipENHEAD.

"THE fhrubby Vine, bearing this Fruit, grows very bufhy, and about ;

Three Feet high ; its Bark bearing a red Fruit, but not eatable.

The BULLY-BERRY-TREE; Lat, Catnrro.

f | ‘ELIS grows to be a very large Tree, branching chiefly towards the.
Top.

_ It bears a round Fruit, of a ruffet-yellow Colour, ftanding upon an

Inch and a Quarter Foottftalk.

The infide Pulp of the Fruit is milky, and of a foft fweet Tafte, not
unlike a Sappadillo.

End.
The Pulp inclofes a very fharp-pointed oval Seed,

Soar-

It is about the Bignefs of a very large Cherry, but not dépreffed at each ©

ane SS ee ee ee

Book VL land of BARBADOS.

SOAP-BERRY-BUSH, or FIRE-BURN-LEAF;
Lat. SAPINDUs,

apa IS is a {candent ligneous jointed Vine, whofe Heart-like Leaves
are thin, and fharp-pointed.

Thefe are, in general, of about Four Inches long, Two and an half broad,
and high-ribbed.

Almoft every Leaf is fupported by a crooked Tendril, which takes hold
of the neighbouring Trees or Shrubs. ~

The Leaves, when bruifed, and agitated in Water, will caufe as ftrong
a Lather as an equal Quantity of Soap,

The Juice is likewife very much efteemed to heal and cure Fire-burns,
Scalds, or fuch-like Sores.

The Bast ARD Locust, or For Est-TREE.
‘ | HIS grows to be a large Tree, cloathed with a whitith Bark, red

within.
Its Leaves are of adark Green, about an Inch and an half long, fmooth,
and very blunt-pointed.
The Bark is ufed as an Aftringent.

The VERVAIN; Lat. SHERARDIA SPICATA.

ae HE Roots of this fhrubby Plant are very numerous, and white,

- penetrating not deep into the Earth.

The main Stalk, when full-grown, is as thick as one’s Finger, woody,
and brittle; foon dividing into many leffer Branches.

Thefe are jointed, putting forth, at every Joint, Duplicates of winged
Leaves within one another; whofe Edges are regularly ferrated, and of a
middle Size, ending very narrow towards the Stalks; the Stalks them-
{elves terminating in long fealy Spikes.

Round the Middle of thefe rife feveral {mall naked tubular monopeta=
lous Flowers, of a fine blue Colour ; whofe Edges are divided into Five
Segments, having likewife a whitifh Spot in the Middle.

The Seeds, which are longifh, and {mall, are included in the feveral
Lamine, or Foldings, of thefe Spikes.

The Juice of this Plant is fo great a Deobftruent, that a large Spoonful

taken inwardly, for Three or Four Mornings fucceflively, hath been

more powerful to bring down the Catamenia, than either the Ufe of
Chalybeats, or any other Method.
This Plant grows in moft Parts of the Ifland.

The MasTicH-TREE; Lat. CALABA.

: i HIS often grows to a great Height.
: The Colour of its Bark is brownih. The

150 The Natural Hiftory of the Book VI.

The larger Branches divide into a great many lefs ones 5 and are
thickly cloathed with deep-green fhining Leaves, whofe middle Ribs are
tinged with Yellow. ;

Thefe are about Three Inches long, and near Two broad.

Their Edges are neatly labiated into feveral eafy sinus’s, and fet on the
Branches alternately, fupported by Footftalks of about an Inch long.

The Flowers are yellow, and fucceeded by a Fruit, which hath a diftant
Refemblance to a Shrub.

This Tree is of a very clofe Grain, hard and durable; therefore
much made ufe of in Mill and Houfe-building.

The CAssano-rREE; MAnIHotT.

HE Caflado-trees, or rather Shrubs, are pithy on the Infide ; and

- feldom grow higher than Five Feet.

They are diftinguifhed into the White, and Old Sort ; the former
being ready to te rooted up, and ufed, in about Four Months after it is
planted ; and its Juice is not fo {trong a Poifon as the other old Sort.

he Root, which is the Part ufed in both, is large and white, and fo
foft, that it may be eafily grated.

Thefe Shrubs have a few weak Branches.

Thefe, as well as the main Trunk, towards their Extremities, are
cloathed with many large digitated Leaves upon reddifh Footftalks, of
about Six Inches long.

The Flowers are deeply divided into Five Sections, whofe Edges are
tinged with a pale Purple.

Out of the Centre rife Eight Stamina, tipped with yellow farinaceous
Abpices.

Five of thefe Stamina fall back, and lean againft the different Se@ions.

The Flowers are fucceeded by many {mall round green Berries, whofe
Outfide is divided into Five felvaged Seams, the Infide containing Three
blackith Seeds.

The Method of making Bread from the Roots is, firft, to grate them
very fine, and prefs out theJuice, and dry the mealy Part in the Sun; and
then make it into thin Loaves, like thofe made with Oatmeal in many
of the Country Parts of England, Scotland, and Wales.

: This Bread is well tafted, and nourifhing ; and, by its abforbent Qua-
lity, it is highly ferviceable to Perfons of a plethoric Habit, or inclinable
to Dropfies.

Ay he Juice is a quick mortal Poifon to every Animal.
mes tried an Experiment upon Two half-grown Fowls, by pouring
down their Throats Two Tea-{poonfuls of this Juice, newly expreffed, it

foon threw them into Convulfions ; and they both died in about half an—

Hour’s time.

LrEaTHER-

ee

Book VE land» of BARBAD.O'S.

LEATHER-CoAT-TREE.

6 ae grows to a confiderable Height.
The Bark is of a darkifh Colour.

The Branches are many and ftrageling, . their Tops generally bending:
downwards.

' The younger Twigs are feemingly jointed. a Tee

Thefe are cloathed with broad Leaves, reddith when young, whofe
Stalks, as well as their Ribs, are then thickly covered with a pale-yellow
Pile, or foft-pointed Sete.

The Leaves, as they grow old, turn green, being then in Length about -
Ten Inches, and Twelve in Breadth, having their middle, as well as their
tranfverfe Ribs prominent and ftrong. : : eae ee)
From the Bofoms of the Leaves rife many Six-inch long Spikes, fur-
rounded with {mall Berries, red when ripe ; the Infide being likewife full
of reddifh Pulp, inclofing feveral {mall darkifh Seeds. eS

CramMMmy CHERRY-TREE; Lat, MaLpicHta. ~

A IS Tree grows to a confiderable Bignefs, covered with a greyifh
Bark. :
' The Leaves are in Bunches from Three to Five, upon the Tops of the
leffer Twigs.
~ Thefe are about Five Inches long, fharp-pointed, and near Two Inches
and an half broad. -
The Flowers are of a pale-yellow Colour ; and the fucceeding Fruit,
when ripe, as big asa middling Cherry.
Thefe grow in Clufters, of a fine red Colour.
_ The Pulp is very clammy, and furrounds a great many {mall Seeds,

The Buack CHERRY-TREE.

HIS very much refembles the red Cherry-tree, except that the
Leaves of the black Cherry-tree are fomewhat larger, {moother,
and thicker, than the four Cherry.

The Leaves often grow clofe to the Branches; and, when upon the
lefler Twigs, they are pennated.

From among thefe rife the Flowers, which (except in Colour, which is
red) very much refemble thofe of the Coffee-tree.
_ Thefe are fucceeded by {mall blackith Berries.

The Rep CHERRY-TREE.
ae IS Tree feldom grows above Highteen Feet high.

Its Branches are numerous, but {mall, and cloathed with a great
many deep-green round-pointed Leaves.

Os ge> Re

162 The Natural Hiftory of the ~ Book VE

From the Bofom of thefe rife many Footftalks, fupporting {mall Five-
leaved Flowers.

Their Petals furround feveral green Stamina, tipped with yellow Sum-

its.
Sake whole Flower is fupported by feveral fmall capfular Leaves, and
fucceeded by the Fruit, which is red, when ripe; of about the Bignefy
of a {mall Cherry, but more compreffed at both Ends.

Thefe are of an agreeable fweet, mixed with an acid Tafte.

The Infide is full of {mall whitith Seeds.

The BELLY-ACH.

CRs Roots of this Shrub are few in Number, and white, penetrating
deep into the Earth.

The main Stalk, which is covered with a light greyifh Bark, grows to
about Three or Four Feet high, foon dividing into feveral wide-extended
Branches.

The Body of the Shrub, within Three Inches of the ‘Ground, fwells,
or bulges out.

From this Swelling, by Incifion, is taken out, when ripe, a rough gra-
nated Core or Kernel, of a pale Red, and fometimes near as large asa
Pullet’s Egg.

This is extraneous to the Nature of the Shrub, and as diftin@ly fepa-
rable from it, tho’ in clofe Contaét with it, as a Peach-ftone is from the
pulpy Part thereof.

It is alfo of the fame Nature and Quality as Hellebore ; and anfwers, to
all Intents and Purpofes, the Ufe of it.
The Branches of the Shrub are neither decorated with Leaves nor
Flowers, till near the Top : There the former, which are deeply fegmented

into Three or Four Divifions, furround it.

Thefe, including the Se@ions, are about Five Inches long, and near as
broad.

Their Footftalks, as well as the young Buds, onthe Extremity of the
Branches, are guarded round with {tiff hairy Briftles, which are always
tipped with glutinous liquid Drops.

From among thefe rife feveral {mall deep-red_pentapetalous Flowers ;
the Piftil of each being thick-fet at the Top with yellow farinaceous
Duft, which blows off when ripe.

Thefe Flowers are fucceeded by hexagonal husky blackith Berries ;
which, when ripe, open, by the Heat of the Sun 3 emitting a great many
{mall dark-coloured Seeds, which ferve as Food for‘Ground-doves.
~ The Leaves of this Shrub are few, and feldom or never drop off, -nor
are torn or eaten by Vermin of the Eruca, or any other kind.

As Nature makes nothing in vain, I beg Leave to conjecture, that this
clammy Liquid, like Bird-lime, with which each of the above-mentioned

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Book VI. = land of BARBADOS,

Sete or Briftles are tipped, is defigned to intangle and prevent Caterpil-
lers, or other Vermin, from climbing up to deftroy the few Leaves, with
which Nature hath fo fparingly fupplied this Plant.

As for other Plants, which are not thus guarded, as their Leaves are
generally very numerous, if fome of thefe are deftroyed by Worms, they
foon, in fo warm a Climate, recover this Lofs, and the Plant renews its
wonted Verdure © :

Perhaps, likewife, this gluey Subftance may be of furtherUfe, if gathered
by Butterflies, or other flying Infeéts (efpecially the former, which are often
feen hovering about the Flowers), to glutinize their Bags or Webs, before
they enter into their 4wrelia-ftate.

The Seeds dropping from the ripe Berries are fo great a Specific againft
Melancholy, that even Doves, that have ufed to feed on them, will not,
when confined to a Cage, whoot, if deprived of thefe, and Bird-pepper.

153

It is faid, that Fifteen of the Berries, pulverized, and taken inwardly, —

prove a good Purge.

It grows in every Part of the Ifland, but moft luxuriant in a fandy
loofe Soil.

This is delineated in Plate XI. Fig. 1.

The Paicxiy Hoop, or the WuirE THorn.

HIS derives its Name from the Ufe that is fometimes made of it
to hoop Vefiels.

The main Stalk, when full-grown, is generally bigger than one’s Arm,
dividing, near the Ground, into many prickly Branches.

Thefe grow, efpecially if fupported by low Underwood, to fometimes
near ‘Thirty Feet in Length.

The Bark is of a whitifh;Grey.

The {mall Side-branches, as well as: the Leaves, are fet on alternately.

The latter are, near the Stalk, about Two Inches in Breadth, and Two
Inches and an half in Length, ending in a long fharp Point.

Their Edges are flightly fnipped, and the Colour of the Leaf of a faint
Green, inclined to a Yellow.

The middle Rib is ftrengthened, befides the tranfverfe ones, with Two,
or fometimes more, longitudinal ftrong Veins, or Ribs.

The Flowers are fucceeded by middle-fized Berries, red when ripe.

Thefe are fometimes eaten by Men, but chiefly by Birds.

The Avors Puant ; Lat. ALOE vulgaris.

Te S very fucculent Plant hath one large Root, with a great many
other {mall ftringy Roots growing from it.

The Number of Leaves are generally about Twenty.
Thefe,

154 The Natural Hiftory of the Book VI.

~ Thefe, ‘near the Roots,’ are Two Inches broad, and: near one thick,
-gorwing to Eighteen or Twenty Inches high, ending ina fharp Point.

Each Side of the Leaf is guarded, at every Half-inch Diftance, with a
‘ftrong {mall Prickle.

Out of the Middle of thefe Leaves rifes a flender conic Stalk, fome-
‘times divided into Two Forks, at uncertain Diftance from the Root.

This rifes about Eighteen Inches above the Top of the Leaves, bearing,
near the Summits, feveral pendulous yellow monopetalous Flowers, whofe
Ore are divided into Six Segments ; thefe furrounding the Stalk for near
Four Inches downwards from the Top, making a very agreeable Appear~
ance,

Each Flower hath a {mall Aperture at the End; thro’ which a great
Number of {mall blackifh Seeds drop out, when ripe.

It will not, I hope, be improper, in this Place, to obferve the Method
of planting, cutting, and boiling of Aloes, fince there are many Parts of
his Majefty’s Plantations, befides thefe Summer-Iflands, that would pro-
duce this Plant, with proper Care and Nourifhment.

The Land defigned for Aloes muft be firft weeded clean, and then
holed Three Inches deep, at about Six Inches Diftance.

Then the Suckers from the old Plants, or thofe produced from the
Seeds, are planted in thefe Holes. |

The Land, for the firft Year, muft be kept clean from Weeds; after-
‘wards, the Shade of the Leaves.of the Plant will keep the Weeds under.

Being thus planted, there will be no Occafion to replant it for Seven
Years.

It comes to its Perfeétion in a Year’s time.

‘The Month of March is the propereft Seafon to make the Aloes ; which
is done in the following manner :

_Every Slave hath by him Three or Four portable Tubs.

_ The Leaves, being cut near the Roots, are thrown into thefe, with
‘their broken Ends downwards ; and as the Leaves are full of large longi-
tudinal Veins or Veffels, they yield an eafy Paflage to the Juice (which
“is of a greenifh-yellow Colour) to drip out.

This being boiled for about Five Hours in a Copper, or Kettle, the
-watry Particles evaporate ; and the Remainder comes to a Confiftency, and
thickens, as Sugar doth when fufficiently boiled.

The way to know when it is enough boiled is, to dip a Stick in the
Liquor, and obferve whether the Aloe, flicking to it when cold, breaks
{hort : If it doth, then it is boiled to Perfe@ion, and fit to be poured into
Gourds or Calabafhes, or other Veflels, for Ufe.

Aloe is much made ufe of in Purges, and juftly efteemed of great Ser-

\wice in many Cafes.

However, Dr. Yames, in his Medicinal Diationary, fays, it ought

not to be given to Women with Child, nor to Perfons fubje& to the
“Piles ; for it rarefies the Blood too much, and caufes Hemorrhoids.
HEn-

Book VI. land f BARBADOS, 155

HeEn-turp, or Dart-Woop.

pees grows in fpiral Branches from the Root, but feldom above
Twelve Feet high, each feemingly jointed at about Twelve Inches
afunder.

The Wood is of a very clofe Grain, and heavy; very little inferior in
Solidity to Box-wood.

It hath the Name of Dart-wood, from the former Ufe made of it in
Lances and Darts; with which, by the Permiffion of our Laws, Negro
Watchmen were to be armed, to defend their own, or the Goods of their
Mafters, from Robbers. However, a late Cuftom hath allowed thefe the
Ufe of Swords. ;

The Name of Hen’s-turd was likewife given it from the blackifh un-
favoury Pulp of the Berry, which it bears.

This fucceeds a {mall white Bloffom.

The Berry itfelf, when ripe, is of a brownifh Colour.

The Cr as-BusH, or the SEA-SIDE LAUREL.
q| HIS is a {mall bufhy Shrub, thickly cloathed with green ftiff fhine-

ing Leaves, many in Number, and about Three Inches long,
Thefe are narrower at the Stalk than their Extremities. _
_ They bear many apetalous Flowers, fucceeded by brownifh Berries.
Thefe, when ripe, are greedily eaten by the Land-crabs.

The Waite SacE; Lat. CAMARA SALVIA.

ape His is a thick bufhy Shrub, growing to about Two Feet high.

Its Leaves are {mall and rough, of a whitifh Grey, and thick-fet,
generally Three together round the Stalk, in a triangular manner ; their
Edges being bluntly ferrated.

The Flowers are of the galeated, monopetalous kind, divided at their
Extremities into Four unequal Segments, of a pale Red, altering gene-
rally at the Dif/cus to a bright-yellow Colour. ‘

Thefe Flowers are many in Number, fupported upon Stalks rifing from
the Bofom of the Leaves; the tubulous Part ferving for Seed-veffels.

Each Flower is fucceeded by a fmall purplifh Berry.

Thefe ferve for Food to Sparrows, and other Birds ; and the Leaves of
the Shrub, being either boiled into a Deco@ion, or made into Tea, are
an excellent Sudorific and Peétoral. ,

It grows chiefly in dry Places, and flourifhes all the Year round.

Rt "The

The Natural Hiftory of the Book VE,

The Mis.etog, or Brrv’s Turp.

a8 HE Origin of this Shrub is a fmall white Berry, containing a very
- glutinous milky Juice.

, Thefe, when ripe, are eaten by Birds ; and ty them often voided upon
other Trees, where they ftick very faft, and foon after germinate.

I am apt to believe, that this brownifh Juice hath likewile a corrofive
Quality, which frets and wears away the outward Bark of the Tree on
which it flicks; by this means opening a Paflage for the new tubular
Roots of the Berry, to penetrate among thofe larger Veficls of the Tree,
thro’ which the nutritious Juices are conveyed.
_ Thefe Roots being thus able to fuck Nourifhment, the young Sprout
foon grows generally at firft in Two or Three fpiral Convolutions or
Twiftings round the Branch: By thus grafping, it not only ftrengthens
its weak Roots, and takes a firmer hold of the Tree ; but fuch a Liga-
ture, as it grows, finks deep into the Bark, and prevents, in a great mea-
fure, the further progreflive Motion of the Juices; fo that thefe, receding
but a little Way back towards the Root, are abforbed, and fucked
up, by the numerous Mouths in the Roots of this foftering Shrub, which
daily penetrate more and more into the Tree.

What confirms me in this Opinion, is, that the Branch, from the Place
where the Mifletoe takes Root, to the Top, is generally in a very decay-
ing. Condition.

The Leaves of this parafitical Shrub are of a dark Green, fet on ina
pennated manner, never terminated by an odd one.

This grows to about Three Feet high, and bufhy, bearing a {mall white
Flower, fucceeded by a Berry, as above defcribed.

The milky Juice, being {queezed out, is made ufe of to cure Fluxes
and Lasks.

It grows chiefly upon Orange-trees.

The NARROW-LEAVD MiIssLETOE.

ne Be Is grows in Tufts, confifting of Six or Seven narrow Leaves, of
é about Six Inches long. |
They are generally to be found in the Clefts of the Bark of Cedar-

trees. ;
The Sprrntr WEED.

aps is a {trong Shrub, having many fubftantial Roots.
Its Leaves are pennated about Three Inches long, and {harp-

pointed. -
The

ee ee ee a ee

Book VL. land of BARBADOS,

The Flowers are yellow, ftanding upon long Footftalks, rifing generally
from the Bofom of the Leaves, and of the tetrapetalous Kind.
' Thefe are fucceeded by a {mall Berry, of a dark-red, when ripe; con-
taining fometimes Two or more blackith Seeds.

A Decoétion of this Wood is efteemed to be a ftrong Diuretic.

The P1cEoN-Woop.

(idee is a fhrubby Tree, feldom growing to above Six Feet high.
The Wood is very folid; and the Bark whitifh.
Its numerous {mall Branches are thickly cloathed with fmall round-
pointed winged Leaves.
The {mall white Bloffoms it bears are fucceeded by a great many white
Berries.

The SwEET Woop-TREE.

Se IS is of Two forts; the one bearing a Berry like a Damafcen.
© That which bears the white Bark is the beft and moft folid Tim-
ber.

That with the green Bark, and white within, is of lefs Value.

The Leaves of the former refemble thofe of the Bay-tree.

Thefe are fet on alternately.

The Berries are fupported by fmall Pedicles, rifing from the Helos of
the Leaves.

Thefe, when ripe, are eaten by Pivets, and Ground-doves, &c.

The BALSAM-TREE.

cj as S is a middle-fized Tree, growing generally in 4 Gales, and
fhady Places.

Its Hie are few, but ftrong.

The Colour of the Bark is of a reddifh Grey.

Its Branches are many and fpiral, thickly cloathed with very {mooth
fhining fucculent Leaves, pale underneath, and green above:

Thefe are narrow at the Stalk, but ard and round-pointed at their
Extremities.

Their Edges are fmooth, and tinged with a pale Yellow.

The Flowers confift of Six {trong white Leaves, furrounding a yellowilh
Thrum, and fupported by Four white capfular Leaves.

The Stalks bearing the Flowers are long, white, and brittle.

The fucceeding Berries are of an oblong Shape, about the Bignefs of a
Nutmeg, and of a deep Red, when ripe.

Thele are decorated with a Corona at the Top. be

The

158 ‘The Natural Hiftory of the Book VI.

The Berry is likewife marked with Six unindented Seams of a blackith
Colour, feemingly dividing it into fo many Partitions. : 1
~ The Leaves, Stalk, and Fruit, when broken, emit a white glutinous
Liquid, which will harden by the Heat of the Sun.

The LigNuM Rorvum.

T HE Bark of this fhrubby Tree is of a dark Green, ftreaked with
White, efpecially on the younger Branches.

Thefe are covered with fmooth deep-green round-pointed Leaves, Five
Inches long, and near Three broad.
:. The f{maller Twigs fuftain Bunches of white Flowers, each compofed
of Six Petals furrounding Six flender pale yellowith Stamina.

Thefe inclofe a whitith Piftil, which is fucceeded by a {mall Berry of a
purple Red, when ripe.

The younger Branches are {eemingly jointed.

Thefe, and every other Part of this Tree, have fo much of a terebin-
thial Quality in it, that it will, when even half-dried, burn like a Candle.

From this Quality it derives the Name of Fack-Lantern ; for, bein
tied into 'Fagots, and lighted, it ferves the Fifhermen inftead of Torches,
to fifh in the Night-time for Crabs and Lobfters,

It grows generally in fhady Places.

The CorFEE-TREE ; Lat. JAsMINUM ARABICUM.

Ge E Coffee-tree, if fheltered, grows to be about Fifteen Feet hich,
tho’ its common Growth feldom exceeds Twelve.

It'divides into feveral flender Branches, generally {piral.

The Bark likewife is of a {mooth reddifh-grey Colour,

The Branches are cloathed with Four-inch long fharp-pointed dark-
green Leaves, their Edges being waved or finuated in an elegant regular
manner.

Among thefe Leaves rife a great many Five-leaved white Flowers, each
Petal being round-pointed; the Whole furrounding feveral fhort white
Stamina, loaded with Apices.

_Thefe likewife furround the Piftil, which is the Rudiment of the fuc-
‘ceeding Berry.

This, even when Tipe, is covered with a thin husky Cap/ula; which,
when fufficiently dried in the Sun, eafily cracks, and difcovers the Berry,
‘which is too well known to want a further Defcription,

Box-

Pe ee ee re ee

Book VI. Hiand of BARBADOS.

Box-Woobp.

HIS Shrub is covered with a whitifh-grey Bark,
_ Its Leaves are about Two Inches long, and One broad; and are

generally fharp-pointed.

Thefe are fet on the Branches alternately.

The Flowers are of the tubular ftellated Kind, fucceeded by {mall
Berries, which are eaten by Birds of different kinds.

This Shrub generally grows in the Shade: Several of thefe are to be
found on the Eftate of ohn Colliton, Efg; in Sz. Lucy's Parith.

The Wiup HonEy-TREE.,

| es Tree grows to a confiderable Bignefs.
The Bark is fomewhat fulcated, ‘and of a reddifh-grey Colour.

The Leaves are of a deep Green, {mooth, and winged, exaétly refem-
bling Ivy-Leaves.

Its white Flowers are fucceeded by Berries, fomewhat round, as big 4s
a Cherry. :

Thele are of a fnowy White without ; and the Pulp within (which is
as {weet as Honey, and as yellow as Gold) is divided into Partitions, in-
cluding many {mall Seeds.

I found this Tree on a {mall Grove belonging to Mr. Yoleph Jordan,
jun. in Sz, Lucy's Parifh.

The BuAcK CHERRY-TREE:

at IS Tree feldom rifes above Eighteen or Twenty Feet high,

The Bark is of a ruffet Grey, and the Branches thickly cloathed
with dark-green Leaves of about Two Inches long, and one and an half
broad.

The Flowers are white, and of the rofaceous Kind.

Thefe are fucceeded by {mall black Cherries, fomewhat larger, and
more compreffed at both Ends, than the Exgli/b Black-cherry.

Their fweetifh Pulp furrounds a foft Kernel.

They are generally ripe in 4uguf? and September, and are eaten by Men
as well as Birds.

This grows in almoft every Parifh in the Ifland.

The Buack SAGE-BUSH.

: [ils bath a great many ftrong Roots.

The main Stalk is cloathed with a blackifh Bark. :
~The Leaves, which are high-ribbed, and corrugated, are about Two
Inches and an half long, and above One broad.
Sf Thefe

160°

The Natural Eiftory of the Book VI.

Thefe are fet on alternately.

The Top-branches fuftain a Spike, thickly ftudded with very {mall
{tellated Flowers, which are fucceeded by as many {mall fharp-pointed
Berries, red when ripe.

The Leaves, as well as the whole Shrub, have a ftrong Sage-like Smell,

A Decoétion of thefe is juftly looked upon to be an excellent Sudorific.

It grows in moft Parts of the Ifland.

The Inx-VINE.

is ae IS is a creeping weak Vine, fupported by the neighbouring
Rocks, or Underwood, &c.

Its Leaves are of a middle Size, divided into Three deep Seétions.

It bears many blue Flowers.

Thefe are fucceeded by {mall Berries, very black within.

This Vine grows in dry fhady Places.

The Juice of this Vine is fo black, that it refembles Ink, from whence
it derives its Name.

CHIGERY-BUSH.

uss Fie ERE is fcarce any Difference between this and what we have
already called Soldier-bufh.

And, as the latter, in fome Parts of the Ifland, go under the Name of
the former, I take the only Diftinétion between thefe feemingly different
Plants to be more owing to either the Male or Female kind, or to the
more luxuriant Growth of this fame Plant in various Soils, than to any
other real Difference.

It grows generally in fhady Places.

The WiLtp CALABASH.

48 HIS is a Shrub, growing about Ten Feet high, the Branches being
generally very ftrait, thickly covered with long green Leaves ; in
Shape not ill refembling thofe of a Laurel.
From-the Bofom of the Leaves, on fhort Footftalks, arife a great Num-
ber of {mall Berries, black when ripe.
Thefe are eaten by Pivets, and other Birds.

Cart’s-Bioop.

ais is a {mall weak Shrub, cloathed with a Bark of a reddith
rey.
The lefler Branches are geniculated.

The,

Book VL Sand. of BARBADOS, 161

The Leaves which thickly cover thefe, are about an Inch anda Quar-
ter long, and about half an Inch broad, and fharp-pointed, bearing, on
flender Spikes, feveral very fmall Four-leav’d Flowers.

The Piftil, which grows from the Centre of each, is tipped with an
Apex, and fucceeded by a fmall red Berry.

A. Cataplafm of this Plant, bruifed, is very juftly looked upon to be
a good Vulnerary.

It grows chiefly in fhady Places ; and blooms in Fuse and Fuly.

I have found this Plant in great Plenty in the Parifhes of Sv. Peter and
St. Lucy.

The So LDIER’S-BUSH.
[ HIS Plant is jointed, at different Diftances, from Three to Eight

Inches afunder.

Its Roots are ftrong and fibrous ; the main Stalk, and its divided
Branches, growing often above Four Feet high.

The Leaves are near Six Inches long, and Four broad.

Its upper Side is thinly befet with very fhort hairy Briftles.

From the Top of the Branches rife {mall white Flowers.

Thefe are fucceeded by {mall white Berries, {potted with Black.

There often grows at the Root of this Plant a fungous Excrefcence,
which anfwers the End of 'Touchwood.

It is juftly efteemed an excellent Vulnerary, and with great Succefs,
made a Part of moft kinds of healing Salves.

Pops; Lat. ALKEKENGI Indicum majus,

HIS Plant hath a fiftular quadrangular Stalk, growing to about

Two Feet high, cloathed with thin flender Leaves, Four Inches
long, and Two broad, having their Edges, at uncertain Diftances, neatly
fnipped.

Upon the Top of the Stalks appear feveral yellow apetalous Flowers.
Thefe are fucceeded by thin bluifh capfular Pods, which inclofe a
round green Fruit of about the Bignefs of a {mall Cherry.

4 As this ripens, and turns yellow, the outward Pod, or Covering, which
is of a blunt conic Form, withers, and drops off.

The Fruit is full of {mall Seeds, not difagreeable to the Tafte.

They are juftly looked upon to be very diuretic.
‘ There is another Plant, which bears the fame kind of Fruit.

This differs from that already defcribed, by being a creeping {candent
Plant, and its Leaves fhorter and thicker than the former.

This is called the Pop-Vime, and grows in moft Parts of the Ifland ;
efpecially under the Shelter of Hills.

The

162

The Natural Hiftory of the Book VI.

The BERRY-BUSH, or HEDGE-BUSH.

HIS often. grows to about Seventeen Feet high, cloathed with
green Leaves, Six Inches long, and an Inch and an half broad.
hele are fet on the Branches alternately, having their middle Ribs
thickly guarded with fharp reddifh Prickles. .
The Ends-of the lefler Branches fuftain a great Number of white
Five-leaved Flowers.
Thefe Petals furround a yellow Piftil, divided at the Top.
This is fucceeded by a {mall red Berry, which is looked upon to be
very wholfome: However, its Tafte is not very agreeable, and therefore

feldom eaten by Men,

The WiLp PEPPER-GRASS.

yp eis hath a great many ftrong ftringy Roots, penetrating about
Five Inches into the Earth.

The Bark of the main Stalk is greyifh, foon dividing into numerous
{mall Branches, thickly covered with very {mall fharp-pointed Leaves.
_ From among thefe rife very many Pedicles, fupporting feveral {mall
Star-like Flowers, fucceeded by very many capfular round Pods, inclofing
a great many very minute ruffet Seeds.

"The whole Plant feldom grows above Two Feet high.

It is to be found in almoft every Part of the Ifland.

The FrrE-BURN WEED.

pe main Stalk of this Plant grows to be about Three Feet high.

It is generally of a green Colour, chanelled and pithy.

The Leaves are about Three Inches long, and Two in Breadth, having
their middle, as well as their tranfverfe Ribs ftrong and prominent.

_ From among thefe rife a great many Footftalks, or Pedicles, of a pale
‘Red, fupporting, upon a Spire, a great many {mall white-leaved Flowers,
each confifting of Four Petals, furrounding a white Piftil.

Thefe are fucceeded by many fmall Berrries, red when ripe ; whofe
Bele (which inclofe a great many blackifh Seeds) is likewife as red as
Blood.

GoosEBERRY SHRUB.

¢ | ‘ELE main Stalk of this fcandent Shrub divides near the Earth into

many leffer ones. z

The Bark of thefe is of a dark-yellowifh Green.

The Leaves which grow in Pairs upon one common Footftalk, are
{mall, fmooth, and fucculent, having their Edges fomewhat tinged with
Yellow.

The

Book VI land of BARBADOS, 163

_ The Flowers are fucceeded by Berries about as big as a middling
Goofeberry.

Thefe are coronated at the Top; the Infide containing, in an agree-
able {weetifh Pulp, feveral {mall Acini, like thofe of Goofeberries.
This Berry is, above all others, remarkable, by a great many {mall
Leaves, which grow upon the Outfide of it. olf

The feveral Branches of this Shrub are likewife guarded with very
fharp-pointed Prickles.

I found this growing in great Plenty on the Eftate of the Honourable
Fobn Maycosk, Efg; in St. Lucy's Parith.

The Witp CarerpPILuER; Lat, Burtum Americanim
{pinofum.

pe as chiefly differs from the eatable Sort, by the Smallnefs of its

Leaves, as well as that the feveral Tufts of Leaves are guarded

near the main Stalks with Two or Three fharp-pointed Prickles. _
‘Thefe are likewife of the red and white Sort, differing fcarce in any

thing but Colour. ;

__ They grow chiefly in open Fields 5 efpecially at the Plantation of the

Honourable William Maynard, Efg; in St. Thomas s Parifhs

The Mitx-WEEp.
apes Is lactefcent Plant is diftinguifhed into the red and white Sort. -
Thefe feldom rife above Fifteen Inches high.

The main Stalk, with its flender Side-branches, is thickly covered with
feveral Pairs of {mall pennated Leaves, fomething inclinable to an oval
Shape, having their Edges finely ferrated. :

From the Bofoms of the Leaves rife a great many {mall Pedicles,
{uftaining on their Summits a Group of very fall, {earce perceivable,
white tubular Flowers.

Thefe are fucceeded by {mall Berries

The Roots or the Stalks of this Plant, when wounded, emit a milky

uice.
J It grows in moft Parts of the Ifland, and is made ufe of as Part of
the Ingredients in Diet-drinks, to cleanfe the Blood.

Dove-WEED.

fe IS fmall Plant feldom rifes above a Foot high.
yg ; Its Roots are fibrous and many.
Its main Stalk divides into feveral Side-branches:

bd Tt Thefe

164.

_ The Natural Hiftory of the Book VI.

Thefe are very thickly cloathed in an alternate Order, with {mall
oval Leaves, not ill refembling thofe of Tamarinds. C

Its Flowers, which are monopetalous, whole Org are divided into
Five Sections, are fucceeded by fmall Cap/ule, fomewhat refembling
Berries.

The fmall Doves feed on thefe ; and from thence this Plant derives
its Name.
This Plant, reduced to Powder, is a great Drier-up of old Sores,

The milky Juice, which iffues out of the Stalk, is looked upon to be
good to deftroy Warts.

It grows in moft Parts of the Ifland, efpecially in rocky or gravelly
Soli...

GuMmMMa-BusH. |
eas grows to be about Eighteen Inches high, the Stalk very

green and fucculent.

The Leaves are about Two Inches long, and above an Inch broad;
their Edges being irregularly and deeply ferrated.

From among the Leaves arife a great many white {mall Five-leaved
Flowers, inclofing broad clofe yellow Stamina, farrounding a green
Stylus.

The Flowers are fucceeded by very round {mall Berries, black when
ripe.

The Leaves of the Plant are made ufe of by the Negroes, as boiled
Sallad ; but feldom, if ever, made ufe of by the White Inhabitants.

The Wurre Hercutes.

CE I$ differs chiefly from the other by the Colour of its inner
Bark, which is white.
The Flowers are very fmall, and of the herbaceous Kind.
a ¥ hefe are fucceeded by a capfular Bunch, full of {mall black oval
eeds.
The Buds of this Tree, boiled into a Decoétion, are very good to
cure a Diftemper called the Red Water in Cattle.
This grows beft under the Shade of an Hill.

Boumso Busn.

TH IS Bufh hath a very offenfive ftrong Smell.

It grows to about Two Feet high, thickly cloathed with Leaves,
It grows in moft Parts of the Ifland.

u PursLaINn,

Book VI. land of BARBADOS, 163

PursuAin, Wuite and Rep.

4 E differ very little, if any thing, from thofe in England,
- except in the Ranknefs of their Growth here.

They are generally boiled and ufed, when more valuable Greens are
not in Plenty.

The ARABIAN JEssAMMY., Lat. Jasminum fiye Sambac
_- Arabum,

ae S is a woody creeping Vine, cloathed with dark-green fharp-
- pointed Leaves, of about Two Inches long, and one broad, bear-
ing Seven-leaved white fragrant Flowers.

Thefe are fupported by Seven very fharp-pointed graminous Leaves,
- -'This is planted chiefly in Gardens, or near Dwelling-houfes.

It yields a very agreeable fragrant Smell, and keeps its Verdure all the
“Year.
TITHYMALOIDES.

Bie E Roots of this are very numerous and ftrong.
The main Stalk branches near the Earth, into many {piral ftrong
Twigs.
The Bark of the Trunk, near the Roots, is fmooth and whitifh ; but
‘all its Branches of a deep fhining Green, keeping their grateful Verdure
undiminifhed thro’ every Seafon of the Year.

Thefe are cloathed with thick fucculent green round-pointed Leaves,
of about Four Inches long, and Two in Breadth, having their fmooth
Edges a little tinged with Yellow.

Thefe are likewife fet on the Branches alternately.

The Flower, which is of a fine deep Red, cannot be reduced to any
Clafs that hath hitherto been defcribed by any Botanical Writer, it being
a triangular fharp-pointed fmall horizontal Sheath ; the Top of the Piftil
jutting out, making the Extremity of the longeft Angle: This, on the In-
fide of the Flower, is covered with a yellow farinaceous Dutt.

From the fame narrow Aperture appear feveral {mall Stamina, tipped
with green 4pices. ated

Thefe Flowers are fucceeded by triangular fmall Berries, of a dark Red
when ripe. :

Each of thefe inclofes Three angular Seeds.

The Berries, Branches, and Leaves, are full of a thick glutinous milky

Juice.
! The only Place that I have feen this was at Cluf’'s Bay, in St. Lucy’s
Parifh.

This very feldom grows in any other Part of the Ifland. :
: he

166 The Natural Hiftory of the Book VI.

The fmall Wi.p CucuMBER.

J HIS is a {mall Vine, creeping generally along old Walls.

Its Leaves are thin, and fharp-pointed, of about an Inch and an
Ahalf long, and as broad near the Stalk, where they grow out, as it were,
into Ears. Pty

. The Flowers are fucceeded by a {mall {mooth Fruit, of about the
Bignefs and Form of a ‘Thimble. prot

Thefe, when ripe, are of a bluifh black Colour, and are eatable.

. The Poison-WyTH.

HIS isa large fcandent ligneous fhrubby Vine, whofe Roots are
very many, and ftrong; and the main Body of the Wyth, near
the Ground, as large as one’s Arm, and fomewhat flattith.

This climbs to a great Height, and is cloathed with fharp-pointed
green Leaves of above Three Inches long, and-near Two broad.

If the main Stalk is cut off near the Ground, or at any Height, the
upper Part, covering the Trees or Rocks, will ftill furvive, and in a
fhort time fend down, from feveral Parts, long ftringy Filaments ;
which, growing downward, take Root, and fupply the Place of the
broken-off Stalk.

The Flowers are, in Appearance, like a Bunch of red Coral, fucceeded
by {mall Berries, black when ripe.

TREES, SHRUBS, and PLANTS,

OF THE

| Cipfile-bearng FR UIT S:

BOOK VL

The PrickLE-YELLOW-Woob ; Lat. Xanthoxylum.

4 HIS is a Timber-Tree, growing large enough to be faw’d inte
: Planks, or Boards, for Tables, and other Ufes. Its Roots are

| many and ftrong. The Wood is of a very fine clofe Grain,
_ ponderous, and of a yellow Colour; and the Bark of a reddith Grey.
_ The main Branches are many, fhooting out into a great Number of leffer
ones: Thefe are beautifully decorated with a great many winged Leaves.
_ The Edges of thefe are regularly indented; and between each Segment the
Leaf is generally waved, or labiated. Its Length is about two, and its
Breadth about one Inch. The whole Tree, particularly when young, is

_ guarded with thort Prickles. The Flowers are. fucceeded by a Group of ~

_ black fhining flat Seeds, inclos’d in {mall Cap/ule : Thele are very {mall,
_ and of a fhining Black, affording by Expreflion a great Quantity of Oil.

Witp Hemp.

HERE are two Sorts of this Plant, the White and Red: The
; latter never grows above two Feet high: The other, which is moft
ufeful, to above five Feet. The outward Coat of this, when ripe, affords
.. Uu numerous

167

168

The Natural Hiftory of the Book VI,

numerous {trong Filaments, fomewhat coarfer than what is peeled off from
our Englifh Hemp-plant : This ferves to make Ropes, and fuch Ufey,
The Flowers are yellow, fucceeded by {mall Cap/ule, inclofing a great

~ Number of fmall black Seeds. The Stalks and Leaves are thickly cove.

ed with ftiff Hairs, fharp even to a Pricklinefs. The Leaf js bluntly
ferrated, and high-rib’d; in Length about two Inches, and in Breadth
about an Inch and an half.

The Barsapos PINK.
fee IS is a very flender, bufhy, creeping Vine, full of fmall Side-

branches, cloathed with numerous very narrow grafiy Leaves, ge.
nerally fet on alternately. The Flowers, which are tubular and Monope-
talous, are of a deep Scarlet. Their Ore are divided into five Segmenty,
the intermediate Spaces forming as many fharp-pointed Angles. The In.
fide of the tubular Part of the Flower appears whitifh. From this Part
rife feveral Stamina, tipped with whitifh Apices. The Flowers are fucceed-
ed by fmall Cap/ule, each containing a blackifh Seed.

The Hop-SHrus; Lat. Meliffa altiffima elobularia.

i ie IS Shrub grows to be about five Feet high. The Leaves are

{mooth, and round-pointed, and of about three Inches long, and
above one broad. Thefe are fet on the Branches in an alternate Order,
The Flowers, which ftand on long ligneous Pedicles, are each fucceeded
by very thin brownith Cap/ule, refembling at a Diftance Hops, and of
a triangular Shape. This is blown out like a Bladder between each Angle, as
well ‘as every Angle terminating in a thin Border, or A/a.

| MonkKEy-VINE.

T HIS is a long creeping Vine, of a dark-reddifh Colour, and hairy.

The Leaves are of an Heart-fafhion, but fomewhat auriculated near
the Stalk. From the Bottom of the Leaves rife many long tubular white
Flowers, whofe Ore are much expanded, and ting’d with Purple. From
the Centre of the Flower rife feveral white ‘Stamina, tipp'd with long
white pices. The Flowers are fucceeded by a {mall round whitith Cap-
Jula, each inclofing fix black angular Seeds, not much larger nor unlike
Onion-feeds.

PLANTAIN-SHoT; Lat. Cannacorus.

F fl NHIS Plant grows generally in fhady Places, and often to five Feet
high. Its main Stalk is tubular, cloathed at different Diftances with
very fmooth green Leaves, in Make and Subftance very much refembling a

Plantain-Leaf. Thefe are about nine Inches long, and five broad. The

I Flowers

Book VI. land off BARBADOS.

Flowers ftand upon ftrong Footftalks, each having at firft the Appear-
ance ofa fcarlet Pod ofan Inch and an half long: When this opens, it difco-
vers three {carlet {poon-like Leaves. The Infide of one of thefe, when it
deflects back, appears ftained with Yellow and Red. From the Centre of
the Leaves rifes a reddifh flat Pointal, incircled by another reddifh Leaf,

fpotted with Yellow ; to whofe Edge, near the Top, fticks a long whitifh:
Apex. The Flowers are fucceeded by fmall Cap/ule, each inclofing a round —

black hard Seed, as big as Swan-fhot: From thefe, and the Make of its
Leaves, they derive the Name of Plantain-fhot.

Locwoop; Lat. Campechiana. ,

169

HAT is called here the Logwood-tree hath a dark-coloured ©

, Bark, the Branches fpreading open and wide: Thefe are here-and-
there guarded with Prickles. The Leaves are many, and very {mall.

Witp Ciary; Lat. Heliotroprum Americanum.

HIS Plant grows to about eighteen Inches high; the Stalk green
and hairy. The Leaves are fet on alternately, {urrounding the Stalk :
_ Thefeare of a middle Size, rough and crumpled, having their Edges much
finuated. From the Top rifes a long gramineous Spike, ftudded with very
_ fall monopetalous whitifh Flowers: ‘Thefe are fucceeded by many {mall
_ Seeds. a

Hop-WEED.

; T HERE are two Species of this Plant, diftinguifhed by the Name of
: White,and Red: TheRed grows to about eighteen Inches high. T he
_ Leaves are rough, and about two Inches long, and above an Inch broad ;
_ their Edges being irregularly ferrated. From the Bofom of the Leaves rife
_ many Footftalks, thick-fet with blue tubular Flowers, fucceeded by {mall
_ Seeds. A Decoétion of this Plant is made ufe of, as a gentle Gargle, to cure
fore Mouths.

MuskeEto-Busu, or the WHITE Hop-WEED.

aL IS derives its Name from its either real or pretended Service in
1 driving away, by its Smell, Mufketoes from Bed-chambers, or elfe-
_ where, by having a Buth or Bough of it hanging in the Room. Its Roots

) are many; and the Stalk is four-{quare, and every Square chanelled. It
_ grows in rich Land, to often above four Feet high. This is furrounded by
| two-inch long fharp-pointed Leaves, whofe Edges are irregularly ferrated.

_ The Top of the Stalk fupports a blunt-pointed conic plufhy Tuft, difcover-
| ing feveral {mall tubular blue Flowers, fucceeded by many {mall Seeds.

The

170

The Natural Hiftory of the Book Yj,

The WiLD PENY-RoYAL.

HIS is of two Sorts, the Red, and the White, diftinguithed by the

Colour of the Stalks. - It is, in general, a low groveling Plant, jointed at
every Inch and an half Diftance: From thefe Joints iffue a Pair of Winged
Leaves, From the Bofom of the Leaves rife feveral {mall Tufts of whitiq,
ftamineous Flowers, fucceeded by a Pair of winged Leaves, extending each
fide the Stalk: Thefe are fomewhat fharp-pointed, of about an Inch long,
and their Edges fomewhat finuated. From the middle of thefe Bunches of
Flowers rife feveral leffer Leaves. The Cap/u/a that fucceed the Flowers, pro-
duce {mall Seeds.

The WorM-SEED WEED.

HIS, it is faid, very much refembles the true Semen Santonicum,
which is exported to England from Alexandria: It is here to be
found in great Plenty, upon the fandy Intrenchments near Bridge-Town,

CATERPILLERS. at. Blitum Brafilianum.

F thefe there are two Species, the White, and the Red, both eatable,

when boiled as Spinage; and they are, in my Opinion, very little
inferior to the latter in their agreeable Tafte, and their wholfome Qualities,
The red Sort grows often to above two Feet high, efpecially if cultivated in
Gardens, Its Roots are many, white, and ftringy. The main Stalk, as well as
the leffer fide ones, are reddifh, thick, and fucculent: Even thefe, efpecially
the leffer ones, when boiled, are very delicious. The Leaves are fomewhat
tharp-pointed, and of a pale Green, of about two Inches long, and oneand a
quarter broad. The feveral Stalks end inlong Spikes: Thefe are covered with
{mall farinaceous green Seeds, It grows to Perfection chiefly in the Months of
Fuly and Auguft; though it may be raifed at any time of the Year, if the —
Seafon proves wet, or ifthey are watered. ‘There isa third wild Sort, called
the prickly Caterpiller. :

: BLOODWORTH.

HIS isa bulbous Plant, its Roots much refembling that of an Onion,
confifting of feveral Coats or Lamine. It divides near the Ground
into feveral long green Leaves. Thefe are kept very upright by many longi-

~ tudinal ftiff Ribs. Among the Leaves rifes a flender Stalk, which, near the

Summit, bears a {mall tubular white Flower, which is fucceeded by a {mallco-
nic Cap/ule, containing feveral {mall Seeds. ‘The Root of this Plant, pound-
ed, isan excellent Antidote againft Poifon.

The

Book Vi = Jlandof BARBADOS.

The Witp-MariGcoLp; Lat. Afterifcus frutefcens.

ae grows to about two Feet high, the main Stalk is fquare, and the
4 Leaves broad, and rough; the Top, of the Stalks fupport yellow
Flowers like thofe of Marigold; the Petals are fucceeded by a hard Button-
like Cap/wla, which inclofes feveral flat {mall Seeds.

Ponp-WEED.

4 HIS Plant grows beftin wet moift Land, where it often rifes thrée Feet

high ; its Roots are many and fibrous ; the main Stem and Branches
are of a dark Green, and hairy, cloathed with Leaves four Inches long, and
one broad; thefe are likewife high-ribbed, and have their Edges finely
denticulated. From the Bofom of the Leaves rife many long Spikes thickly
covered on the upper Side with very {mall, white, pentapetalous Flowers,
and fucceeded by feveral minute Cap/ule, inclofed in a green Calyx; the
former are fucceeded by feveral {mall black Seeds.

. Thz Hoc-Surp.

HIS is a trailing herbaceous Vine, cloathed with fharp-pointed Leaves ;
from the Bofom of the Leaves rife feveral two-inch Footftalks, fup-
porting an umbilical Group of monopetalous yellow Flowers, whofe Edges
are flightly fegmented. From the Centre of the Flower rife feveral broad
fhort Stamina, furrounding a Piftiltipp’d with bluifh pices; thefe are fuc>
ceeded by feveral Cap/ula, inclofing, when ripe, feveral black Seeds. The
~ Vine is of the herbaceous Kind, and much coveted by Hogs. From thence it
derives this Name.

The BRooM-WEED.

THE Species of this Plant is divided into three Sorts, the White,

the Red, and the large crumple-leaved Broom-weed ; a Decoétion of
each Kind proves to be a {trong Diuretic; the Leaf of the white fort ex-
__aétly refembles that of the Green-Tea.

Togpacco; Lét. Nicotiana.

HIS Plant hath been fo often and fo well defcribed, that I need only

obferve, that it is here planted but very fparingly, and that chiefly by
the Slaves, and the poorer Sort of White Inhabitants, but none for Exporta-
tion, It isvery liable to be deftroyed at the Roots by a Grub, or large Worm,
called by the common People Kiti/onia ; the Leaves are likewife often de-
‘ftroyed by a {mall green Worm of the Eruca Kind.

Xx Zhe

171

Lz The Natural Hiftory of the . Book Vy.
The ‘THr1stTLE, or RaBprtT-WEEp.

HIS hath its prickly Leaves in common with moft other Thiftles,
From the Centre of thefe Leaves rifes a green Spire, whofe Extremit
fupports a Flower fomething like a Marigold, whofe whitith Petals furround
a yellow Thrum.

TuBERosE; Lat. Hyacinthus Indicus Tuberofus,

TH IS is fo well known here, and in England, that it would be Loft
of Time to afford it a particular Defcription. — 3,4

The Wi1Lp-Surp.

FIIS Vine is generally fupported by the neighbouring low Shrubs;
its Leaves are of a middle Size, and of a flender Texture, and are fet
on alternately; from among thefe rife on fhortFootftalks feveral Bell.
fafhion Flowers, of a pale White, on the Outfideand the Infide, beautifully
{tained with a fine purple Colour.

BacHELoR Butron, or EvERLAsTiNG; Lat. Amaran- |
thoides Lichnidis.

LE HIS Plant hath many white Roots, the Stalk fucculent, large and
jointed, of a fine deep fcarlet Colour; from each Joint rife two op
pofite Footftalks, of about an Inch long, fomewhat hairy like the main
Stalk: Thefe fupport Leaves of four Inches long, and an Inch and an half
broad, round-pointed and {mooth edged ; the Infide of the middle Rib
fomewhat reddifh; the Flower fomewhat refembles that of Clover.

The F rRn-Burn Busu,

Ae HIS is a fcandent Shrub, having a middle-fized fharp-pointed Leaf,

bluntly jagged about the Edges ; the Middle, as well as the tranfverle
Ribs, are prominent, and very neatly difpofed: The Seed-veffels are of a
triangular Shape, and are fet, many in Number, round lo ng flender Stalks,
rifing from the Bofom of the Leaves; the Juice of thefe boiled, and brought

to a Confiftency with Hog’s Lard, and other Ingredients, are faid to be of
great Service to curea Fire-burn.

The DiaLtHEA; Lat. Abutilon Indicum.

HE Roots of this Plant are few, penetrating not deep into the Ground;

___ the Stalk, which grows to three Feet high, is woody and brittle, divide-

Ing often into many Branches: The Bark of a full-grown Plant is of a
reddifh Brown, the Leaves, which are about two Inches long, one broad,
: an

Book VI. Iland of BARBADOS.

and blunt pointed, are foft, and downy, and of a hoary Green, hav ing
their Edges irregularly ferrated ; their middle Ribs and tranfverfe ones are
ftrong and prominent. They are fet on the Stalk alternately, and: from
the fetting on of thefe iflues a Group of very fmall, fiftular, one-leaved,
ellow Flowers, whofe Edges are divided into fiveSegments; thefe are fuc-

ceeded by fmall black Seeds in form of fhort blunt Cones, every Cap/ula
having one. ; :

A Cataplafm of the pounded Leaves of this Plant is looked upon as an
excellent Vulnerary.

It grows generally in dry Places.

TREES,

173

La

WA GAMHL“AS
Se
HE \ S,

Of TREES, SHRUBS, and PLANTS,

OF THE

Pruniferous K IL N D.

BOOK VIL. .

The BEARDED F1G-FReEE, Ficus Bengalienfis.

Tree, are fomany, that it would be endlefs to particularize them;

at leaft, it would be an ungrateful Tafk to one who withes they
had left no Room for Correftion. The Roots of it are many and large:
The Body of the Tree, when old, is rather a Compofition of many joined
irregularly together, than one undivided Trunk. This is occafioned by
the furprifing Manner that this Tree is naturally propagated ; for from
its Branches iffue, at unequal Diftances, feveral Tufts of ftringy Filaments,
each in Subftance and Make about as thick as the Bafe-ftring of a Violin.
Thefe grow always downwards, perpendicular to the Earth, and wher
they are fome Feet in Length, the Part next the Branch confolidates into
firm Wood, whilft the lower Parts hang wavingly downwards in fo many
loofe-twifted Shreds or Filaments; but when thefe grow to reach the
Ground, they take Root, unite into firm Wood as the upper Part; and
in a fhort time grow to a confiderable Bulk, affording great Increale
of Nourifhment to its once Parent-Branch; by which means this grow’
large, and produces other progreflive, lateral, as well as many upright

Branches; thefe, in like manner, efpecially, the progreflive Branches, 2f
2 thelr

aie HE Miftakes of many Authors, in their Defcription of this

Book VI. The Ilandof BARBADOS.

their defcending Filaments produce new Trunks, and fo on fuccef-
fively. :

When thefe Filaments grow from Branches near to, and take Root
withina fmall Diftance from the original Parent Tree, many of them by their
quick Growth are joined fometimes partially, fometimes totally to it, and fo
in time form one irregular enormous Trunk.

Iam of Opinion, that if one of thefe Trees was carefully and properly
cultivated by Art, and Cattle of all kind kept from browfing upon it; if
the bearded Filaments were fuffered to infinuate themfelves, efpecially thofe
from near the Extremities of its longeft lowermoft Branches, or were
they guided to take Root in the Earth, one fingle Tree might be
brought to make a confiderable Grove. Its Leaves are of a {mooth
fhining Green, in length about five Inches, and above two broad, fmooth-
edged, and fharp-pointed. The Flowers, as in others of the like Kind, are
contained in the Embryo Figs; thefe latter ftand upon fhort Footftalks, and
are about the Bignefs of {mall Cherries, the infide full of {mall 4cimi refem-
bling eatable Figs; which are Food only for Birds, efpecially Pivets, which
come in great Number to feed upon them when ripe. The tender Buds and
Leaves of this Tree afford, when bruifed, a milky Juice very much refem-
bling in Colour and Confiftence that which iffues from the Manchaneel
Tree, but differing in its Quality, the former being, as it is faid, a fove-
reign Remedy againft the Poifon of the latter.

The moft remarkable of thefe Trees for Bignefs grows near Codring-
ton College. This, about fix Feet from the Ground, divides into five
Branches, each equal to a large Tree, fome of them girting round about
eight Feet. The moft lofty of thefe Branches is by moderate Computation
_ above forty Feet high. But as there is nothing that can be called great or
little but by Comparifon; let us examine, as far as any credible Hiftory hath
informed us, whether any Part of the World affords of this, or any other
kind of Tree, a larger. What bid faireft for Superiority are the Cedars of
Libanus, which they will always deferve in regard to the Goodnefs and

Solidity of their Timber, but not in Bulk; for, according to the Reverend.

Mr. Maundrel’s Account, the utmoft Extent of the Branches of the largeft
Cedar upon Mount Libanus, from one Side of the Tree to the other, did not
fpread above a hundred and eleven Feet; whereas the Branches of this
teaches above an hundred and twenty-feven; the Circumference of the Body
of the former was but twelve Yards, of this eighteen; therefore we may
pronounce it to be the largeft Tree that hath been taken notice of in any
well attefted Hiftory. The next to this in Bignefs in this Ifland, is in Sv.
pene Church-Yard, which {preads a Shade (very near circular) of eighty-

ve Feet in Diameter ; and its Height, by Computation, is at leaft feventy
Feet, The great Mr. Milton was of Opinion, that this was the Tree with
whofe Leaves our firft Parents made to themfelves Aprons: for in defcribe-
ing their Fall he fays;

Yy And

tS

176

The Natural Fiftory of the Book VIL

And both together went
Into the thickeft Wood: There foon they chofe
The Fig-tree, not that Kind for Fruit renown d;
But fuch as at this Day to /ndians known
In Malabar or Decan, {preads her Arms
Branching fo broad and long, that in the Ground
The bearded Twigs take Root, and Daughters grow
About the Mother Tree; a pillar’d Shade
High over-arch’d; and echoing Walks between:
Thete oft the Indian Herd{man, fhunning Heat,
Shelters in cool, and tends his pafturing Herds,
At Loopholes cut through thickeft Shade. Thefe Leaves
They gather’d broad as Amazonian Targe;
And, with what Skill they had, together few'd

_ To gird their Waitt.

However noble this poetical Defcription is; yet; as to the Matter of
Fa, it wants even Probability to countenance it; for the Leaves of this
Tree are fo far from being of the Bignefs of an Amazonian Target, that
they feldom or never exceed five Inches long; and not quite three broad;
therefore we muft look for another of the Fig-Tree kind, that better anfwers
the Charaéter given of this Tree by Mo/es: And as the Fruit of the Bana-
na-tree is often by the moft antient Authors called a Fig, I may, I hope,
without Prefumption add my own to the already numbetlefs Conjectures
of others, and look upon the Fig-tree in Paradife to be no other than the
Banana-tree; for when Pliny defcribes the fan Fig-tree, he fays its
Leaf is maximum umbrofifimumgue; and as the Leaves of thefe are three
Feet long, and about two broad, they may be deemed more proper than
any for a Covering; efpecially fince they might be eafily joined together,
with the numerous thread-like Filaments, which may without Labour be —
peeled from the Body of this Tree. Thefe Fig-trees grow in the Eafi as
well as the Weft-Indies. Quintus Curtius, in his Account of Alexander's
Expedition to the Indies, excellently defcribes it. Had both the Indies
been fo well known fome Centuries ago as they are now, that Author —
would not have been (at leaft in this Inftance) thought fabulous. His
Words are thefe :

Syloe erant prope immenfuim fpatium diffufe, procerifgue & in eximam
altitudinem editis arboribus umbrofe. Plerique rami inftar ingentium fi-
pitum flexi in humum, rurfus, qua fe curvaverant, erigebantur, adeo Ut
Species effet non rami refurgentis, fed arboris ex Jua radice generate.
Quint. Curt, Lib. Ix.

The SToPPER-BERRY Tree; Lat. MALPIGHIA. |

TH IS grows to be a confiderable large Tree. Its Bark is of a whitifh-
ted, and fealy, often dropping off in Flakes; the upper Branclies ate

thickly cloathed with deep-green {mooth fhining Leaves, of about three
Inches

Late 12, ,

4

Si
oh, MURA TAEDA EGS PV LEN SA SPU AOI ii Ms wl Oak RS : i
: a a : : Ps e
\e, Ws
as \\ ey AY >
\(PPRNERK VCP the (F OD
oe AG V4 s
o~ {fil Hil hf

ye

i; ie
YY il Ly ) } Na
Pad, by, ome

Book VII. Sand of BARBADOS.

Inches long, and near two broad ; thefe are generally fet on in Pairs. From
the Bofoms of the Leaves rife a great many Pedieles fupporting {mall white
Flowers ; thefe are fucceeded by Berries black when ripe ; of about the Big-
nefs of a black Cherry, or rather larger and flatter; the Pulp is of a fweet-
ith Tafte ; this furrounds a greenifh foft Kernel; the Fruit is eaten by
Men as well as by feveral Kinds of Birds. ed

‘The Butty-BERRY : Tae.

apris is a very durable Timber-tree, growing fo large as often to
exceed feventy Feet in Height; the Bark is of a rough rugofe Tex-
ture; the Leaves are {mooth, thick, and of a fhining-dark Green. The
_ Fruit, which fucceeds a {mall white Flower, isround, and of a golden Colour,
having a {mall Corona at the Top: The Infide is of a milky, clammy
Subftance, and very fweet. This thick Pulp. furrounds two dark, red-
difh; flat Stones, very much refembling the Seed of a Sappadillo ; the
greateft Number of thefe Trees are in Scotland, at the Eftate of Thomas
Alleyne, Efg; caaalepoage at ee
The Eaft-India Manco Tree.
HIS Tree, or its Seed, was lately brought from the Rio Fanie-
vo, and grows only at the Gzimey Plantation, belonging to Edward
Lafcelles, E{g; Its prefent Height is about twelve Feet ; its Leaves are nar-
tow and fharp-pointed, being at leaft feven Inches long, and one and an
half broad: The middle Rib ftrong and prominent. Thefe are fet on
the Branches in an alternate Order. Tho’ this is called the Mango Tree,
yet the Leaves do not anfwer the Defcription given by others of the real
Eaft-India Mango ‘Tree.

The Ovive-TREE.

Have feen feveral of what are here called the true Olive-Trees ; but

as they never bore any Fruit, we have only a traditional Certainty of
their being the real Trees, which, in other Parts, bear Olives ; however,
I fhall infert its Chara¢ter. The Trunk is confiderably large, cloathed
with a whitifh-grey Bark ; the Height of the whole Tree is often above
twenty-five Feet ; its Leaves, which are many, are fet on in an alternate
Order. Thefe are about two Inches long, half an Inch broad, and fharp-
pointed ; the upper Side green, and the under covered with a hoary

Mealinefs. ie
The Wild Ou1ve-TREE.

‘THis grows to the Height of a common Willow. The Bark of
the main Trunk is much fulcated, and of a dark Colour ; its Top,
by its many fmall Branches, and numerous fharp-pointed Leaves, is very

| bufhy ; thefe Leaves are generally four Inches long, and one broad, ‘fet
on

178

The Natural Hiftory of the Book Vip

on the Branches in an alternate Order. The farft Appearance of she
Flower is a Tube of a brownifh-white Colour, about the Thickne§ of 2
Quill, and in Length three-quarters of an Inch ; this, near the Top, fra
bulges out, and then fplits into two Parts ; the upper, which I call the
Creft, being excavated Spoon-like ; the under Lip deflects very much
back, ending in three diftinét Divifions, each Point curling inward; the
middlemoft having from the Socket of the Flower, to its Extremity, a
narrow Lift of fine purple Fur, or foft Vil. As the Flower comes to
its Perfection, the Creft, or the upper Part, deflects back from the inter.
mediate Space ; between the upper and the lower Lip rife four Syay;-
na, tipp'd with pices, furrounding a naked Piftil, which, when the
Flower drops, becomes the Rudiment of the Fruit, which is a {mall Olive,’
Yellow when ripe. Thefe Trees are valued for their quick Growth, and
good Shelter, and they are chiefly planted near the Sea-fide, to fhelter the
neighbouring Fields of Corn and Cotton from being blafted by the
falt Spry of the Sea, which too often, after all Precaution, is very de-
{truétive to thofe Plantations that adjoin to the Sea to the Eaft and North-
Eaft of the Ifland. This is delineated in Plate XII.

The Fustic-TREE 3 Lat. Morus.

BN HERE are two Species of Fuftic-Trees, the Green and the Yel-
low; the former is very fcarce in this Ifland ; the latter is di-
ftinguifhed into. the Male and Female, the Male bearing a two-inch |
long Spike, or Katkin ; the Female bears on the under Part of the
Leaves, on the middle Rib, feveral {quammous {weetifh Berries, much
refembling Mulberries ; thefe are eaten by Birds whilft upon the Tree,
and much coveted by Dogs when ripe, and fallen off. The Heart of
this Tree is very yellow, and much made ufe of by the Dyers; it is
likewife very folid and durable Timber, which makes it ufeful to make
Cart wheels, &’c.. Thefe Trees grow beft in Gullies, and fuch Places _

~-as are fhaded from the Wind.

-. The Gully Puum-Tree; Lat. Membip.

‘HIS Tree, efpecially if fhaded from the Wind, grows confidera-
bly large, both in Bulk and Height ; the Bark upon the Trunk

is ofa very dark Grey, fulcous, and very rough ; its Branches are many, and

generally crooked. Thefe are cloathed with unequally pennated Leaves.
The Lobes are about three Inches long, and fomewhat above an Inch

in Breadth ; the Leaf confifting generally of four Pair of Lobes, with

an odd one at the End. The upper Twigs fupport pyramidal Cluf-
ters of {mall granulated herbaceous Flowers, which are followed by
Plums of oblong Shape, yellow when ripe, and fomewhat bigger than

large Nutmegs ; thefe in Bunches hang downwards, fupported by two- —
inch-long Footftalks, Their pulpy Part is of an agreeable Talte ; this 1s

I not

ae
: Ge ke 6 Me memnufaionens fer eacectttt)
Yfece of herd High Sreasurer: oe

ie?

. he.

Book VII. JS/land of BARBADOS,

not above one feventh of an Inch thick, covering a rough, fulcous, ftony
Kernel. This is delineated in Plate XIII.

The Wuite Pitum-TRrer.

HIS isa middle-fized Tree, the Body of it cover’d with a whitith

Bark ; the Branches are cloath’d with Leaves of about four Inches
Jong, and two broad, ending in a round Point ; the flender top Branches
fuftain Groups of white {mall Flowers, which are fucceeded by a great
Number of {mall Plums, green even when ripe ; thefe by the Heat of
the Sun open into three thick Partitions, emitting a great many {carlet
firingy Seeds.

The Jamaica PLum-TREE.

aye Hits gtows to a confiderable Bignefs ; the Branches are cloathed
with pennated Leaves ; the Flowers are fucceeded by oval Plums,
fomewhat depreffed at both Ends, having their Surface here-and there in-

dented. Thefe are of a purple Colour when ripe, and of a fharp agree-
able Tafte.

The DaMascen, or the CALLIMATO-TREE ; Lat. Icaco.

TL F118 Tree grows to about twenty Feet high, The Leaves are long,

fharp-pointed, and {mooth-edged ; very green on the upper, and
pale on the under-fide ; they are fet on the Branches alternately. It bears
about April a great many Flowers, very much refembling thofe of a
Sugar-apple ; thefe are fucceeded by black, longith, very clammy Plums,
having one, fometimes two Stones or Kernels in them, the pulpy Part be-
ing very {weet, and agreeable. The great Turtle-Doves, Pivets, and
Thruthes, feed greedily upon them.

The Cu1GERY-GRAPE-TREB.

HIS is a middle-fized Tree, having ftrong numerous Roots ; the
Bark of the Trunk is of a dark Grey ; the Branches are thickly
covered with Leaves; thefe are about five Inches in Length, and two
in Breadth. The Flowers, which are {mall, five-leaved, and of a
brownifh Colour, in great Number furround feveral ruffet ftrong
Spikes, of about two Inches long ; thefe Flowers are fucceeded by Ber-
Nes fomewhat fmaller than white Currans, each compofed of f{everal
thick juicy Lamina, inclofing a blackifh fharp-pointed Stone or Kernel ;
thefe are red when half-ripe, and white when full-ripe: They have an
acid, fweet, agreeable Tafte, like white Currans ; but if eaten to Excefs,
they caufe a tingling Itching in the Skin. They are generally ripe in

Auguft and September.
ZZ - The

179

180

The Natural Hiflory of the Book Vy

The Bay-GraPE-TREE.

oT HE Body of this Tree is confiderably large, though feldom growing
- to any great Height, unlefs fhelter’d from the Wind; the Branches
are many, but crooked and ftraggling: The Bark is of a whitith Grey.
from the Extremities of the Branches hang pendulous Spikes, thickly a
vered with very {mall Blofloms, which are fucceeded by a great Number of
Grapes in Clufters: Thefe are round, and fmaller than the leaft red Cherry,
and of a ruffet Purple when ripe; they have an agreeable Mixture in their
Tafte of both {weet and poignant Acid; their Pulp, which is but fmallin
Proportion to their Bignefs, furrounds a Stone or Kernel; thefe, if bruifed
and fteeped in Wine, are looked upon to be a good Reftringent. The Tree
grows beft in a loofe fandy Soil ; their Leaves are very broad and fleek, clofely
embracing the Stalks, and neatly ftrewed with purple or red Veins; and even
the whole Leaf, whilft young, is red. The Grapes fteeped in Water, and
worked up with Sugar, make a very agreeable Wine.

The Far Porx-TREE.

HIS chiefly grows near the Sea-fide, in the Parifhes of Ss, Fofeph
and Sz. Andrew. The Fruit is diftinguifhed into the white and red
Sort. The Trees bearing each differ very little, if any thing, in their Tex.
ture, Leaves, or Flowers; the main Body of the largeft exceeds not five
or fix Inches in Circumference; the Leaves are of a middle Size, round-
pointed, and fet on the Branches alternately; the Flowers are white, and
very {mall the Petals are furrounded withagreen ftiff Calyx: Thefe are fuc-
ceeded by Plums called here Fat Pork. The outfide Skin of one Sortis, when
tipe, of a fine fcarlet Colour, faintly clouded over with a purplith glaucous
Mealinefs, like that which covers Plums in England. The white Sort
differs only in Colour ; for the pulpy Part of each cuts ftringy, or rather
wooly, and is of a white Colour, not ill refembling, though lefs firm than,
the Fat of Pork whilft warm. This Pulp hath a {weetifh Tafte, but toa
great many difagreeable; this eatable Part covers a pretty large Stone,
which inclofes a white Kernel, no-way difagreeable to the Tafte; the
whole is full as large as our common black Plums in England.

The Buack Woop.

| HTS grows to be a large Tree, of an hard folid Texture; it derives

its Name from the blackifh Colour of its Bark and Leaves; it theds
yearly its Bark, which is very bitter; its Flowers are fucceeded by {mall
Plums; the pulpy Part furrounding a Stone or Kernel, or fometimes two.

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Book VII. lland of BARBADOS,

The Mare Popaw Tree; Papaya.

jplenis Tree is generally of an undivided Trunk, and diftinguifhed in-
to the Male and Female; as well as the Fruit into the long Mango

Popo, and the round Sort.

It’s Roots are many and ftrong, penetrating not deep into the Earth,
but extending feveral Yards in a circular Compafs. The Bark, which
is of a whitifh Colour, is marked-with the / eftigia of the fallen off
large Footftalks of the Leaves, The Body of the Tree grows taper-
ing to. the Top; it is often at the Root of about a Foot Diameter,
and generally from fifteen to twenty Feet high. The moft fubftan-
tial Part of the Tree is a thick reticulated Web compofed of feve-
ral complicated Divifions, fomething like the Tunica reticularis in the
Skins of Animals; it is in this that the Strength of it confifts. The In-
fide of all the young, efpecially towards the Top, as well as moft
old Trees, are hollow: by this we hierographically reprefent a Perfon
of no Sincerity, and from hence in thefe Parts comes that Proverb to that

Purpofe, 4s hollow as a Popo.
__ Within three Feet to the Top, the Leaves begin to furround the Tree
in acircular and regular Manner, and confequently very beautiful. Thefe
Leaves, efpecially the lowermoft, which are the largeft, being often above
_ aFoot and an half long, are neatly divided into eight or nine large Se-
_ Gions, each again fubdivided into leffer ones, and ending in a Point ; the
_ middle Ribs are ftrong and prominent; the whole Leaf appears very
* beautiful, being on the upper Side of a deep Green, and beneath co-
vered with a very vifible, yet very fhort hoary Down. The largeft Leaves,
_ which are lowermoft, ftand upon green hollow F. ootftalks, often two Feet
long; however thefe, as well as the Leaves, gradually grow lefs to-
ward the Extremity of the Tree. The Stalks, when bruifed, yield a dif-
agreable Hemlock-like Smell. |

The Male Tree bears feveral fmall pentapetalous white Flowers upon
pendulous Stalks of near a Foot and an half long, but was never here known
to produce Fruit. This Tree is delineated in Plate XIV.

The Female bears fomewhat fimilar, but larger Flowers, of a yellowith
_ Colour, growing on very thort Footftalks, arifing from, and furrounding
the Tree among the lower Leaves chiefly; thefe in ftill Evenings and Morn-
ings afford a very fragrant and grateful Smell. The Female Flowers and
tender Buds of thefe are preferved into Sweetmeats, and the long Mango
_ Popo into Pickles, the latter being very little inferior to an Ea/? India Man-
g. Both thefe Fruits, efpecially the round Sort, are likewife, when near
Upe, boiled and eaten with any kind of Flefh-meat, and efteemed whol-
fome, if they are cleanfed of the milky corrofive Juice they contain, and
-&aten but feldom. This Juice is of fo penetrating a Nature, that if this un-

ee ripe

181

182

The Natural Hiftory of the Book Vir

ripe Fruit, when unpeeled, is boiled with the tougheft old fat Meat, i¢
will foon make it foft and tender; and if Hogs are for any confiderable
Time fed with it, efpecially raw, it is faid that it will wear of al] the my-
cous flimy Matter, which covers the Infide of the Guts, and would in
time, if not prevented by a Change of Food, intirely lacerate them,

I know of no phyfical Virtue in any Part of this Tree, unlef§ tha the
milky Juice of the Popo is fometimes made ufe of to cure Ring-worms, and
fuch cutaneous Eruptions.

It grows beft in fhady Places.

This Tree is delineated in Plate XV.

The PLANTAIN-T REE.

“¥ T is the Opinion of many Writers, that this Tree was formerly pe-

culiar to Ezhiopia only, though now very common in all the hot Parts

-of Afia, Africa, and America; efpecially in Guiney, and the Wof Indies,

Its Height, great Bulk, and large Leaves, claim a Place among Trees ;
but its foft bulbous Roots, the pulpy Texture of the Trunk, which is ©
herbaceous, that it is often fliced and given by way of Fodder to Cattle,
feem to partake of a liliaceous Plant, more thana Tree: but as it hath
generally been claffed among the latter, I fhall treat of it in the fame Light,
Its Roots are numerous, white, and fpongy; the Trunk near the Earth is
about thirty Inches in Circumference, round, tapering, and undivided,
till about nine or ten Feet high, at which Height it puts forth feveral large
green Leaves in an alternate Order: Thefe are often five Feet in Length,
and near two and an half in Breadth, of a delightful fhining Sea-green Co-
lour, and of a long oval Shape; thefe ftand upon long tapering Footftalks,
the middle Rib in each Leaf is very prominent, and deeply chanelled on
the upper Side. . This ferves as a Gutter to convey the Water that falls up-
on the Leaf, to the main Trunk, where it is foon abforbed by fo foft
and porous a Body; for the Trunk of the Tree is compofed of feveral
Lamine upon Lamine of large longitudinal Veins, or Veflels horizontally
croffed at about one tenth of an Inch Diftance, with very thin membranace-
ous Filaments. Thefe laft prevent both the copious Juices from the Roots,
or the Dew and Rain defcending from the Leaves, to penetrate through
the other perpendicular Veffels, till each Part is faturated with its proper
nutricious Juice. From the quick Growth, and great Bulk, of fuch fuccu-
lent Plants, fpongy Shrubs, and Trees which have their Veflels fo much
diftended, we may perhaps account for the far flower Growth of more du-
rable Timber, both here and elfewhere: For the Clofenefs of the Grain of the

latter having their Veffels very fine in clofe Contaé@t, the annual Lamne
-of thefe, when fucceeded by exterior new ones, clofe and confolidate to-
-gether, and fo add to the Bulk of the Tree: Yet fach an Addition will be

no more, when compared in Quantity to the grofs Lamine of fucculent
Plants, fpongy Shrubs or Trees, than fo many Layers of Muflin compart
i

Book VII. Land of BARBADOS, 183

in Bulk to an equal Number of coarfe Bays. But to return to my Sub-
je: From the Top of this Tree (iffuing from among the upper Leaves)
at about ten Months Growth, rifes a tough ligneous Stalk, about three
Feet long, bending downwards, and bearing onits Extremity a conic pur-
ple Spatha. “ ‘The Flowers (which furround this in three or four Rows)
“ are monopetalous, irregular, incomplete, © and Hermaphrodite, com- vice Péi-
“ pofed of a Tube which fills the Ovary, and a Pavilion divided into four/ey,
“ Lobes, and forming a kind of a Mouth. The Ovary, which adheres
“ ftrongly to the Tube, is triangular, and crowned with five Chives, which
“ grow from the Side of the Flower. The Style, which is alfo terminated
“ by a little Head, afterwards becomes a foft fomewhat angular Fruit,
“ whofe outward hufky Tegument is very {mooth, and yellow when Pipes:
This is from five to nine Inches long, and near an Inch Diameter, grow-
ing fmaller, and by Degrees a little crooked, at each End: The outward
Coat or Rind eafily peels off when ripe. The infide eatable Part is of
-agold Colour, and of a fweetifh Tafte. The whole Bunch, which gene-
rally contains fome Scores of thefe Plantains, often weighs forty, fifty,
or fixty Pounds Weight. The moft common Method of ufing this
Fruit, when defigned to fupply the Place of Bread, is, to take them when
green, though-full grown, and bake them in the Embers, or boil them.
In a fhort time after the Plantain-Tree hath borne its Bunch, it decays
near the Root, and falls proftrate to the Ground, and perifheth: How-
ever, the Planter’s Hope perifheth not with it; for long before the Mother
Tree decays, two or three large Suckers or young Trees grow up from the
Root of the old one. The largeft of thefe, in about 4 Twelvemonth’s
Time, bears fuch another Bunch of Plantains as the above deferib’d; and.
as this Tree likewife dies, after it hath produced Fruit, there {pring up
from the Root frefh young Shoots; fo that there is an annual Succeffion of
_ Trees without any ‘Trouble to the Planter. However, it is thought the moft
prudent Method is to replant them once in feven or eight Years; in doin
this to the greateft Advantage, the Situation muft be rich, and fheltered
from the Wind; and the Land intended for this Purpofe muft be dug in
Holes two Feet deep, one and an half broad, and twelve Feet afunder:
Thefe being well manur’d, large Roots of fuperfluous Plantain-Trees are
cut through in two or three Pieces ; one of thefe put in every Hole, flight-
ly covering it with Earth, in a fhort time {prings up. Another common
Way of propagating thefe Trees is, to dig up other young ones,
which in great Number are to be found growing about the Roots of old
decaying Trees, and cutting off the Top of thefe within three Feet to’ the
Root, and fo tranfplant them into Holes prepared for that Purpofe. Having
cut one of thefe young Trees horizontally in the middle, the remaining
Stump vegetated fo ftrong from the Centre, that it thruft out a fmall {lender
Shoot near a Quarter, or above * an Inch long in feven Hours time.

bs However furprizing this may appear, it is not more extraordinary than the quick Growth of Afparagus in Exgland,

a far colder Climate,
es The

The Natural Fiftory of the Book Viz

The Wild PLANTAIN-T REE.

TH IS hath a great Refemblance, in its Trunk and Leaves, with the
Plantain-Tree already defcrib’d, ‘ differing chiefly, that’ though it
bloffoms, it never bears any Fruit. —

The BANANA-T REE,

HIS differs in its general Make from the'Plantain-Tree, only by the
greater Height of its Trunk, which is likewife here-and-there {potted
with Black ; the Leaves, as well as the F ruit, are fomewhat fmaller than thofe

-of the Plantain-Tree, the Fruit being not aboye five Inches long, of a fine
_yellow Colour when ripe, and of a fragrant Smell, and fweet Tafte. Thefe

are eaten raw by way of Deffert. The learned Door ‘Derbham obferves,
that the fineft Needle, the Work of Art, appears, when viewed through
a Microfeope, rough and unhewn, when compared to the Sting of a'Bee,
or éven the meaneft Blade of Grafs, the Work of Nature: fo there is no lefs

diftinguifhing Delicacy in the Tafte of thofe large. Drops of natural Honey
found in the Bloffoms of this Tree, when compared -with what our Hive
‘produces ; the former intirely void of that: Harfhnefs in-the Throat, from
which the beft of the latter, by its effential Salts, is not-free. “This was a
Aymbolical Tree in Egype ; for, among other Hieroglyphics, we cften find
the Head of Ofris adorn’d with Banana Leaves, and the Child Oru fit-
ting on her Lap. It grows beft under the Shelter of a Hill, or fome fuch

fhady Place. As thefe are juftly reckoned among the moft delicious Fruits
that Arabia produces, Ludolphus, in his Ethiopic Hiftory, conjeCtures that
thefe Fruits were the Mandrakes which Facob’s Wives contended for.

This Tree is defcribed in Plate XVI.

ee The WATER LEMoN-VINE.

HIS isa very large ligneous Vine, creeping, if fupported by neigh-
‘* bouring Trees, toa very great Length. The Leaves are of a dark Green,
and fharp-pointed. The Flowers very much refemble thofe of the Grana-
dilla Vine; thefe are facceeded by a Frui i
of an irregular roundith Shape, the Outfide of a yellowifh fkinny Sub-
ftance, the Infide much refembling that of a Goofeberry, being full of
a {weet gelly-like Subftance, mixed with a great many {mall Acini: This
juftly claims a Place among the moft delicious Fruits,

The Witp WatTER Lemon-Vine, or Love In 4 Mist.

HIS is a fort of a Paffion-Flower, and called by. BorrHaave
Granadilla flore albo, Sruéiu reticulate. This is a trailing grami-
neous hairy Vine, provided with a great many Tendrils, or Clafpers,

which

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Book VII. land of BARBADOS.
B which twit round the neighbouring Trees or Bufhes, and fo

| {upports
| itfelf from the Ground, The Leaves, which are likewife forhewhat hairy,

and cut into two fhallow Sections, are fet upon the Vine upon an Inch
~ Footftalk, and about two Inches afunder. From the Bofoms of the
_ Leaves rife Stalks of about an Inch long, fupporting many. beautiful
Flowers, compofed of fiftulous Radyi, round each Border, purple. at
the Bottom, and whitith at the Top: Thefe are almoft inlaid in an out-
| ward Covering of very thin white membranaceous Leaves, which are much

crumpled and labiated bending inwardly ; a double Perianthium divided
into five deep Sections. ~The Ovary, which is the Rudiment
mes from the Bottom of the Flowers, from the middle of

185

whofe Top come three Styles tipp’d with round Buttons. Thefe likewife
“bend downwards. As the Flower decays, the Perianthium clofes together,
forming a green fomewhat conic Fruit, about the Bignefs of a Cherry ;
“the outward Skin being feemingly divided, or rather mark’d: with fix un-
| ! is yellow on the Outfide, include-
‘ing a great many very agreeable pulpy Seeds, and Juice, of the fame Tafte
| What is moft remarkable in this
‘Fruit is, that it is intirely covered or furrounded with a bluith white
feticulated Web, compofed of innumerable fmall Strings, and foft Briftles,
whofe Tops are tipp’d with a glutinous Subftance. Both this Web, and this
clammy Matter, are defigned by Nature to preferve the inclofed Fruit from
teing deftroyed by Vermin, fuchas Ants and others,

: PimPLoEs; Lat. Opuntia. | |
, NH ESE are likewife called the wild prickly Pear; their Roots are
} many, extending feveral Feet round:

| It hath fcarce the Appearance
of any Stalk near the Earth. The whole Tree or Buth is compofed of nume-

Tous Leaves of a round oval Shape: Thefe are about nine or ten Inches long,

about feven broad, and three-quarters of an Inch thick, The Infide of

thefe contains a great Quantity of mucilaginous Juice; the Surfaces of

them are thickly befet with Tufts of whitith Prickles, each Tuft confift-
ing generally of four of thefe Prickles. The Body of this Buth, after
the green outward Lamina is {crap’d off, is a reticulated Subftance, {trong-
Y wreathed in feveral Folds one among another. The Flowers come out
of the Sidés of thefe Leaves, and are compos’d of a great many round-
ointed Petals of a yellowifh Red. The Chives are very many, tipp’d with
ellowith Summits, The Pifti] is red, and furrounded with thefe Chives.
thefe Leaves are fupported and {pring from a conic green hufky Pod-like

aly Subftance, and are fucceeded by a Fruit whofe Infide is full of {mall
p Pack: Seeds, :

The

186

The Natural Hifiory of the Book Vy.

The COCHINEAL. |

4 Deas 1S hath at a Diftance the Refemblance of the Pimploe; but i
generally grows higher ; and the Leaves are {mooth, bearing man
rofaceous red Flowers, which are fucceeded by fomewhat round fealy
Fruit, whofe Infide is full of {mall Acini, and purple Juice.

The PrickLy PeaR-V1INE; Lat. Cereus fcandens minor,

HIS likewife is of the fame Texture as the three laft already defcribed,
each of them, in my Opinion, being a ftrange Mixture between
a Plant and a Shrub. This, if fupported by a Wall, will grow above fif
teen Feet high, compofed of feveral thickifh Leaves of a triangular
Form, almoft as deeply indented between every Angle as the Blade of a
three-edged Sword. Thefe Leaves are of a ftrong ligneous Subftance, of
about two Feet long, the Extremity of one giving Birth to another. The
Edges of every Angle are, at certain Diftances, thickly covered with
Tufts of very fharp-pointed Prickles. From thefe Eminences likewife
proceed the Flowers : Thefe are of the rofaceous Kind, ftanding up-
on longifh green bulbous Stalks. The Petals of each Flower are fixteen
in Number, two Inches long, and blunt-pointed ; thefe are fo very thin,
that when laid over the {malleft Print, it may be feen and read through
the Leaves. Thefe membranaceous Petals are fupported by other green
capfular Leaves ; the Style is large and ftrong, furrounded by numerous
white Chives, tipp’d with whitith Summits. The Fruit, when ripe, is of
an oval Form, and often as large as a Turkey-ege : The outfide Skin or
Rind is, when full-ripe, of a dark-purple Colour, and fcaly at about
every Half-inch Diftance, each Scale being of a triangular Shape, and 9
fharp-pointed. The whole Rind is likewife here-and-there ftudded with @
Tufts of very {mall fharp Prickles ;\ the Infide is full of purplifh folid
Pulp, intermixed with {mall whitifh Specks; the whole fomewhat juicy,
and well tafted.

The Witp CucumBEeR-VINE ; Lat. Anguria.

ioe is called by Father PLumizr, Anguria fruftu echinato edult. This }
quadrangular rough hairy Vine hath a long Tap-root, very little
divided, even at its Extremity ; it creeps generally upon the Ground, 3
and by its numerous twifting Clafpers takes hold on every Side of the |
neighbouring Bufhes: Its Leaves, which ftand upon two-inch long Foot
ftalks, are deeply divided into three, fometimes more, round-pointed
Sections ; its Flower, which is yellow, is fucceeded by a fmall Cucumbet, 9
whofe Surface is covered with many foft-pointed Prickles ; they are fome- 9
times eaten, but are efteemed to be of too cold a Nature to be whol- J

tome.
I Tht |

Book VI. land of BARBADOS.

; The GRANADILLA-VINE.

‘THIS is the Granadilla latifolia fruétu maliformi of Father Piu-
j migR. The Stalk of this Vine is quadrangular, bordered upon every
_ Angle: Its Clafpers, or Tendrils, by which it fupports itfelf, are very nu-
_ merous, as well as the Leaves many ; thefe are fix Inches long, and fivein
Breadth, ftanding upon four-corner’d Footftalks, The Flowers are of
_ the fame Make with the Pafflion-Flower. The Fruit is of a long oval
_ Shape,of a yellowifh Green when Tipe ; Containing a great Number
_ of fmall Seeds or Acimi, covered with a gelly-like Juice, or fweetifh Pulp.
_ This Vine grows beft in fhady Places, and muft be fupported with an
_ Arbour. — . gy es : oe

The Fic-T'REE. a
A &S neither this Tree, nor its Fruit the eatable Fig, differ from that

4 of the fame Species in England and elfewhere, it will be need-
lefs to give it a particular Defcription.

Here ends the Pruniferows Kind of Fruit.

Bbb OF

187

188

TREES, SHRUBS, and PLANTS,

OF THE

SILILQUOSE K-TN'D.

, BOO@K. VIII.

Y Trees, Shrubs, and Plants, of the filiquofe Kind, are to be under-
ftood all thofe whofe Fruits are inclofed in Pods,

It is obfervable, that very few Trees bear Pods in cold Climates, in Com-
parifon to the great. Number which warm Countries abound with,

And, as moft of the filiquofe herbaceous Plants are {candent, it is re-
markable, that as they are weak, and, as it were, helplefs of themfelves;
therefore indulgent Nature hath provided them with either Tendrils or
Clafpers to intwine about others, and be fupported by them; and often
with even fharp-pointed Hooks at their Extremities to faften upon the
neighbouring Trees or Rocks: And thus, like helplefs Orphans, by this
foftering Affiftance, they not only fubfift, climb up, and flourifh ; but
alfo help to adorn the Face of Nature with their varied. Beauties.

It is likewife worthy our Notice to obferve, that thefe are not only
in greater Plenty, but that there is likewife a greater Variety of them, in
warm Climates: And indeed they are, by their Qualities, better adapted for

L@ the

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Book VIII. The Natural Fiiftory of &e.

the Conftitution of Perfons in hot Countries ; for, by the {mall Quantity
of Oil and Salts they contain, they are lefs liable to produce grofs Hu-
mours than animal Food.

The 'TaMarind-Trees; Lat. Tamarindus.

plates are of two Sorts; at leaft different in the Tafte of their Fiuit,
the one bearing a four Fruit, the other of a Mixture of a fweet and

acid Tafte.

The Trees, though they thus differ in their F ruit, are however of the
fame Bulk,- Make, and ‘Texture. Each having numerous large Roots,
and Branches, the latter by their many Subdivifions, and being thickly
cloathed with very many pennated Leaves, afford an agreeable Shade.

The Flowers are yellow, fomewhat {peckled with Purple; and of the
papilionaceous Kind. —

Thefe are fucceeded by falcated Pods, confifting of four or five Cells,
each including a flattifh oval Stone inclofed in a Snuff-coloured Pulp.

This Pod is of a brownith grey Colour ; when ripe, eafily broken, and
feparated from the Pulp.

This, and the inclofed Stones, are faftencd together by a great many finall
flender Fibres from the woody Stalk, which run through the Pod.

This Pulp is preferved in Sugar, and fent to England, or elfewhere ;
and it is looked upon, taken inwardly, to be a good Cooler in Fevers.

Thefe Trees are not peculiar to our Climates; for they thrive not
only in Egypt, but likewife in the Land of Palefline, in Arabia, and
in other Parts of dfa.

The TREE JEssaMIN,

TH S grows to be a confiderably large ftragoling Tree, cloathed with
many Leaves generally. fet in Groups on the blunt Extremities of the
Branches.
The Flowers are pentapetalous, and are fucceeded by long Pods.
This Tree is defcribed in Plate XVII,

The Spanisu Asu.

HIS Tree hath an Afh-coloured Bark: the Trunk of it, in rich fhady

- Land, grows to fo great a Bulk, that the Heart alone is of a con-
fiderable Bignefs.

Its Branches, which are clothed with oblong, pointed Leaves, placed in
Pairs, each Leaf about three Inches long, and one broad, grow generally very
upright, till near their Extremities, where they are fubdivided into many
lefler ; and then bend wavingly downwards, clothed with many pendulous
Groups of papilionaceous F lowers, of a fine violet Colour.

Thefe

189

1g0

The Natural Fiifiory of the Book VII].

Thefe are fucceeded by broad flattith Pods; each inclofing two of
three Seeds, fomewhat refembling, but flatter than, a Kidney-Bean,

Each Seed hath its partitional Cell, in which, when the Seed is ripe,
is always found a {mall Quantity of a glutinous Subftance, of the Conf.
ence of a very foft Gum.

The Wuite SPANISH ASH.

cade differs: chiefly from the Spanifh Ath, already defcribed, by the
Colour of its Flowers; thofe of the former being of a beautiful Pur
ple mixt with White, of the latter intirely white, and fucceeded by a
flattith {mall Pod, containing three flattifh Seeds or Beans.

The StLK-COTTON-TREE3 Lat. Ceiba.

Cie Roots of this Tree are very numerous , jutting out above-ground
like fo many Buttrefles, fupporting the Trunk ; which, when full.
grown, is often fixty Feet high before it branches, and, near the Ground,

- from three to four Yards in Circumference.

The whole main Body of the Tree is almoft intirely covered with
fhort ftubbed Prickles.

At the above-mentioned Height it divides into feveral Branches, cloathed
with long narrow Leaves fet orbicularly on their Extremities,

They are fo neatly joined to one another, that the whole Group, con-
fifting of feven Leaves, haye the Appearance of one digitated Leaf ftand-
ing upon one common Footftalk of about four Inches long,

The Extremities of thefe Branches fuftain likewife femicircular Bunches
of rofaceous Flowers ; each Flower confifting of five middle-fized Petals
of a Cream-colour.

Thefe are placed in a circular Order, inclofing the Pointal, which is
likewife furrounded with five Stamina tipp’d with Apices of a yellow-
reddifh Colour. : ;

The Whole is incircled with the Cafyx, or a green hufky Cup, sc

fembling that of a Pomgranate-Flower, but lefs regularly fegmented about
the Edge.

The Petals have a weak faint Smell.
The Pointal becomes the Rudiment of the Pod, which is of a blunt

conic Form of about four Inches long. ‘The Infide is full of a greyith
filky Down, intermixt with fmall blackith Seeds.

When this Pod is ripe, it opens; and the Down and Seed are carried off
by the Wind to the adjacent Parts.

This Tree feldom bears more than once in three Years,

The

Book VII. JSlandof BARBADOS.

The SMaLy CotTon Tree; Lat. Xylon. |

ROUGE the Cotton-Wool is diftinguifhed into the great, the Ra=
vellin, the Vine and Flying-fith Sort ; yet the Trees, bearing this Va=
riety of Wool, differ very little from one another.

The Leaves of each are fealloped, of thofe bearing the great Sort, very
deeply, not ill refembling a Curran-Tree-Leaf in England. Thofe of the
Flying-fifh Cotton-Tree are likewife deeply fegmented ; having their mid-
dle and tranfverfe Ribs of a reddith Colour.

The Leaves of the Ravellin and the Vine are lef {calloped, and more
blunt-pointed.

‘Moft of thefe Trees, or rather Shrubs, if permitted to grow to their own
natural Height, would rife to about fifteen Feet high ; but, as fuch a luxu-
riant Growth would prevent their bearing the Number of Pods, they
would otherwife do, as well as fhade the Corn and Pulf planted generally
among them, the main Branches are therefore yearly lopp’d off.

The Flowers are compofed of five large yellow Leaves, each ftained at
the Bottom with a purple Spot.

The Piftil is {trong and large, furrounded at, and near, the T op with
a yellow farinaceous Duft, which when ripe falls into the Matrix of the
Piftil.

This is likewife furrounded, when the Petals of the Flowers drop,
with a capfular Pod, fupported by three almoft triangular green Leaves,
deeply jagged at their Ends.

The inclofed Pod, which is rather of a conic than a round Shape, opens,
when ripe, into three or four Partitions, difcovering the Cotton in as many
white Locks, as there are Partitions inthe Pod. In thefe Locks are inter-
{perfed the Seeds, which are blackifh and fmall. :

The Cotton-Wool (of which in the Ea/? Indies they make their fineft
Callico) is too well known to want a farther Defcription: Yet it would
not be amifs here to obferve, that, as the Inhabitants of the warmeft Cli-
mates want cloathing, efpecially in the wet Seafons of the Year, indul-
gent Providence hath fufficiently fupplied the want of Wool, here denied
to Sheep, by caufing a Vegetable to bear the fineft Wool in the World.

However the Certainty of gathering a good Crop of this Kind is very pre-
carious ; fince we may almoft literally fay of this Shrub, that in the Morning
itis green and flourifheth, and almoft in the fame Evening it decays and

withers: For when the Worms begin to prey upon a whole Field of Cotton

Trees, though they are at firft {carce perceptible to the naked Eye; yet
in three Days they will grow to a confiderable Bignefs, and fo devouring in
that fhort time, that they will reduce the moft verdant Field, thickly and
beautifully cloathed with Leaves and Flowers, into almoft as defolate and
naked a Condition as Trees are in the Month of December in England ;
leaving often not a whole Leaf remaining; by this means, efpecially if they

O@e.=: come

I9i

192 The Natural Hiftory of the Book Vij},

come late in the Year, they greatly prejudice, if not intirely deftroy
the enfuing Crop ; and fometimes the very young Trees are by this means
killed. ¥

Thefe Worms are of three Sorts, all of the Caterpiller Kind, and diftin.
guifhed by the Names of the Black-Backs, the Streaked-Back, and the
Fire-Worm. ‘The laft is of a ruffet Colour, and the leaft; but yet the
mott deftructive.

When thefe grow to their deftined Bulk, they fpin and inwrap themfelye,
in a Bag or Web, like Silkworms, in the few remaining Leaves, or any
other Covering;, after a few Days Reft in this their Aurelia-ftate, they
turn into dark-coloured Moths, and fly away.

Thefe Worms are obferved moft generally to make their Appearance after
fultry Weather, efpecially if it thunders and lightens, and as the Weather
is then more than ordinary fultry.

The WuITE-Woop-TREE.

T HIS Tree grows toa confiderable Bulk; its Branches are nume-
rous, and thickly cloathed with Leaves.

Thefe in Make, Bignefs, and Colour, very much refemble thofe of a
Laurel. ;

The Flowers are of the tubular Kind, of a pale White without, and yel-
lowith within. Their Extremities are much expanded and crumpled, and
generally divided into five Seétions.

Thefe are fucceeded by long greenifh Pods, containing a great Number
of long flattifh Seeds.

The Locust-TREE ; Lat, Siliqua edulis.

TH! S grows to be a large Timber-Tree, very full of Branches.

Thefe are thickly cloathed with Leaves of about three Inches long,
of a deep-green Colour, and fmooth-edged; and always fet on in Pairs
upon one common Foottftalk; differing from all other Leaves, by haying
always one Part of the Leaf divided by the middle Rib far larger than the
other. The Extremities of the upper Branches have many papilionaceous
Flowers.

Thefe are fucceeded by a light-fnuff-coloured rough Pod, of about three
Inches long, and near two broad; inclofing a whitith {pongy Pith; which
covers two or three hard blackifh Kernels or Stones.

The pithy Part hath a {weetifh Tafte, and is fometimes eaten; but the
Whole hath a very difagreeable ftinking Smell. a

The Cassta-FisTuLa-TREE.

YHIS Tree grows in the Ea/ and Weft Indies, as well as in Egypt, and
T feveral Parts of Afia. Its Height, when full-grown, is ae lefs
than

Book VIII. Jand off BARBADOS,

than forty Feet. The Bark, efpecially upon the Trunk, is very much ful-
cated and cracked ; it generally branches pretty near the Top, bearing feye-
ral middle-fized fharp-pointed green Leaves.

The Flowers, which are pentapetalous and many, are of a yellow
Colour, hanging in Clufters upon feveral {mall Twigs.

Thefe are fucceeded by blackifh Pods, from ten to twenty Inches long,
and about three-quarters of an Inch Diameter; “ having a Seam running
“ the whole Length on the one fide; and another lef vifible on. the
“ other.” |

The Infide is divided into a great many Cells, feparated from each other
by thin brittle Plates or Partitions covered with a black {weet Pulp.

Between thefe are the Seeds which are {mall, flat, and {mooth. ca

The Pulp, taken by way of a Purge, is too well known to want farther
Explanation.

This Tree grows generally in a dry rich Soil.

The Moasire 3 alias, the Mancrove-BEarp-TRER. ©

ais HIS Tree never grows to be fit for Timber.
Its Branches are very thick, covered with {mall roundith green

Leaves, fet on alternately.

The Flowers are tetrapetalous and white.

Thefe are fucceeded by long falcated twifting Pods, containing eight
_ or nine fhining-black flattifh Seeds ; which are half-theathed in a pulpy,
Snow-white, and fometimes fcarlet, Pith. -Thefe Pods open, when ripe;
the inner as well as the outward Side being then of a fine Maidens-bluth ;
_ which Diverfity of Colours in the Seeds, Leaves, and Pods, makes it then
_ appear very agreeable,
f The white Pith is fometimes eaten; but looked upon to be very unwhol-
- fome. The Seeds are ftrung upon Silk, and made ufe of by the Negro
Women for Bracelets. ,
This Tree is more planted for its thick Shade, to keep off the falt Spry of
_ the Sea from Corn or Cotton, than any other Ufe.

The GaRDEN Mancrove.-.

F1IS is perhaps, above all Vegetables, the moft beautiful Evergreen ;
keeping, without the leaft Decay, or Withering, it’s grateful Verdure
all the Year round. The Roots of this Tree are {trong and many, pene-
_ trating deep into the Earth.

If faffered to grow to its natural Height, it often rifes above forty Feet high,
branching very thick on every Side, and confequently affording a delight-

ful Shade.

The Leaves are many, very thick, and of a deep-green Colour, fharp-
pointed, and fmooth-edged; in Length about two Inches, and the largeft
about an Inch broad,

2 The

Rab

194

The Natural Fiifiory of the Book VUE

“he moft common. Method. of propagating this Tree is by laying the
{mall lower Branches in Bafkets of Mould, or Earth, till they take Root;
but the moft natural Way, as this is of the Fig-tree kind, is to fuffer the
feveral flender fmall Filaments, which iffue from the main Branches, to
take Root in the Earth.

The Rep MANGROVE-IREE.

rp Hs generally grows about the Edges of Ponds, and often feveral
Feet in Water. Its Roots divide into feveral Branches, and join toge-
ther above the Surface of the Water, where each ftraggling Divifion meets,
uniting into, and forming the Body of the Tree; which, from that Place to
the Water, feems to be fupported by numerous Stilts.

What Pliny, fpeaking of the Palm-tree, fays, Gaudet riguis, & toto
anno bibere amat, may be literally faid of this, which very feldom grows,
except in, or very near, the Water.

The firft Appearance of the Flower is a {mall conic hufky Calyx: This
opens into four downy whitifh-brown Petals, furrounding the Piftil.

When the Petals drop, the Piftil becomes the Rudiment of the Fruit.

The Flower-Cup, or Calyx, opens, and expands horizontally into four
Parts.

The Hoty-THorN, or RoyaL-CasHiaw.

"THE Trunk of a grown Tree of this Kind is above eight or nine
- Inches Diameter ; and grows to above twenty Feet high.

The Bark is rough, fomewhat fulcated, and of a dark-brown Colour.
The Branches are numerous, and very prickly, efpecially towards the Top.
From thefe extend very long flat flender gramineous Twigs ; having on
each fide a great Number of very {mall Leaves, fet on alternately.

From the Tops of the woody Branches, upon long green Footttalks,
rife many yellow pentapetalous Flowers, out of whofe Di/cus come feve-
ral fhort Stamina, whofe Apices are ofa dark Brown. The Leaves in gene-
ral are fomewhat wrinkled; and one above the reft is much deflected,
black, and appears ftained with red Spots.

From ftrong Footftalks hang a great many Pods, black when ripe,
including four, five, or fix blackifh oval Seeds, feparated from «ac
other by long Partitions.

It is the Opinion of fome Roman Catholics, that our Saviour’s Crown
of Thorns was made with the Branches of this ‘Tree.

The BEaN-TREE; or the SHRove-Turspay 3 Corallioden-
dron.

¥ HIS Tree is generally larger than moft Apple-Trees; widely fpread-
ing its Branches on every Hand,

r Thefe

f).195-

Plate Ié.

NUH AAR

Book VIII. Zfland of BARBADOS.

It is called Shrove-Tue/day from its never wanting Flowers by that Day.
Thefe are of a flaming Purple, andas they very thickly cover the Tree,
they appear very beautiful, efpecially at that time, when the Tree is intire-
ly void of Leaves.

The Make of thefe Flowers is not lefs remarkable; for they cannot well
be regiftred under any Botanical Clafs.

Their firft Appearance being an intire falcated fmall Pod, when this
unfolds, it difcovers feveral long purple Stamina, all joined to one com-
mon broad Footttalk.

Thefe are fucceeded by an hufky Pod, coe one, two, or more red
{mall Beans, with a black Eye to them.

The Cocoa-TREE.

HIS feldom grows to any great Height; and never thrives, unlefs
much fheltered from the Wind.
Its Roots are many, and the Bark of the Trunk, as well as its Branches,
is of a whitifh Green.
The Leaves are fet on alternately, and are aboue eight Inches long, and,
near three broad, highly ribb’d- on the lower Side.

The Honse-NicKer, or CHICK=STONE-TREE.

4 pee is a fimall groveling Tree, growing chiefly in a loofe, marly,
or fandy Soil.

Its Trunk foon dividesinto many Branches, cloathed with unequal pen-
nated Leaves, confifting of fix or feven Pairs, of an oval Shape.

The falls as well as the large Branches, are likewife thickly covered
with {trong coalket! fharp Prickles. Thefe are fo very numerous, ‘and fo
fharp- pointed, as well as fo varioufly inclined by the twining different Pofi-
tion of the Branches, that it is next toan Impoffibility, without the greateft
Deliberation, to extricate one’s felf when once entangled in them : They are
therefore very properly planted upon the Borders of our Intrenchments; for
they are the beft Defence of this Kind that hath been hitherto known.

The Tops of the Branches end in an upright Spike, furrounded with {mall
yellow Flowers.

From the Flower-cup, or Calyx, rife three fmall green Leaves, aaiek de-
fle& very much back.

Thefe inclofe five yellow fpoon-like Petals, which furround feveral fhort
Stamina, tipp’d with Apices.

The Flower is fucceeded by a brownifh echinated Pod, of about two
‘Inches long, and one broad.

This inclofes feveral roundifh Seeds or Nuts, of the oe: Colour, and
Shape of Marbles, which Children play with.
This is defcribed in Plate XVIII.

Ddd SPANISH

195

196

The Natural Hiftory of the . Book VIIp

SpaNisH Oak.

rT HIS grows to be a large Tree, covered with a {mooth greyith Bark,
From the upper Branches rife many long Pedicles or Footftalks, —
Thefe faftain fometimes one, but oftener two Pair of fharp-pointed
{mooth Leaves, four Inches long, and two and an half broad. |
From different Parts of the Branches rife many purple white papiliona-
ceous Flowers. Thefe are fucceeded by four-inch-long falcated Pods, in-
élofing feveral oblong dark-colour’d Seeds, covered with a fine white
foft. fweet Subftance ; which by a great many People is eaten.

The RED WILLOW.

“ELIS, as well as every other Species of Willows in this Ifland, grow
to be large and very fhady Trees; for which Purpofe they are
generally planted near Dwelling and Out-houfes. | SP shee ae
The main Trunk hath a blackifh fmooth Bark. The upper Branches
are long and flender : Thofe efpecially near the Top are thickly cloathed
with Leaves of above three Inches long, and one broad, fharp-pointed
at both Ends, and of a greenifh Yellow. When at full Growth, the
Weight of fo many Leaves upon the Tops (chiefly) of fuch a great Num-
ber of flender long Branches makes them bow wavingly downward : By this
means each Tree affords an agreeable imbrowned Shade.

| The WHITE WILLow. |
So Bark of this Tree is of a whitifh-grey. The Leaves, which acu

_ four Inches long, and one and an half broad, are of the fame Colour.
Thefe are fet on the Branches alternately. The upper Twigs bear many

white Bloffoms. Thefe are fucceeded by feven-inch-long Pods, containing a
great many greenifh Seeds. _ uta

The Buack WILLow.
ff i HIS Tree grows to a confiderable Height, foon dividing into

-many Branches. ‘The Subdivifion of thefe into leffer ones is always
thickly covered with Leaves. ‘Thefe are about three Inches long, and above
an Inch and an half broad; their under Sides of a Pale-white, and the upper
of a Dark-green, {mooth-edged, and fharp-pointed. There is fomething
very remarkable in the Make of thefe Leaves, when young; for, at their
firft Appearance, they are clofely folded, or doubled together lengthways, 4
from the Stalk to the Point, fo that they appear like Half-leaves divided along _
the middle Ribs: When they grow near their deftined Bignefs, thele
feeming Half-leaves unfold into perfee regular whole Leaves. ‘The: 4
Flowers, which are of two Sorts, both purple and white, ftand upon ftrong |

Pedicles,

Book VIU. land of BARBADOS,

Pedicles, and are compofed of four capfularLeaves. When thefe open,
they difcover feveral Stamina tipp'd with white Apices, farrounding a
fouff-coloured Piftil, which is fucceeded by a round long Pod, red with-
in; containing feveral black Seeds in partitional Cells ; thefe are no bigger
than Grains of black Pepper. The Pods are about three Inches long,
and of a ruffet Colour, This Tree, by its numerous waving Branches,

affords a delightful Shade.

The Down-TREE.

FLIS grows to a confiderable: Height, cloathed with large, roundith,
_ {calloped Leaves.
The Extremities of the Branches fuftain a great many Flowers.

Thefe are fucceeded by feven-inch-long blackifh Pods, which are length-.
| ways neatly gouged into feven regular Chanels.

The Infide confifts of a greyifh fine filky Down, much refembling

that of the Silk-cotton-tree-down.

| The only one that I know of in this Ifland, is at the Eftate of
_ Evans, Efq; in Sz. Fofeph’s Parith.

The FincRico3, or the SaviNn-TREE.

q HIS fhrubby Tree feldom grows above twelve Feet high, being
very buthy, efpecially towards the Top.

Its numerous Branches are thickly guarded with {mall crooked Prickles 3
and cloathed with very {mall Leaves of a furprifing Make, being rather a

) Continuation of many Leaves, than diftin@ ones ; for what in other Trees
) and Plants we call Footftalks, or Pedicles, are in this but fo many narrow
| Leaves, fupporting others fomewhat broader.

They bear almoft an innumerable Quantity of {mall Flowers,

__, Thele are fucceeded by as many brownith very {mall Capfule, each
| inclofing a black fomewhat flattith fhining Seed.

_ _A Decoétion of the pounded Leaves anfwers the End of Englif Sa-
_vine.*
They have likewife this additional Virtue ; that if dried and powder-

_ ¢d, and mixed with Corn, and given to Horfes, it frees their Maw from

) the Bots, as well as all other Worms.

The Papa w-Ockr OE.

, THis Plant grows about a Foot high, having one ftrong Tap-
| toot, befides feveral {mall Side-ones. The Leaves furround the Stalks
_ and are very neatly ferrated, very much refembling thofe of Nettles.

| — The Tops of the main Branches or Stalks fupport each a pentapeta-
} lous yellow Flower ; the Petals {mall, and {poon-like : Thefe are fupport-
j ed by five capfular fharp-painted Leaves, yellow above, and of a ruffet

) Colour underneath. 2 Ges

Ah

198

The Natural Hiftory of the Book VIII,

The Petals furround a great many yellow Stamina.

Fach Flower is fucceeded by a {mall fharp-pointed Pod, inclofing a
great many {mall Seeds. : fees
. The only Ufe that I know of this Plant is, that it is boiled as Salad,
and eaten by moft Negroes.

The LARGEST SENSIBLE PLANT.

As H_1S grows to be about four Feet high. The Branches are thickly
cloathed with a great Number of oval {mall pennated Leaves,
From among thefe rife feveral three-inch-long Stalks, bearing each of
them, on their Extremities, an uncommon ftamineous Flower. The greateft
Part of this is yellow; but on one Side of it appears a Tuft of pale-
white Stamina, tipp’d with brownifh Apices.

When thefe Stamina, as well as the yellow Part of the Flower, drop
off, there appears an horizontal Group of {mall Pods of about an Inch
and a quarter long, when ripe, and of a blackifh-brown Colour, inclofing
feveral {mall flattifh black Seeds.

Craps-EvE-VINE.

GB HIS isa long {candent Vine, cloathed with fmall pennated Leaves
each confifting of eleven Pair, with an odd one at the End.

The Flowers, being papilionaceous, {mall, and white, are fucceeded by
Pods, each inclofing two or three fcarlet Peas.

Every one of thefe, at its Extremity, has a very black Spot, which
makes it much refemble the Eye of a Crab. From thence it derives
its Name.

The Least WILD PEA-VINE.

seu IS is a flender reddifh hairy Vine; cloathed at uncertain Di-

{tances with {mall green Leaves, generally three in Number, upon

one common Footftalk. *
From the Bofom of the Leaves rife many yellow papilionaceous

Flowers, each fucceeded by half-inch-long Pods, containing two fm
Peas.

The Witp PoTraTo-VINE.

i ia HIS isa weak flender Vine, creeping upon the next Supporter
it meets with ; but moft commonly it twines itfelf about Guiney-
Corn-ftalks, and bloffoms about Chriffmas. Thefe are of the papiliona-

ceous Kind, and of a beautiful Mixture of the moft fnowy-white am
deep-fearlet Colours.

Tbe

Book VII. Jlandof BARBADOS.

The RopE-MANGROVE.

ae is a groveling Tree, feldom rifing above eighteen Feet high :

The Bark is of a light-ruffet Colour; the Leaves are high-ribbed ;
their Length about feven, and their Breadth near fix Inches, {upported.
each by a fix-inch-long Footftalk. The Extremities of the Branches are
beautifully decorated with large yellow Flowers, very much refembling
thofe of the Cotton-Flower, except that they want the purple Spot at the
Bottom. ‘The Petals of this Flower, which are five in Number, are fup-
ported by a double Row of green capfulat Leaves neatly jagged. The
Piftil is ftrong, and divides into four knobbed Divifions: From the Side
of it rife many yellow Stamina, tipped with the fame colour’d farinaceous
Apices. The Flower is fucceeded by a roundith tharp-pointed Pod, divided
into five Partitions, inclofing each a black kidney-like Seed.. The moft
common Method: of cultivating thefe Trees is by cutting the younger
Branches into many Pieces, and fticking them in the Ground in wet
Weather. It is called the Rope-Mangrove, from the Ufe that is made of
the Bark of it to make Ropes or Halters for Cattle. Thefe Trees grow
moft commonly in low moift Land, near the Water : They flower about
Fune or Fuly. ry mee ‘

‘

The JuNcTION-VINE.

alent isa long trailing Vine, bearing a fharp-pointed heart-like Leaf,
The Flower is monopetalous, very much reprefenting, in its whole
Shape, the Placenta Uteri. The Labia of the Flower are freckled with
purple and white Spots. The Root of the Vine is exceeding bitter, and very
ufeful to make bitter Diet-Drink. The Flowers are fucceeded by a conic
blackifh Pod, which is very much fulcated on the Outfide, and the Infide
- divided into partitional Cells, inclofing feveral {mall black Seeds,

The Picpon-Pea-T'Ree ; Lat. Cytifus.

TH S grows to about nine Feet high: Its Roots are few, penetrating
not deep into the Earth. Its main Stalk, or Stem, at about three
Years Growth, is commonly near as big as a Man’s Wrift.

I know of no Part of this Shrub but what is of fome Ufe, The
Wood is good for Fuel; and by the often falling of its numerous Leaves,
the Land it grows upon is very much enriched ; and its Fruit is of great
Service, by affording hearty nourifhing Food to Man and Beaft, The
main Stalk is generally divided into feveral bufhy Branches: Thefe are
cloathed with long fharp-pointed fmooth Leaves, green above, and
covered with an hoary Mealinefs underneath: It bears, upon two-inch-
long Spikes, very many yellow papilionaceous Flowers, ray’d with purple
Veins, Thefe are fucceeded by Pods of a ruffet Colour, when ripe ; con-

Eee taining

199

20.0

The Natural Hiflory of the Book VIII,

taining three, four, or five, fomewhat flat roundifh Peas, feparated from
one another by a flender Partition. Thefe Peas, green or dry, are boiled
and eaten, and efteemed very wholfome, efpecially if ufed in the wet
time of the Year ; for, being of a binding Quality, they prevent Diarrhceas
and Dyfenteries, fo common in wet Seafons. I attribute their Reftringeney
to a very {mall Quantity of a gummy refinous Subftance, which js
generally found, more or lefs, in each Pod.

~ Thefe Trees are produced from the dry Peas, planted about an Inch
deep. They grow to a confiderable Bignefs even the firft Year, each
bearing fome Hundreds of Pods ; the fecond and third ftill more nume-
rous; the fourth and fifth they bear but very {paringly ; in two Years
more the Tree gradually decays and dies. They thrive beft in a dry Soil,
and foon perifh in a wet one.

Thus “ is much Moifture hurtful to fome, whilft kindly to others; .
“thus fome Plants require a ftrong and rich, others a poor and fandy
“ Soil; fome do beft in the Shade, others in the Sun.”

_ This is delineated in Plate XTX.

Nemnem, or TootH-AcH-TREE.

es Tree was firft brought hither by a Portuguefe, about fifteen
Years ago; it takes its Name of the Tooth-ach-Tree from its
rather fuppofed, than real Quality of curing the Tooth-ach. It differs
very little, if any thing, except in its greater Bulk, the Length of its Prickles,’
and the more falcated Form of its Pod, from the common Aka/ee,
already defcribed.

The AKASEE or SWEET-BRIER.

HIS Shrub is of the thorny Kind, growing to about ten Feet high:

Its Roots are ftrong and many, and penetrate very deep: into the
Earth. The main Stem, as well as the whole Shrub, is cloathed with
reddifh-grey Bark; the Branches are fomewhat, geniculated backward and

_ forward, alternately. From each of thefe grow feveral Side-twigs; om

thefe are feveral Pair of very {mall oval pennated Leaves. The Flowers,
which are of a globofe Form, yellow, and of the ftamineous Kind, rife
from the Bofom of the Leaves on Stalks, or Pedicles, of about an Inch
long, guarded at the Bottorn with two fharp Prickles : Thefe Flowers are
fucceeded. by Pods of about four Inches long, black when ripe, contain-
ing eight or nine oval Seeds, feparated from each other by fungous Parti
tions. The Roots, when bruifed, yield an offenfive Smell ; and, if boiled
toa Decoétion, and drunk, prove mortally poifonous to Man, or Beaft.
The Pod, when half-ripe, affords fo glutinous a Jelly, that. it is made
ule of, inftead of Cement, to join together broken China Ware. If the
main Stem is wounded, there oufes out, in few Days, a tranfparent Gun
like Gum-Arabic. The Defcription which Mr. Lemery gives of the

2 Shrub ~

Book VHI. Slandof BARBADOS.

Shrub which produces Gum-Arabic, anfwers very near to this. This is
delineated in Plate XI. Fig. 2.

The FLOWER-FENCcE, or SPANISH Carnation; Lat. Pon«
clana.
TT HIS Shrub is diftinguifhed into two Sorts, the one bearing a yellow

Flower, the other a red and yellow mixt ; the former is very feldom
to be met with. The Shrub bearing both is of the fame Species, and

grows to be about fix Feet high, fending out near the Top feveral flender

Branches on every Side. Thefe are thickly cloathed with many Penne
of {mall oblong winged Leaves ; the main Stalk is covered with a whitith
grey Bark, the upper Branches ending in green long Spikes. Thefé
are {pirally furrounded, upon long green Footftalks, with very beautiful
Flowers, each compofed of five Petals, which are generally red near the
Bottom of the Leaves ; and their Edges, which are finely waved, or finu-
ated, are deeply bordered and tinged with Yellow ; and, where the
Yellow predominates, it is generally rayed with fine Streaks of Red.
Thefe Petals are fupported by five under-capfular, reddith, fpoon-like
Leaves. From the Centre of the Flower rife nine two-inch-long Stami-
na, of a flaming Purple, tipp’d with reddifh-brown Apices, farrounding
_ a reddifh Style, which is the Rudiment of the Pod. This, when ripe,
_. is about five Inches long, flattifh and of a purple Black, divided into
feveral partitional Cells ; each Cell including a flat blackifh Seed, not
ill-refembling the Kernel of an Apple. Lye-water, made from the Athes
of the Roots of this Shrub, is looked upon to be good to bring down
the Catamenia; and one of the F lowers, bruifed and fteeped in Breaft-milk,
isa gentle Anodyne ; for which Purpofe it is often given to quiet very
young Children. Thefe flourifh all the Year round.

The Doc-WitLow-Rats-Bane, or Raw-Heap and
Bioopy-BonEs.

FLIES is a fcandent Shrub, cloathed with green f{mooth-edged

round-pointed Leaves of about two Inches long, and an Inch
broad. Thefe are fet on the Branches alternately. From the Extremi-
ty of the latter grow feveral roundifh Pods, compofed of four fpoon-like
Leaves, fupported near the Stalk with four {maller capfular Leaves. When
thefe Pods open, they difcover a Taffel of long white Stamina, tipp’d
with pices ; from. the Middle of thefe rifes the Piftil, which is near
three Inches Jong, bearing upon its Top the Rudiment of the Fruit,
This Piftil foon grows ligneous, and, at its full Growth, produces a five-
inch-long Pod of a whitifh-yellow Colour, ftreaked with two oppo-
fite {carlet Seams. The Infide is full of Cells, containing feveral {mall
gteen Seeds. This Shrub grows chiefly upon rocky Places. -
" : é

20f

202

The Natural Hiftory of the Book VIIy.

The FRENCH GUAVA.

HIS is a fhrubby Plant, whofe main Stalk hath a ftrong ligneoys
Texture. Its Side-branches are cloathed with feveral Pair of J,, s

oval winged Leaves, the upper Stalks ending in upright Spikes, which -

are covered for three Inches in Length with pendulous yellow Flowers, not
ill-refembling thofe of the Aloe Plant. Thefe are fucceeded by feyera]
blackifh long Pods,whofe feveral partitional Cells inclofe a great many round
blackifh Seeds. A Decoétion of this Plant, or an Ointment made of g
Mixture of its Juice, is looked upon to be of great Ufe to cure and g
up any cutaneous Eruptions. This flourifhes about Chriftmas, and loves
a rich Soil, as well as a fhady Place to grow in.

~The Wiip Frencu Guava, or STINKING-Busu,

ie ss E main Stalk of this Plant rifes above four Feet high, bearing on its
Side-branches feveral Pair of fharp-pointed winged Leaves. The Flow-

ers, which are yellow, and much refembling thofe of the Tamarinds, are

fucceeded by five-inch-long blackifh Pods, containing many {mall blackith
Seeds. ‘This derives its Name from the Likenefs it hath to the French
Guava Shrub, and from its ftinking Smell.

(The ARNOTTA SHRUB.

APHAS, even at its greateft Growth, exceeds not twelve Feet, nor the
Trunk, where largeft, above three Inches in Diameter. It branches
pretty much towards the Top, and is cloathed with middle-fized fharp-
ointed green Leaves, whofe middle and tranfverfe Ribs are fomewhat
reddifh. ‘Thefe are difpofed on the Branches alternately. The Flower is
pentapetalous, and of a bluifh Yellow, compofed of fpoon-like Petals, The
inclofed yellowith Stamina are tipped with purplith Apices. The Style,
which rifes from the Centre, proves the Rudiment of the fucceeding echi-
nated Pod, which is of a conic Shape. Its Infide is divided into {everal
partitional Cells, inclofing a great many fmall Seeds, covered on the Sur-
face with a red Subftance; which the Indians on the Main dye their

Bodies with. As the Method of preparing this Dye is not well known here,

I fhall not attempt to give any Account -of it.

The Lucern.

HIS Kind of Grafs hath been but very lately cultivated in this Ifland,
and even now but by fome curious Perfons, It is of a very quick
Growth in wet Weather ;_ but fo foon dies in dry Seafons, that it is not worth

cultivating here, however valuable it may be where there fall more conftant

Rains.

The

Book VIII Slandof BARBADOS.

The Woov-SorréE1.

ere differs very little, if any thing, from the fame Speciés that
grows in England: And its Virtue in Ptifans or Sallad is equally
the fame.

The JALLop, or the Four-o’CLock-Fiower; Lat. Jallapa.

TH IS fhrubby Plant grows to be about four Feet high, and is divided

into numerous Branches, as well as by the different Colours of its
Flowers diftinguifhed into feveral Sorts. However, the Root of that, which
bears a brown yellowith Flower, comes neareft in phyfical Goodnefs to the
true Jallop. Its Leaves are winged, and the Flowers of the tubular mio-
nopetalous Kind, whofe Ore are divided into five Seftions. "The Srhminag
are tipped with five pices of a {carlet Colour. Thefe Flowers, though
diftinguifhed into the Purple, the Red, and the Yellow already defcribed,
have all their Footftalks covered over with foft Vii or Hair ; and the
Blofloms of each Kind are fucceeded by fmall Capfule, containing in
each a fmall black, hufky Seed, ‘inclofing a white Kernel.

I fhould have added before, that the Leaves are fharp-pointed, and
above two Inches long, and an Inch and an half broad. The Flower ex=
pands early in the Morning, and generally continues open till Eight
oClock ; and then fhuts, and feems almoft wither’d, till about Four in
_ the Afternoon ; at which Time it blows anew, and continues open till
Night.

The CraB-TREE.
HIS tall Shrub hath a dark-colour’d reddith Bark. ‘The Branches

are many and crooked. The Leaves, which are generally in Pairs; -

are likewife unequal and ragged ; the largeft not exceeding two Inches

long, and the {malleft not an Inch. The Branches are guarded with very

{mall f{carce-perceptible Prickles. The Flowers are of the papilionaceous
Kind, and fucceeded by many fmall Pods.

The INDIGO-WEED.

iB the Infancy of Trade in this Ifand, Indigo, which is produced
from this Weed, was one of its ftaple Commodities: But as the Im-
provement of Sugar became more beneficial, or rather, when our Neigh=
bours the French, by their feveral Indulgences in Trade, as well as’ the
cheap Purchafe of their Land, were able to underfell us at foreign.
Markets, this Branch of Trade was fo intirely fwallowed up by them,
that we have had no Indigo manufa@ured here for above forty Years paft:
Therefore it would be needlefs in me either to defcribe the Plant, if I
Ff could

203

204

The Natural Fiiftory of the Book VI,

could meet with any in the Ifland, or to‘trouble my Reader with the
Method of making Indigo from it.

The Jaruor-VINE.
HLA T is here called the Jallop-Vine, grows neat the Houfe of

the Honourable Samuel Roufe, Efg; Its Stalk yields a milky
Juice. It bears an heart-like Leaf, anda Bell-flower.

SORREL.
% UTE have here, ‘pefidés ‘the Wood and, the Garden-Sorrel, another
tall fhrubby Sort, diftinguifhed by their Colour into the White,
and the Red. ‘Thefe grow ftrong, and are feemingly ligneous, though
they are of an annual Growth, produced from the Seed. Their Roots are

"many and fibrous.

The main Stalk grows often to be above three Feet high, red and —
hollow. The Leaves, which are deeply digitated, and. their middle Ribs
‘and Stalks reddifh, are fet on alternately. ‘The Flower confifts of five pale-
white Leaves, gyrally incircling, one another, and each deeply flain’d with
a purple Spot at the Bottom, and inclofing a fhort ftrong Piftil furrounded
with farinaceous Dutt.

The Petals are likewife incircled with five fharp-pointed capfular Leaves,
which, when the Petals drop off, clofe together into a conic-fhap’d Pod. ,
This, when ripe, opens into five Sections, difcovering a ruffet Berry, which
likewife, when ripe, opens into five Seétions, and difcovers a great many

blackifh Seeds.

Thefe Leaves, as well as the Berry, are decorated as well as fupported

by a ftrong Calyx, which on the Outfide is divided into nine tharp-
pointed Sections. he

Tlie red Leaves, and Flower-cup, being thick and very juicy, “are,
when tipe, feethed in boiling Water, which in a few Hours extraéts both
their Colour and Strength. This Decoétion, work’d with Sugar, makes

a very ftrong reddifh heady Wine; and as thefe Plants are of two Kinds, :
the Red and the White, their refpective Wines will be of thefe different 4
Colours, but of the fame Tatfte.

The red capfular Leaves, when young (firft ftew’d,) make excellent
‘Tarts.

The Fruit is generally ripe about Movember and December.

“The Wid Sena, or the WiLd ‘Cassta Fistua 5 Lat.
Colutea.

H1S buthy Shrub grows to about four Feet high ; the main Stalk

pithy and brittle; the Branches thickly cloathed with round deep-
: ; \ green

\) : . Hy) {7
y if ff) 7 .
1; G7

tj fA YW

we
\\

\\\ . . p
\\W ff i =

\aee

*

Book VIII. Mand of BARBADOS.
green winged Leaves, fet upon the Twigs in three or four Pair. The
Flowers are yellow and pentapetalous.

Thefe are followed by five-inch-long brownifh round Pods, fomewhat

falcated when ripe. i

The Infides of thefe are divided, like the large Caffa-Fiftula, into
very many {mall Cells, feparated from one another by thin pulpy Parti-
tions of a fweetifh Tafte, including, in the intermediate Spaces, {mall
blackifh flat Seeds.

This is delineated in Plate XX,

The CHRISTMAS-BusH.

HIS Plant grows to about three Feet ‘high. Its Roots are many,
but weak, always blooming in December ; and from thence it derives
‘the Name of Chriftmas-Bu/b.
__ It continues to bear Bloffoms till the middle of March, and then gra-
dually decays.

The main Stalk and Branches are of a ftrong gramineous Texture, and
‘its Leaves, which are about two Inches long, and near as broad, end in’a
fharp Point. wii tole

Their Edges are {nipped in three or four oppofite Places, their uppér
Sides deeply furrow’d, and by far greener than the under, which, when
young, are whitifh, foft, and downy. On the Top of each Branch (ge-
nerally fpeaking) ftands a Group of very {mall white tubular monopeta-
lous Flowers ; their Tops are but barely to be feen, peeping out of long
{caly Calyces ; and from each Flower rife two very fine white Stamina
with pendulous pices. Thefe numerous thready Stamina, {o clofe to-
gether, give it, at a Diftance, the Appearance of an intire ftamineous
Flower. When thefe drop, their Calyces become pappous, and full of
long fmall blackifh Seeds, each furrounded, like the Feathers in a Shuttle-
cock, with very fine white Down. A Cataplafm of this bruifed Plant is
efteemed not only an excellent Vulnerary, but likewife fo great a De-
tergent, that it will not fuffer the leaft proud Flefh to grow where it
is applied. It grows in every Soil all over the Ifland.

The Gutiy-Root.

[F the Virtue of Afa-Fetida, in nervous and hyfterical Diforders,
confifts chiefly in ‘its efficacious Power of difperfing, by its ftrong
Smell, the animal Spirits to their feveral proper and difting: Parts of
the Body, the Roots of this Plant may perhaps claim an equal Degree of
Virtue ; for its Smell is fo very offenfively ftrong, that a {mall Piece of it
will, ina fhort time, fill the largeft Room with its difagreeable Odour.

2 Pops.

206

The Natural Hiftory of the — Book VIII.

Pops.

“W-4 HIS isa fucculent perennial Plant, having many fibrous Roots. The
main Stalk is hollow, and the Outfide divided into many irregular
Angles. It widely branches towards the Top, and is thickly covered with
thin fharp-pointed Leaves, of about three Inches and an half long, and
about two Inches broad. The Edges of thefe are widely and irregularly fer.
rated; the whole Plant growing to be about two Feet and an half high,

The Flowers, which are monopetalous and yellow, are divided into five
Angles in a Star-fafhion. The Infide of each Angle, near the Difcus, or
Bottom of the Flower, is ftained with a brownifh purple Spot. The whole
Flower furrounds five Stamina, tipped with pale bluith pices. Thefe
likewife furround. a whitifh Piftil. The Flowers are fucceeded by fmall
round bluifh Berries, full of an agreeable Pulp, mixed with many whitith
Seeds. = :

Thefe are looked upon to be good Diuretics: The Berries, till ripe,
are furrounded witha thin green Cap/ula, fomewhat of a conic Shape :
which is of a very flender Texture, and divided principally into five high
convex purple Veins, interfperfed with a great many leffer longitudinal
as well as tranfverfe Ribs or Veins. When the inclofed Fruit is ripe, this

Capfula opens, and withers away.

Foster’s PLANT.

§ this Shrub hath been hitherto namelefs, I have prefumed to call
it after the Perfon’s Name who difcovered to me, not only this, but
feveral others. This fhrubby Plant grows to about four Feet high. Its Roots
are ftrong, penetrating deep into the Earth. The infide Bark of thefe, as
well as the Pith in the main Stalk, is of a yellowifh Colour; the latter
fomewhat inclinable toa red. Its {lender Side-branches are cloathed with
five Pair of pinnated Leaves without, an odd one at the End; thefe are
about an Inch and an halflong, and near an Inch broad. From among
thefe rifea great many papilionaceous Flowers; which are fucceeded by long
flattith Pods, inclofing a great Number of flat Seeds of a ruffet Colour.
The Leaves of this Plant, if bruifed, yield a very offenfive Smell. It
grows chiefly in rich Land, and blooms in June and Fuly.

The Cow-ItcuH VINE.

HIS isa long fcandent Vine, creeping often to above twenty Feet

high, if fupported by neighbouring Trees or Rocks. Its Leaves are

of a middle Size, fharp-pointed, and very thin, covered with foft Vili

or Down, and fet on the Vine in a Triparture-order. The Flowers of this
Vine grow in Bunches.

The

Book VU. Slandof BARBADOS.

_ The Appearance of each, at firft, is an inch-long purple petalous Pod,
which, when it blows, divides into two narrow purple Petals, difcovering
in the Middle, between both, a white long Pointal, hooked even to a
Pricklinefs at its Extremity. This is likewife theath’d with a thin white
Membrane. When this, as the Flower grows, {plits open, it difcovers the
Pointal to be fringed or divided near the Top into feveral Stamina, tipp'd
with pices. ‘The two above-mentioned Petals are, near the Bottom, in-
circled with another purple Petal, not ill refembling the Carina of a papi-
lionaceous Flower. The Whole is fucceeded by a Pod near of the Shape
and Size of a Pod ofa full-grown Englifb Field-Pea. This inclofes fevera]
blackifh {mall Beans. The Outfides of thefe Pods are thickly covered
with very fine fhort Sete, or {tiff Hairs. If thefe, either blown by the

20

Wind, or by any other means, touch the Skin, they will inflame the Part

far worfe than if touched with Nettles,

The ITALIAN SENA.

Wit is called here the Italian Sena, hath many white ftringy
Roots {preading on every Hand. Its main Stalk foon divides into
lefler Branches ; thefe are cloathed with {everal Pair of winged pale-green
Leaves of an oblong Shape. The Branches likewife fuftain, on two-inch-
long Footftalks, feveral five-leaved yellow Flowers; thefe are fucceeded
by falcated broad Pods, divided by feveral Indentings into many Parti-
tions, which inclofe dark-colour’d Seeds,

This, with a great many other curious medicinal Plants, is tobe found
in the Garden of Do&or Fohn Dougla/s, near Speight’s-Town, as well as
in the Garden of Doétor Reynold Alleyne in S¢. James's Parith. ns

The Musx-Busn, or Wiip-Ocxnro.

THIS bufhy Plant bears many {mall Branches, cloath’d with very

hairy Leaves, divided into three deep Seétions, forming as many
partitional fharp-pointed Angles, The Ribs on the upper Side are fome-
what reddifh, on the under green. The Edges of thefe partitional SeGtions
are irregularly indented :_ The upper Branches fuftain a beautiful yellow
Flower, compofed of five round-pointed large Petals, each Petal above
two Inches long, and ftained at the Bottom with a purple Spot. Thefe
furround a large Piftil cover’d with yellow farinaceous Duft. The Top
of this is almoft furrounded, on fhort Footftalks, with blackith-purple
Apices. ‘The Flower is fucceeded by a multangular flefhy Pod, every
way refembling that of an Ockro. They are fometimes eaten, efpecially
when very young; otherwife they tafte mulky.

Gege = eT he

lord

/

208

The Natural Hiflory of the Book Vil.

_* The HorsE-VINE.

THis Vine is fmall and creeping; taken notice. of chiefly becaufe i¢
is looked upon to be good Feeding for Horfes: Its green .. round-
pointed Leaves are fet on an inch Footftalk in a Triparture-order, The
Flowers are fucceeded by {mall Pods, inclofing a great many Seeds, or
Peas, feparated from each other by partitional Cells. It grows chiefly in
fhady Places.

The Witp-Basit; Lat. Acinus.

HIS hath very fmall fibrous Roots: Its Stalk and Branches are fquare

and deeply chanell’d. The Leaf is about an Inch and an half long,
fharp-pointed, and fomewhat indented about the Edges. It bears {mall
Gftular blue ftar-like Flowers, ftanding in Groups upon conic Tufts, whofe
Apertures are guarded with {hort hairy Spikes. In thefe are included the
Seeds, which are very fmall, and of a blackifh Colour. This Plant is
juftly look’d upon to be an excellent Vulnerary.

The Hoiy-Hocx ; Lat. Malva Arborea.

oP ELIS Plant much refembles the Guadelia Orientalis, Acanthi aculeati
Folio, Capite glabro, growing in the Levant, and defcribed by
Tournefort. Its Leaves are very deeply. laciniated, as all of the Thiftle-
kind-are. The middle as well as the leffer Ribs are ftain’d with blue
milky Veins. The Stalks, near or at the Top, bear many yellow ftamineous
Flowers. Thefe are fucceeded by echinated brownifh Pods, inclofing a
great Number of brownith {mall Seeds: A Thimble-full of thefe, taken
inwardly, proves an excellent Purge; and the yellow Juice, that, when
broken, plentifully diftils from the Stalk, is a fovereign Remedy to cure
old Ulcers. .

The CoNEY-FLOWER-VINE.

abe Vine creeps upon and fupportsitfelf by its numerous Clafpers,
twining round the Branches of neighbouring Trees. It bears 4
great many fmall heart-like Leaves; and at different Diftances is deco-
rated with large papilionaceous Flowers, the Extremities of whofe Ala are
white, terminating near the Carina in a moft deep beautiful Purple.

The Carina itfelf is white, and its Orifice cover’d with two {mall mem-
branaccous Petals, having their Rife from the Footftalk-Part of the Carina ;
and, meeting on each fide at the Orifice, they clofely join together to
cover it. Thefe Leaves have their Parts, which thus join together, beau-
tifully ftain’d with Purple. The Piftil takes its Rife at the Bottom of
the Carina ; and, as it grows ftronger and larger, its Point becomes
divided into feveral Stamina, tipp'd with Apices, which, when ripe, fal

ee 1°)

Brock VIL. Haniel BARBADOS.

into the Ovary ; and then the Piftil, which becomes the Rudiment of
the future Pod, pufhes open the Orifice of the Carina, as well as burfts
through the two membranaceous Leaves, that covered it. Soon after the
_ Expanfion of thefe the Flower withers, and drops off; and is fucceeded by

a four-inch long Pod, chanelled in the middle on each Side with a deep
Furrow. The Pod contains feveral {mall Peas or Seeds.

The SENSITIVE PLANT 3 Lat. Mimofa.

H1S is diftinguifhed into the large and fmall Sort, the main Stalks
fomewhat hairy ; each bearing proportionable {mall longifh oval-winged
Leaves. The Flowers, which ftand upon three-inch-long Footftalks, are
flamineous. Thefe are fucceeded by {mall brownifh Pods of an oblong
Shape, and of about an Inch long. The Edges of thefe Pods are thin,
and through their Middle, on each Side, rifes a Ridge, which, on the Infide,
contains a great Number of blackith fmall Seeds, The winged Leaves
upon this Plant fhrink very much upon the leaft Touch. The Pedicles,
which fupport the Flowers, and the fucceeding Pod, are, near their Setting off
from the main Stalks, embraced with two heart-like fharp-pointed
Leaves, of near half an Inch long. Thefe intirely differ from all the
reft.

The RaBBET-WEED.

TH 1S is of the Thiftle-kind. Its main Stalk grows to be three
Feet high, and hollow like a Pawpaw-Shank. It is thinly covered
with fmall narrow Leaves, which are prickly about their Edges. The
upper Branches fuftain a great many Flowers compofed of a Border of
pale-white fmall Petals, furrounding a yellowifh long Thrum, which,
when ripe, proves pappous, and flies away into whitifh Down. This Plant
derives its Name from the Ufe that is made of it to feed Rabbets with.

The INDIAN Root.

E Seed of this, fome few Years ago, was fent hither from Fa-
moica, as avery valuable Plant. If the chimerical Gentleman, who
fent it, had but had Goolnefs of Thought enough firft, fully to difcover
its pretended Virtues, before he had recommended it, the Planters of this
[land would have been much happier without it; for, as its Seeds are
of the pappous Kind, they were foon carried over all the Ifland; and it
too unluckily flourifhes in every Soil, though ufeful to neither Man nor
Beaft. Its Roots are white, fibrous, and many. The main Stalk rifes about
eighteen Inches high.

The

2.09

210

The Natural Hiftory of the Book VIII, |

The Ocxra; Ockro.

"THIS excellent thrubby Plant is plainly a Species of Mallows. The _
Stalk is like that of a Mallow, and rifes to about four or fiye Feet
high, bearing, on and near the Summit, many large yellow Flowers fie
ceeded by green conic flefhy Pods chanelled into feveral Grooves,
Each Pod, when ripe, is from an Inch to two Inches and an half Io ._
full of as many longitudinal Cells, as there are Chanels of {mall round black 7
Seeds. The long Ockro differs from that already defcribed, chiefly by hay-
ing its Stalk twice as high as the other, and its Fruit often four Inches Io a
and the Pod fmaller. This likewife, with Care, may be brought to bear |
all the Year round. The Fruit is taken, when young and tender, and boiled |
and eaten with Butter. |
They are of a very mucilaginous Nature ; a great Reftorative, very whol- |
fome, and extremely lubricative. Thefe are undoubtedly the Plants which
the Romans fo much valued, and which Horace fo well defcribes by calling ©
them /eves malve.

GoYERs.

"THis fhrubby Plant hath feveral whitith Roots, {melling not unlike a 4

Radifh. The main Stalk, which is of a purplith Colour, branches
very much near the Ground: From the feveral Side-branches iflue a great
many Footftalks, whofe refpe@ive Tops from one common Centre fuftain J
feven fharp-pointed Leaves, being almoft equally fharp near their common
Footftalk, where they all join; at which Jun@ure there is a yellowith Spot, :
The Flower very much refembles that of a Garlick-Pear-tree, conititing of
four {mall Spoon-like Petals.

From the Centre of thefe rifes a dark-coloured Piftil, from whofe Sides,
fomewhat higher, iffue fix purplith Stamina, tipped with brownith Apices ;
the Piftil in the Middle ftill continuing larger than the Stamina, bearing
upon it the Rudiment of the future Pod, which, when ripe, is of a flattith
Shape, of about fix Inches long, inclofing a great many {mall Seeds. The |
Juice of this Plant, mixed with {weet Oil, is looked upon to bea fovereign.
Remedy againft the Pain in the Ear, if poured into it warm.

The Many-Roors.

HIS Plant derives its Name from the great Number of its Roots. The
feveral Stalks, which gtow up from thefe, are about feventeen Inches
high, and hairy. Their Leaves, which are crumpled, and have very turgid

Veins, are about four Inches long, and three broad. From the Bofom of —

the Leaves rife many Pedicles fuftaining large dark-blue Flowers, Thefe
are fucceeded by very fmall brownith Pods.

A De-

Book VII. Zand of BARBADOS.

A Decoétion of this Plant, drank warm, is looked upon to be very good
to heal fore Throats. It grows to equal Perfection expofed to the Wind, or
in the Shade ; and generally. blooms in Fume and Fuly.

NIGHTSHADE; Lat. Solanum.

"THE Roots of this Plant are many, ftringy, and white.’ The main

Stalk, as well as the leffer fide-ones, -are of a deep-purple Colour, and
herbaceous Texture, rifing often to near two Feet. The Leaves, which
are about five Inches long, and about four broad, are irregularly ferrated
into {hallow as well as deep Sections; the Extremity of each being fharp-
pointed. The Flowers are of the tubular Kind, having their Borders or
Extremities much expanded, and divided into five equal Parts, ending in
corniculated Points. This Border or Extremity of the Flower is of a pale
White. Its long tubular Shank is finely rayed, the Infide with purple-bluith
Veins. From its Centre rife five two-inch-long Stamina, tipped with grey-
bearded pices. The Piftil, being of equal Length, is tipped with the
Rudiment of the Fruit, which, when ripe, is an echinated Pod of about
an Inch long, inclofing a great many fmall blackifh Seeds. The whole
Flower feems withered, and clofed up, in the Day-time ; at leaft, till about
half an Hour paft Five in the Evening: Then it opens, and fully expands
itfelf into a fine beautiful Flower.

This is no fooner in Bloom than the Fly-bats come from their lurking
Holes, and, flying from Flower to Flower, dart into thefe, feverally, their
long twirling Tongue or Probofcis, with which they fuck out either the
Honey-dew, or fome other Moifture from the Bottom of the Flower.

. The Leaves are generally looked upon to be of great Efficacy to cure
the Head-ach, by tying them to the Temples of the Perfon afflicted.

RatTa-PEPER, or Rata Ocxro 3 alias Hoho.

HIS Plant hath a great many white ftringy Roots. The main Stalk
is green, herbaceous, and chairy, rifing to about fourteen Inches.
‘This and its Side-branches are cloathed with green Leaves. Thefe are
two Inches long, and near as broad ; having feveral high Veins on their
under Sides, and their Edges irregularly ferrated. Among thefe rife feveral
Footftalks or Pedicles, fuftaining a great many yellow Flowers fucceeded by
‘long flender Pods.
This Plant is much made ufe of by our Slaves in their Soups
and Broths; who efteem it, and not unjuftly, a very wholfome boiled
Sallad.

Hhh Many-

21

The Natural Hiftory of the Book VIII,

Many-SEED.

F HAVE given this Plant a Name from its many Seeds; which, from
i reckoning the Number in one {mall capfular Pod, and multiplying
that one by the Number of remaining {mall round capfular Pods, the —
whole Plant, which fprung from one Seed, contained twelve thoufand
eight hundred and eighty Seeds. It feldom grows above three Feet high,

_ and is forked.

Coot-WEED.

np RIS whilft young, very much refembles Afragalus Orientalis, |
: mentioned by Tournefort as growing in the Levant ; with this only
Difference, that the Flowers of the Eaftern Plant are white, and of this —
yellow. Itaffords, when broken, a rank fetid Smell; which fhews that
the Oil and Salts are in a volatile State.

: RaTTLE-BusH, or SHAKE-SHAKE. ;
* T ‘HIS Plant hath a great many white matted ftringy Roots; the

main Stalk dividing, almoft as foon as it comes out of the Ground, %

into many green fucculent Branches; thefe different Stalks, at different —

Diftances, bearing, on Pedicles of about two Inches long, three blunt- %
‘pointed inch-long green Leaves. ‘Thefe are fet on at the End of every =

Stalk in a Triparture-order. The Flower, which is of the papilionaceous |
Kind, is fucceeded by a {mall Pod. The inclofed Peas, when ripe, make |
a rattling Noife when fhaken by the Wind: From hence they derive the —
Name of Rattle-Bujh, or Shake-Shake. They grow chiefly, or at leaft —
beft, under the Shelter of an Hill.

The Rep DIALTHAA.

‘HIS is a low fhrubby Plant; its Bark of a reddifh Grey. The %
és Branches are thickly cover’d with fharp-pointed Leaves. Thefeare %

about two Inches and an half long, and near two broad. Their Edges
are finely ferrated: The Flowers, which are of the herbaceous Kind, 4

almoft furround the Stalk in feveral Bunches. Thefe, when ripe, are — h
fucceeded by feveral very {mall Hufks or Capfule, inclofing feveral brownifh —

‘triangular Seeds. They grow chiefly in fhady Places.

WILD-ParsLeEY.

r j ‘ELIS derives its Name from the great Refemblance its Leaf hath to

that of Parfley. The Flowers are fucceeded by a {mall triangular

Capfula, each Angle containing, in its Partition, one round fmooth Seed, >
oO

Book VII. Jlland of BARBADOS.

of about the Bignefs of large black Pepper. This, when ripe, is neatly
marbled with black and white Spots.

The only Ufe that I know is made of this Plant, is, that the good
Houfewives make the Nefts of their fetting Hens of the Leaves and
Branches of this, in order to deftroy the Lice upon the Hens. The
Seeds likewife are made ufe of, being ftrung upon Silk, inftead of more
yaluable Beads, for Bracelets.

It flourifhes about Fune, Fuly, and Auguf.

PEPPER,

AA §& the Species of thefe are many, I fhall firft give a Lift of their
Names; and then proceed to a particular Defcription of fuch as
are any-ways remarkable: Bonnet-pepper, ribb’d. Bonnet-pepper, plain.
Negro-pepper. Bird-pepper. Cherry-pepper. Long-pepper. White-
pepper. Olive-pepper. Spur-pepper. Rofe-pepper. Ifaac-Cape-pepper.
Bell-pepper, and Turbilo-Pepper. The Pepper moft commonly ufed,
and moft approved of, is what is called Negro-pepper. The Shrub that
bears this feldom rifes to above three Feet. It is very thickly cloathed
with {mall green fharp-pointed Leaves, of about an Inch and an half
long, and about one broad, Its Flowers, which are white, and five-
leav’d, are likewife very numerous. It is obferved, that, even before they
blow, each of thefe hath a {mall wriggling Worm in its Difcus or Socket.
The fucceeding Fruit is ofa. fmall oblong fharp-pointed Pepper, red when
tipe, of near one third of an Inch long, This hath a very hot poi-
gnant Tafte, attended with an agreeable Flavour.

SwEET-HEART.

HE Roots of this {mall Plant are many, penetrating deep into the

Earth. The main Stalks are jointed, and are no thicker than
Packthread, Thefe rife feparately from the Root, four or five in Num-
ber, growing to about fifteen Inches high. From each Joint of thefe
main Stems, rifes a flender Footftalk of an Inch long, fupporting three
{mall Leaves, fet on in a triangular manner ; the Top of each Stalk end-
ing in a gramineous Spike, furrounded with many purple papilionaceous
Flowers. Thefe are fucceeded by {mall Pods of about two Thirds of an
Inch long, including five {mall Peas, or flattifh Seeds. Thefe are feparated
from each other by Partitions ; and the Outfide of the Pod is divided

219

or fegmented into fo many femicircular Seétions as there are Peas.

The Pod is intirely incrufted with {mall Se¢e, or hooked Briftles, imper-
ceptible to the naked Eye ; by which means they tenacioufly ftick to the
Cloaths of thofe who walk among them.

A Decoétion of the Roots, boiled in Milk with the Bark of a Guava
Tree, is look’d upon to be good to cure Fluxes.

The

ai

Thé Natural Fiifiory of the Book VIII.

The SpanisH-NEEDLE.

HIS under fhrubby Plant grows in moft Parts of the Ifland. It has
: | many {mall fibrous Roots. On every Footftalk ftand three fharp-
pointed ferrated Leaves, fet on in a triangular manner, the oppofite to the
Stalk being the longeft. i
The Flowers are compofed. of a fiftular yellow Thrum, partly furround-
ed with three white Petals. Thefe are divided at the Top into two deep
narrow Sections, which gives each Leaf the Appearance of three. The Seed-
veflels are very fmall long blackifh Spikes, furrounding the Top in a
Whorl-fafhion, having their Ends very much bearded and jagged, inclofing
very {mall longifh black Seeds.
. This Plant is looked upon to be a good Vulnerary.

IRON-VINE.

Pi polls is a {mall creeping Vine, deriving its Name from the ferrugi-
neous Colour of its Stalk and Leaves, The Roots penetrate deep into
the Earth: The flender Side-branches bear upon half-inch Footftalks three
tharp-pointed Leaves; the oppofite to the Centre being the longeft. ‘This
is about an Inch and an half long, and an Inch broad; the two other
Leaves fomewhat lefs. The Flower is very fmall, of a bluith Colour, and of
the papilionaceous Kind. _
The whole Plant, when bruifed, yields a reddifh rough Juice; which, |
if boiled into a Decoétion, and drunk, is looked upon to be of great Service in
Diarrhoeas and Dyfenteries. This Plant flourithes in moft Places, efpecially
in the Summer Months, when thefe are moft common.

Down-VINeE.

HISis a creeping Vine, bearing a great many heart-like Leaves

as well as feveral Flowers, which are fucceeded by {mall Pods, filled

with Down intermixed with fmall Seeds; the former ferving as Wings. to

convey the latter over the adjacent Places. ‘This Vine grows chiefly in Gul-
lies, and fuch fhady Places,

. The Witp Dotty,

ah. Plant rifes about twenty Inches. Its Roots are fmall and fibrous.
- ft ‘The Leaves'are fet three upon a Footftalk in Triparture-difpofition.
Thefe are of a very deep-green Colour, and moderately ' fharp-pointed.
From the Bofom of:the Leaves rife many fix-inch-long Spikes or Foot-
ftalks ; Thefe are refpectively decorated at the Top with a beautiful purple
papilionaceous Flower, and fucceeded by a three-inch-long narrow Pod,
inclofing in feveral partitional Cells {mall -blackith: Seeds; or rather Peas.

The

Book VIII. J/landof BARBADOS.

The Wiip-TAMARINDS.

a very {mall woody perennial Plant refembles in Miniature, efpe-
cially in its Leaves, Flowers, and Fruit, the large Tamarind-Tree

already defcribed:

The Horsz-Eye-Bean VINE.

TP HIS, if fupported by any tall Tree or Rock, will grow to above
fifty Feet high. Its Leaves are large, and fet on five-inch Stalks, three
in Number, in a triangular Manner. Its Bloffoms are of the papiliona-
ceous Kind; which are fucceeded by a large downy Pod, inclofing from one
to three Beans, called Hor/e-Eyes.
This Name is given to them from their Likenefs to the Eye of an Horfe
in Shape and Colour.

The HorsE-BEAN:

HIS is a long trailing Vine, with large beautiful green Leaves.

Its Flowers, which are of the papilionaceous Kind, are fucceeded
by Pods often ten Inches or a Foot in Length, which inclofe from nine to
one-and-twenty large Beans,

The BEAN-VINE.

pie many different Sorts of eatable Beans, planted in this Ifland, are

generally diftinguifhed by the Names of Arbour-Beans, {peckled
Beans, Carolina Beans, the Sugar Bean, and the {mall Six-weeks Beans.

_ The Arbour-Bean, which is by far the largeft, takes its Name from its

_ being often planted near Arbours; on which, if guided, it will creep,

and afford an agreeable Shade. ‘This Vine bears a Pod near fix Inches
long.

The WiLp-PEa.

HIS is a fimall weak creeping Vine, which by its numerous Ten-
drils climbs up the neighbouring Trees, Shrubs, or Rocks. It is
- thinly cloathed with {mall fharp-pointed Leaves; each Pedicle fuftaining
three, fet on in a Triparture-order. The Flowers are of the papiliona-
_ ceous Kind, and white, except that near the Centre. They are very flightly
ftained with red. Thefe are fucceeded by a three-inch-long Pod, containing
in partitional Cells about fifteen {mall Peas.
This Vine grows chiefly in fhady Places,

jis The

215

216

The Natural Hiflory of the ec. Book VIII.

The EATABLE WILD-PEa.

IIS is a flender Vine, fupported by any neighbouring Buthes, Ie
bears on every Footftalk three Leaves, fet on in a Triparture-order;
as well as, upon two-inch-long Pedicles, yellow papilionaceous Flowers.
Thefe are fucceeded by near three-inch-long Pods, inclofing feveral
green Peas, which are often made ufe of by the poorer Sort.

The CucKOLDS INCREASE.

a H ESE grow upon fhort upright Stalks; and are diftinguifhed into
the large and fmall Sort. ‘The Leaves are fharp-pointed.

The Flowers are likewife of the papilionaceous Kind, and fucceeded
by eight-inch-long roundifh Pods. ‘Thefe, in their feveral partitional
Cells, contain nine, ten, or eleven longifh Peas, which, thoug hfomewhat
windy, are generally liked.

The Buona Vista, commonly called Bonny-vis.
HE Species of thefe are diftinguifhed into the Moon-fhine, the Green,

the White, the Red-and-black, and the SmallSort. The Vines and |

Leaves of thefe are of a greyifh Green, round-pointed and broad, and the
Flowers papilionaceous and white; except the black Sort, which have pur-
ple Blofloms. What are moft commonly planted are the Six-weeks Bonny-
vis. Thefe are fo called from their bearing Pods in about that time: Thefe
Pods are fomewhat flat, of about two Inches long, inclofing three, four, or
five Peas or Beans in partitional Cells. Thefe are univerfally made ufe of,
either green or dry; being looked upon (though fomewhat windy, yet) a
wholfome Grain.

The old Sort generally bears about Chriffmas ; and if the Vine is fuffered
to grow, it will in two Years time, if fupported, prove fo ligneous and
ftrong, that it will be no lefs than an Inch or more in Circumference.

The Six-weeks Kind hath a more tender Vine; and though it bears fooner, |

it will neither thrive, nor laft fo long.

OF

TREES, SHRUBS, and PLANTS,

OF THE

ANOMALOUS KIND.

BOOK VII.

GrappLe-Woop.
To fhrubby Tree hath a reddifh-grey Back. Its numerous

Branches are fpindling and weak. Its Leaves are {mooth and

green, fomewhat above an Inch long, and three-quarters of an
Inch broad, fmooth-edg’d and blunt-pointed. I have never known this
Tree to bear either Flowers or Fruit.

The FivE-SPRIG-TREE. —

4b HIS Tree derives its Name from the general Number of Branches,
which horizontally furround the Stalk at feeming Joints, from one to
three Inches afunder; the main Stem ftill growing ftrait upwards,
furrounded at fuch Diftances with the above-defcrib’d circular Branches,
The Wood, as well as the Leaves, have an agreeable Smell : The latter are
tound-pointed ; and what is moft remarkable in thefe Leaves, is, that when
upon the Tree, they are very green ; but when dry, inftead of turning
to a ruffet Colour, they bleach into an almoft perfect White. is
é

217

218

The Natural Fiftory of the Book VIII.

The Corn-TREE. :
a. Tree call’d by this Name was brought hither about twelve Years

ago from Gwiney, and now grows at the Eftate of Mrs. Warren,
at the Black-Rock Plantation. It is faid, that it bears, in its native Soil,
feveral long cylindrical Ears, not ill refembling a large Mold-candle, —
round which Stalk the Grains are difpofed ; but as this never bore an ;
and as we have no authentic Writers mentioning the Growth of fuch a
Tree in any Part of Africa, I much doubt of the real Exiftence of fuch
an one: However, it may not be amifs to defcribe it. Its prefent Growth
is about fixteen Feet high, branching chiefly towards the Top ; the Bark
is of a greyifh White ; and its leffer Branches at the Top cloath’d with five
green Leaves, furrounding one common Centre; thefe are two Inches and
an half long, and an Inch and an half broad.

The Soutu-SEa-RosE ; Nerium Indicum.

"FRS is a very tall Shrub, whofe Branches are many and flender,

generally bending wavingly downwards ; thefe are cloath’d, efpecially
near their Extremities, with a great many fharp-pointed yellowifh-green
Leaves, near fix Inches long, and half an Inch broad, fet on three in —
Number round the Stalk ; this Difpofition is preferved at irregular Diftances
to the Tops of the Branches, which fuftain, upon longith Footftalks, feveral
five-leav’d red Rofes. From the Centre of thefe firft Border of Leaves
rife three or four leffer red Leaves ftreak’d with White. The Colour of
the Bark is of a darkifh Red: The Roots, boil’d to a Deco&ion, prove a
ftrong Poifon, if drunk by Man or Beaft. It grows chiefly in ‘fhady Places,

SoBER’s-PLANT.

TBs is a {mall ftraggling Shrub, divided in many Branches, cloathed

with many {mall round-pointed Leaves of a Liver-colour. The Foot-
flalks and middle Spine of each Leaf are prickly, and the Leaves, when
bruifed, {mell very ftrong and difagreeable.

The FRENCH RosE-TREE.

ep His fhrubby Tree grows to about twelve Feet high, difcovering in
moft Seafons of the Year, upon the Extremity of the Branches, feveral
beautiful Rofes, each confifting of five large white Leaves, whofe bottom
Partsare {lightly ting’d with Red: By Noon thefe Leaves are of a blufhing
florid Red, retaining fome {mall Appearance of their morning Whitenefs ;
at Night, which is its laft Stage, its Colour is of deep putrid Purple ; then
it withers, and ‘its Leaves thrivel up. The Stylus, which thefe Leaves
inclofe, is divided at the Top into three fornicated Branches, and is fur-
rounded from Top to Bottom with much yellow farinaceous Duft:
I From

Book VIII. Thand of BARBADOS,

from thefe, in time, come a great many fmall blackifh Seeds, which are
lodged in a pappous Down, in thefe crumpled Leaves.

The Plant called Patiencr.

i Me is a low creeping Plant, whofe Leaves, very much. refemble

thofe of the Plant called Bachelor's. Breeches. A Decoé&ion made
from this Plant is looked upon to be of great: Service to alleviate the Pain
in the Stomach. aa

The Turky-WEEp.

pe Plant grows to about two Feet high; it bears, at about two
Inches Diftance from each other, feveral Pair of fharp-pointed
winged Leaves, in Length near three Inches, and half an Inch broad ;
the Tops of the Branches fuftain feveral {mall round capfular Seed-vefiels.
This Plant derives its Name from the Ufe that is made of it to feed
Turkeys. It grows almoft in any Soil,

Goats-RUE.

HIS is a dark mofs-like Plant, growing on the Infide of old Wells

and Walls, from whofe compaét Bottom rife feveral plufhy Wil or
{mall brown ftiff Hairs, of about an Inch long ; thefe are tipp’d with
flender Apices, affording numerous {mall Seeds:

The WiupD Basit.

T HIS woody, Plant grows to the Height of about three Feet ; its

Bark of a black Ruffet: The Branches are cloathed with Leaves of a
Silver-white beneath, and green above. Thefe are high-ribb’d, and fharp-
pointed. At every Inch Diftance rifes a ftiff Footftalk, furrounded: at
the Top with a burry-ruffet Button, whofe. numerous Vili or Sete are
prickly. From among thefe are feen {mall tubular Flowers. The whole

Plant is of a detergent Quality, and therefore often made ufe of to cure -

old Ulcers.

Rock-Busu.

T# IS Plant hath many ftringy white Roots. The main Stalk is

of a dark Green, growing often to be four Feet high, and jointed
at about every fix Inches Diftance. The Leaves are large and fharp-
pointed, being about five Inches long, and three Inches in Breadth, and of a
dark-green Colour. ‘This Plant grows in great Plenty at Cluf's-Bay, in
St. Lucy’s Parifh.

Kkk : NETTLES.

22,0

The Natural Fisftory of the Book VIII.

NETTLES.

ELES E are of three Sorts, the White, the Red, and the Vine-nettle:

The two former grow into upright Stalks, the latter a creeping
Vine. The Red, whofe Leaves are elegantly ferrated, refemble the Roman
Nettle, with this Difference, that the Pedicles of thefe, as well as the
middle and tranfverfe Ribs of the Leaves, are of a fine purplifh Red.
The Stalks and Leaves of each Sort are thickly cover’d with ftinging hairy
Down. From the Bofoms of fome of the upper Leaves rife {mall Pe-
dicles, fupporting an horizontal Group of very {mall gramineous Flowers,

fucceeded by very many {mall flattifh Seeds.

The Witp LAavENDER.

HIS is a fhrubby perennial Plant, growing in fandy Places near

the Sea; and hath in general (except that it wants its fragrant Smell)

a great Refemblance to the Garden Lavender: It bears upon the Summit

of its Branches many white {mall monopetalous Flowers, whofe Ore are
divided into five Segments.

The ANTEGOA RoseE-TREE.

HIS grows to about fifteen Feet high. Its Branches are cloathed
with many Leaves, of about two Inches long, and fomewhat above
an Inch broad. From among thefe, efpecially at the Extremity of the
Branches, rife a great many pale-white monopetalous Flowers, whofe
Ore are divided into five deep blunt Segments. Thefe Flowers have a
weak faint odoriferous Smell, and blow chiefly in the Months of ‘fume and

The SEA-SIDE SAMPHIRE.

eas is a very fucculent Plant, and differs from the Engli/h Sam-
phire by the lefs Number of its digitated Se€tions, as well as by its
more luxuriant Growth, being every Way larger ; it grows upon the Rocks
and grafly Banks near the Sea. It is generally diftinguifhed into two Sorts,
the Green and the Red. The Bloffoms of each are compofed of five pale-red
Petals, fupported by an equal Number of green capfular Leaves; the Petals
furround the Stamina, which are of a pale Purple.

Book VIII. Jland of BARBADOS,

The Wiip PENY-ROYAL.

HESE are of three Sorts: The largeft hath a whitith green oblong
Leaf; the fecond of fomewhat a deeper Green,with a lefs and rounder
Leaf; the third hath likewife very fmall Leaves, which, as well as the Stalks,
are of adull Purple. As the Roots, the Leaves, and Flowers of all thefe have
a great Refemblance of Peny-Royal, it is from hence that they derive
their Name, though they want intirely the ftrong Smell of that Plant.

Inp1an Cate, or SEVEN YEARS CABBAGE.

HIS is fo called from the Term of Years that ‘its Stalks will remain in
. the Ground, not only unperifhed, but will yearly produce very {mall

Heads of Cabbage, befides leffer Sprouts; though the former are not near as
- clofe, nor fo large, as our annual Garden-Cabbage.

The Witp Ciove.

gets Plant hath many white fibrous Roots: The main Stalk rifes to
about two Feet high, being cloathed with a great Number of nar=

tow long fharp-pointed Leaves. The Flowets are fmall and white, fucceeded
by the blackifh fharp-pointed Pods, which exaély refemble Cloves, from
whence it derivesits Name. Thefe Plants grow chiefly in wet fwampy Land. -

The Rock BaLsAM.

1 ple IS is diftinguifhed into two Sorts, differing only in Colour, the White
and the Red, each having thick fucculent Leaves and Stalks.. They
grow chiefly upon Rocks,and old Walls; the Leaves are fleek, blunt-pointed,
and roundifh. From the Bofom of the Leaves rife long conic rough dentated
Spikes, very much refembling {mall round fteel Files ; in the feveral Laminz
_ or Foldings of thefe are contained the Seeds. The Juice of this Plant is very
mucilaginous, and looked upon as an excellent Vulnerary.

The Arrow-Roor ; Lat. Maranta.

HIS is a very ufeful Plant, both phyfically and otherwife. Its
Root is long, white, jointed, and mealy: The Juice of this is ex~
ceeding cold, and, being mixed with Water, and drunk, is looked upon
to be a Prefervative againft any Poifon of an hot Nature. Out of this
Root is made likewife the fineft Starch, far excelling any made with Wheat.
The main Stalk rifes about two Feet and an half high, furrounded at unequal
Diftances with fmooth fhining deep-green Leaves of about ten Inches longs
I an

221

222

The Natural Hiftory of the Book VIII,

and five broad ; thefe fomewhat refemble the Leaves of Plantain-fhot,
"The Flowers, which are white and monopetalous, and of the labiated Kind,
ftand upon long Footftalks. _ It is generally dug up for Ufe in the Month
of February. Of this there are two Sorts, the long and the’ fhort-jointed.

The Lonc-Leav’p MIsLETOE.

FTEESE grow in Bunches, containing feven or eight Leaves ; each
Leaf being tharp-pointed, five Inches long, and near half an Inch

broad. They are generally to be found growing in the Clefts of the 7
Bark of Cedar-Trees,

ANTEGOA BALSAM.

—B-TIIS is a low groveling Plant, growing very thick, and clofe to the

f Earth. The Leaves are longifh and fharp-pointed. The Flowers
are white, and very fmall. A Decoétion made of this is looked upon to
be an excellent Healer of all inward Bruifes, as well as a good Vulnerary —
and Styptic in external Wounds.

The SILVER-LEAV’D PLANT, o¢ Piss-a-Bep.

rT TIE Leaves of this Plant fpread near the Earth like the Leaves of ©
oung Lettuce, the upper Side green, and the under of a white hoary —
Mealinefs, and feels plufhy. From the Centre of thefe Leaves rifesa Stalk |

of about two Feet long, whofe Top fupports a white downy Flower, |

fomewhat like a Sun-Flower, which, when ripe, is carried about by the 7
Wind. |
The Bkoabd Ponp Ducx-WeEED ; Lat. Nympheza Indica.

TD HE Leaf of this exactly refembles the white Water-lily, defcrib’d :
lin Gerard’s Herbal, _ Its Form is that of a Colt’s-foot, green above,

and whitifh underneath. The Flower confifts of five Leaves, and every ~

way anfwers the Make of the fame Species in England ; but more efpecially
their Roots, which are of a brownifh-red Colour, and fomewhat hollow
within. ‘Thefe Roots are always fix’d in the Bottom of the Pond.

The BLack-THORN ; Pifonia.

ae is what Sir Hans Sloane callsthe Fingrigo, and under that Name
he hath juftly defcribed it, excepting that the Colour of the Bark is —

always rather of a leaden Dark than a light Brown.
~The Trunk of a full-grown Tree is about fix Inches Diameter: The
Tops, -by the Weight of its numerous Branches, foon inclines downwards;
and if fupported by neighbouring Underwood, or even upon the Ground,
2 they

Book VI. Yland of BARBADOS.

They will grow, trailing along the Surface of the Earth, to often above
twenty Feet in Length. The main Branches are thickly cover’d with two
regular Sets of lefler Side-ones: Thefe, as well as the Prickles they are
guarded with, grow always oppofite one to another, and by their
contrary Pofition cutting, as it were, the larger Branches at right
Angles; by which means, look which way you will, thefe leffer Branches
make the Appearance of a Crofs. Its Leaves are very flender, arifing in
Tufts three, four, or five, in Number ; thefe are generally much torn and
eaten by Vermin. It bears upon fhort Footftalks Groups of very {mall
monopetalous bell-fathion’d Flowers, whofe Stamina are tipp’d with Apices:
Thefe, which are of a dark-yellow Colour, have a faint weak Smell, and
are fucceeded by burry roundifh Katkins, which are fo very clammy, and
full of very fmall fharp-hooked Prickles, that if a Bird alights upon them,
they fo entangle in its Feathers, that it will not be able to fly away.

The SNAKE-W ood.

HO?’ this is but a {lender Tree, feldom above fix Inches Diameter,

even near the Ground; yet it fometimes grows to be above forty
Feet high. It hath no Leaves, nor feldom Branches, till near the Top:
There it is furrounded with Leaves fimilar to thofe of the Popo-Tree. ‘The
Trunk appears very knotty, if not jointed. The Infide is hollow, and the
Whole fo light, that a weak Man may eafily brandifh a Piece as. big as
Goliah’s Beam, or Hercules’s Club. I have never known it to produce either
Seed, Flowers, or Fruit. This is delineated in Plate X. Fig. 2.

The May-PoLe; Lat. Aloe Americana muricata.

Bae very remarkable Tree hath a great tnany ftrong ftringy Roots.
The Trunk, which is very ftrait and tapering, is always green;
its Bark, very neatly divided into feveral clofe alternate Scales, or Lamina,
of a triangular Shape, fharp-pointed at their Extremities. Each of thefe,
as well as the Branches of the Flowers, leffen in Bulk, as they draw near
to the Summit of the Tree, which is often above thirty-five Feet high,
and three Feet in Circumference near the Ground ; yet this furprifing
Magnitude is but the Growth of three Months time. The green woody
Leaves, which furround it at the Bottom, are many in Number, each
being from three to four Feet long, about feven Inches broad, and three
thick, ending always in a black horny Point: One of thefe Leaves often
weighs fix Pounds. The Trunk of the Tree, about twelve Feet from its
Summit, thrufts out a great Number of ftrong green fhort Branches in an
alternate Order : Thefe different Branches, with their refpe@tive Flowers,
have been always thought (and not unjuftly) to refemble the Branches of
the Candleftick in the Temple of Solomon : Each Candleftick or Branch
fuftains an horizontal Group of Flowers near twenty-five Inches in Circum-

L1l ference ;

22

a

2)

bp

vw

The Natural Liftory of the Book VII.

ference; the Whole, which at a Diftance feems to be but one, is eompofed
of feveral Scores of fingle yellow Flowers, each of thefe ftanding upon. a
longifh pod-like Stalk of a yellowifh Green, terminating in fix tharp-pointed
thick yellow Petals, From the Centre of thefe rifes the Piftil, which is ftrong
and blunt-pointed ; the Petals furround fix Stamina of about two. Inches
long; thefe are tipped with large falcated pices, which, when ripe, are
covered with yellow farinaceous Duft. The Socket of the Flower is thick]
befprinkled with a very {weet Honey-dew: ‘This draws to it Abundance
of Humming-birds and Bees.. The Infide of the Trunk is. a fnow-white Pith,
{pongy and porous: When the Blofloms are dropped, their hufky long Pe-
dicles {hoot out into many fharp-pointed Leaves of about two Inches long,
and near as broad: Thefe, growing clofe upon one another, are fomewhat, at
their Extremities, expanded, and form a Sucker not very unlike a Pine-fucker,
When thefe grow ripe, they fall down to the Ground, and take Root.

In a fhort time after it hath produced Flowers, the Body of the Tree,
which fo late was tall and flourifhing, falls proftrate to the Earth, and perifh-

eth; and the very large Leaves, which furrounded it at the Bottom, in like

manner wither and die. Having cut down one of thefe at the End, as I
was informed, of three Months Growth, however furprifing it may appear
to fome, yet it meafured full nine-and-twenty Feet in Height, and ver
near three Feet in Circumference near the Earth ; and, having carefully
weighed it, its Weight amounted to two hundred and ten Pounds; {fo that
its additional Weight each Day was far above two Pounds: Or if we confi-
der its Height, and its Number of Days in growing, we fhall find, that it grew
three Inches and about three Quarters of an Inch in every four-and-twenty
Hours. This very extraordinary Growth far furpaffes any other Computa-
tion hitherto taken notice of, being far fuperior to the Remarks of the inge-
nious Mr. Hel/mont upon the Willow he planted, after five Years Growth
of which, the Leaves, Roots, main Stalk, and Branches did not exceed
five hundred Weight.

_ Forest-Bark, or BasTarbD Locust.

HIS grows to be a large Tree cloathed with longifh green Leaves ; ‘the
Bark is much fulcated, and made ufe of asa good Reftringent.

The GuM-ELEMI TREE.

Tus grows to be a large Tree, from whofe Trunk, when the Bark is.
wounded, flows the Gum called the Gum Ekemi.

The Siux-Grass; Lat. Aloe Barbadienfis. .

THE {everal faponaceous green Leaves, furrounding this Tree near the
© Earth, and taking their Rife without any Footftalks from its Trunk,
are about two Feet and an half long, feven Inches broad near the Middle, and
about

Book VIII. Sand of BARBADOS.

about one thick; ending in a fharp Point. Their Edges ‘are guarded with
fharp crooked Prickles. The Trunk of the Tree is green, and crouded, at
feveral regular Diftances, with numerous {ealy prickly Lamine, which in
general much refemble thofe of the American Aloes already defcribed ; ex-
cept that this Tree is much lefs in Bulk and Height, as well as that the
Spire or upper Part of the Trunk is fo weak, that it bends wavingly down-
wards, partly by itsown Weaknefs, and partly by the Weight of Suckers
which grow upon it, efpecially near the Top, .Thefe are compofed of feveral
complicated Rows of green thick Leaves: From the Centre of thefe rife
feveral fingle Flowers ftanding upon a pod-like Footftalks: Each of thefe
are made up of fix blunt-pointed Petals, green on the Outfide, and white
within. Thefe inclofe fix Stamina tipped with Apices furrounding a Piftil,
which fwells in an angular manner near the Middle. The above-mentioned
Leaves, which encompafs this Tree near the Earth, are made up of very
many fine longitudinal white Lamine or Filaments of Thread-like Hemp,
or rather as fine as the beft Flax. Thefe are eafily feparable from the green
pithy Subftance of the Leaves, and each again divifible into innumerable
Divifions as fine as Hairs, With thefe, twifted together, are made Lathes
for Whips of a very durable Nature: And Iam of Opinion, that by their
Stiffnefs the Filaments from this Plant are mixed with the Silk in. making
the Indian Silk Handkerchiefs.

The Hop-WEED.

HIS hath many white ftringy Roots, The main Stalk is quadrangular,
green, and hollow, and at every two or three Inches Diftance feemingly
jointed; from thefe feveral Joints oppofite to one another rife three or four
Leaves on inch-long Footftalks, in Breadth near the Pedicles above three
_ Inches, and in Length above four, Thefe are high-veined, and very much
corrugated, or crumpled. The Stalk, at its Extremity, bears an echinated
flattifh Bottom, or Bur, which, when dry, hath an agreeable fragrant Smell.
The Leaves of this Plant are efteemed good to be made ufe of as a Gargle
in fore Throats. It begins to bloom in July and Augu/.

Briny Roots.

HIS {candent Shrub takes its Name from its moft ufeful Parts, which

are its Roots. Its main Trunk feldom exceeds the Bignefs of one’s Arm;
- its Branches are weak, climbing upon any neighbouring Tree, Thefe are
thickly cloathed with winged green Leaves, fharp-pointed at their Extremi-
ties, as well as at their Footftalks, their Edges being very elegantly waved
or labiated : Among thefe, upon fhort Footftalks, appear the Flowers, which
are comtpofed of five Petals, {nowy-white. The Roots, when bruifed, afford
a very offenfive Smell. This, fteeped in Water, and fermented, or made into
a Decoétion, is very purgative, and efteemed beneficial to dropfical Perfons,

and very ufeful to prevent or cure the Scurvy, and to open Sears
The

ok

2.2.6

The Natural Hiftory of the Book VIII.

The beft Method of preparing it is, to {crape a Handful of the Bark
from the Root, and make a Decoétion of it.

- The Turx’s Heap; Lat. MelocaCtus Americana major.

HIS is called by the Antients Melcarduus echinatus, and hath a

great many ftrong fibrous Roots. Its main Body, which grows
above-ground, is about agFoot long, and about two Feet in Circumfe-
rence. The Infide is a ftringy pulpy reticulated Subftance. The Outfide
of this is green, and chanell’d into feveral deep Furrows, whofe Eminencies
are thickly cover’d, at certain Diftances, with Tufts of Prickles, of about
an Inch long ; the reft of the main Stem being green and {mooth, ending,

-as it were, in a round fomewhat flattifh Top ; from whofe Centre rifes

another lefs Body or Stem of cylindrical Form, of about eight Inches
long, and three in Diameter. ‘This is thickly covered with very fharp
long fine Prickles, of a Snuff-colour. The Outfide of this Part of the
Stem or Stalk is of a fpongy foft pappous Nature, efpecially near the
Top, from which Place rife feveral many-leav’d Flowers, of a Maiden’s-
blufh.- Each of thefe is fucceeded by a fmall fcarlet Berry, inclofing
feveral {mall flat brownifh Seeds.

Yams; Lat. Ricophera.

Pa very ferviceable Root was formerly the peculiar Growth of
Africa, and the moft common Food of its Inhabitants. In all
Probability, it derives it's Name from the Verb Yam, to eat ; which is'a
Word made ufe of, and equally underftood, by moft, if not all the feveral
Nations upon the Coaft of Guiney, though differing otherwife in their
Language, Cuftoms, and Manners. They are planted at about three
Feet afunder, in {mall Hillocks, fuch as are prepar’d to plant Hop-roots
in England; the Ground being firft hol’d about fix Inches deep. The
Method of doing it is, by putting about three very {mall Yams in each
Hillock, in the Months of May or une. Thefe fprout out foon after
with the firft Rain, and grow into a long trailing angular Vine, bearing
a very handfome heart-like Leaf. This Root or Yam much refembles, at
firft Sight, by its blackifh ftringy Skin or Tegument, the Root of a {mall
Tree. They are dug up of different Shape, as well as Weight ; the
latter from twenty to half a Pound. However, the moft common Weight
is about two or three Pounds: Thefe are fomewhat of the fame Nature
as Potatoes, mealy and white within, but generally of a clofer Texture
than the former. They are juftly efteem’d to be very hearty nourifhing
Food, and are generally preferr’d to Bread by the Inhabitants of the
Ifland. When firft dug out of the Ground, they are either put in Sand,
or kept in a Garret, where they are well curd, by admitting the dry
Air to them. The Method of making ufe of them is, either by roaft-

rt : ing

Book VII. Sfland of BARBADOS.
ing of boiling them; if the latter, they ought to be firft peel’d. It is
thought in England, that they muft be firft foak’d in Water before they
are ufed, to draw out their fharp biting Tafte ; but this Opinion is in-
tirely groundlefs. Great Care ought to be had in digging them from
the Ground without being bruifed, for thofe that are will foon afterward
decay. The beft Method that is yet found to preferve fuch, 4s to
fprinkle the bruifed or broken Part over with Lime. However, after all
prefervative Means, fuch muft be us'd firft ; the others will keep fit for
Ufe for near a Twelvemonth.

The Prickty YAM-VINE:

T HIS is a flender Vine, covered with fharp-pointed Heart-like
Leaves, fet on alternately. At the Root of this Vine grows a Yam,
in Tafte exactly the fame with thofe dug up yearly in Fanuary. What
js moft remarkable in this is, that it bears all the Year round ; and when
a Yam is dug up, a {mall Slice of the upper Part of it, in which the
Roots of the Vine are fixed, mutt be ftill left in the Ground, which will
grow downwards to the Bulk of that already cut off. This Amputation
may be made for feveral Years, and perform’d fevetal Times in the fame
Year, the Vine and its Leaves ftill flourifhing.

The Witpd YAM-VINE.

a IS is a quadrangular Vine bordered or fkirted at each Angle,
with a high green thin Lift; the Leaf is umbilicated and haftated,
of a deep-green Colour.
Eppas; Arum maximum A‘eyptiacumi.

T HE different Species of Eddas are diftinguifhed into the blue Eddas;

the fcratching Eddas, and the roafting Eddas ; the Leaves of
each being haftated, and of a blunt Arrow-head Shape. That of the
blue Edda is very large and green on the upper Side ; the under is co-
vered over with a glaucous Mealinefs. The moft common that are
planted are the roafting Eddas; thefe yield a great Increafe, and are a
very nourifhing and healthy Food, efpecially if ftew'd. The fpiral gra-
mineous fucculent Stalks that fupport the Edda-bloffoms, as well as the
young tender Leaves, are ufed by Negroes by way of Sallad. A Field of
Edda, when in Bloffom, affords, in a calm Morning or Evening, a very
fragrant odoriferous Smell. Thefe are of a round conic Shape ; the outfide
Skin being of a dark-brown Colour, the Infide very white, and fomething
of the Artichoke-kind. The moft common roafting Kind are dug up
and gathered in at one Time; but fome of the Eddas may be taken
from the Root of the large Sort, and if the Earth is clofed up again, th

Plant continuing to thrive, will ftill produce more.
Mmm Poratoks.

227

228

The Natural Hiflory of the Book VIII.

PoT ATO ES:

HESE very ufeful Roots are diftinguithed in this Hland from one
ne another into at leaft thirteen Sorts; but as this great Variety hath
but yery {mall real Difference, I fhall therefore pafs by thefe ard lefs
neceflary Diftinétions, and divide them into the white and red, the
long and the round Sort. Each of thefe differs from the Engli/h Potato,
by being propagated by a Slip or Vine, which they produce inftead of
upright Stalks. Another remarkable Difference is, that the We/-India

- Potatoes have all a fweetifh Tafte ; they are here look’d upon fo beneficial,

that there is {carce an Eftate, where there is not a confiderable Quantity
of Land planted with them; for thefe with Yams and Plantain ferye
inftead of Bread to moft of the midling, and almoft intirely to the poorer
Sort; tho’ they are not quite deftitute of a kind of Bread, made with thefe
Roots: For the Potatoes being firft grated, and the Juice preffed out, the
flowery or mealy Part is mix’d with Sugar and Spice, and made into Pafte,
which being baked in the Oven, in the Form of a Plum-cake, its |
Tafte is far from being difagreeable; this they call Powe. With the |

exprefs’d Liquor of either the red or the white Potato is made what we — A

here call Mody, or a Sort of cool Drink, anfwering to fmall Beer in |
England. The Method of making this, is to mix the raw exprefs'd Juice —

of the Potatoes with a certain Quantity of Water; this in a feafoned Vefiel 7

will foon ferment, and in about four and twenty Hours be ready for Ufe;

it taftes cool.and fharp, and it is generally efteem’d.a healthy Liquor. The 7
Juice likewile of Potatoes, if fermented, will, by Diftillation, yield good

Spirit. “The Vine producing each Sort is long, and trailing clofe to the —
Earth, taking Roots with its numerous Joints in wet Weather; thefe

burrowing into the Ground bear a great Number of Potatoes: Tho the }

Leaves upon thefe different Vines vary fomewhat in Shape, yet in general
they are all {collop’d, and bear bell-fafhion’d monopetalous Flowers, whitifh

without, and of a deep Purple within, each Flower being flightly feg- 7
mented about the Edges. Thefe are fucceeded by {mall capfular Seed-veffels,

inclofing feveral blackith {mall Seeds.

The Wuitre-Lity ; Lat. Pancratium Americanum.

© Raa main Root of the white, as well as all other Lilies, are bulbous and
round like an Cnion, faftened to the Earth by feveral {mall white fibrous),

“Strings or lefler Roots, the former being fquamofe, or compos’d of feveral —

Coats one over another. The Leaves are many and fharp-pointed, being
about ten Inches long, and near three in breadth. From the middle of thefe

-Tifes a green flattifh hollow Stalk, this near the Top is furrounded like the ~
Ribs of an Umbrella, with fix four-inch-long Stalks, the Flowers con- 7
fifting of a double Border of five Snow-white Petals four Inches long,

and about a quarter of an Inch broad, bending downwards in a very
beautiful

Book VIII. Jland of BARBADOS,

beautiful Manner; above thefe, from the Centre of the fame Parent-
flalk, rife fix fmall Spikes in a circular Manner ; thefe near their Tops
are green, each, as well as one other Stamen, which rifes from the middle ;
thefe are tipp’d with falcated brownith Apices. The Bottom of thefe
Spikes or Ribs are white, join’d together within half an Inch to the
Footftalk with a very fine white Membrane, forming an agreeable
pyramidical Flower, out of whofe Difcus rifes the above-mentioned
Stamen. ‘The bulbous Root of this, as well as the different other Species
of Lilies, here are made ufe of by way of Decoétion, and look’d upon
as a good diuretic Drench for Horfes.

The Revp-Liy.

S the pale red, and the red and white Lily, differ from this only

in Colour, I thall include them under the fame Defcription. Their

Roots are of the fame Make and Texture as the white Lily already

defcrib'd. The Stalk of the red Sort, Gc. is about eighteen Inches long.

The Flower is compos’d of fix Leaves, fomewhat fharp-pointed at their

Extremities, as well as near the Stalk; their Outfides are almoft intirely

ted, as well as the Infide, except near the Socket. There their Colour

alters froma flaming Red to a greenifh White; out of the Difeus rife fix
purplith Stamina tipp’d with yellowith pices.

The Wi.p-Lity.

ples S hath a bulbous {caly Root. The Leaves, which are thick, green

and {mooth, are of about ten Inches long and fharp-pointed, fet on
round the Stalk /ywamatim; from the middle of thefe the Stalk extends
higher than the Leaves, ending in a ruffet Spike full of {mall Seeds.

The Wiip-Tutip.

TP HIs hath a bulbous f{caly Root, from which rifes a green upright

hollow Stalk of about fifteen Inches high, fupporting, upon feparate
Pedicles, feveral large beautiful Flowers, compos'd of fix Petals; each
Petal about three Inches long, fomewhat fharp-pointed at both Ends, The
middle Part of every Flower-leaf is of a fine deep Red and White; on
each Side thefe furround fix white Stamina tipp’'d with pices. They
_ are in Bloom every Evening about five a Clock, and likewifé in the Morn-
ing till about Eight.

The Fir-WEED:

HIS is a fmall Plant, feldom rifing above fix Inches high. The

tain Stalk, as well as the Side ones, are jointed ; at each Joint they
are furrounded with feveral {mall Leaves, each deeply fegmented, dividing
the

2.30

The Natural Hiftory of the Book VIII.

the Extremity of the Leaf into three fharp prickly Points 2 From among thefe
Leaves rifes a fmall conic {quamofe Spike not ill refembling a Pine in Minia-
ture, in whofe different Lamina are contained the Seed: A Decoétion
from this Plant is looked upon to be very efficacious to cure Fits fo often
incident to young Children.

LoGERHEAD WEED.

HIS {mall Plant hath a great many fibrous whitifh Roots, the main
Stalk, which is hollow, feldom rifes above fix Inches high, this is of a
purplifh Colour; and from it rife three Pair of Footftalks or Pedicles oppofite
to one another, each fuftaining on its Extremity four fharp-pointed narrow
Leaves deeply chanelled in the middle, as well as the tranfverfe Ribs.
From among the upper Leaves rifes a fhort flender Spike decorated with a
{mall whitith red tubular Flower divided at the Top into five Parts; thefe
inclofe a great many yellowith Stamina : A handful of the Leaves boiled
in a Gallon of Water till reduced to half that Quantity, and that De-
coétion being made palatable with Molaffes and a {mall Quantity of Lime-
juice, is very efficacious to-bring away and deftroy the Worms in Children, —
The common Method of ufing this Decoétion is to give the Patient (if a
Child of. about feven or eight Years old) about the Quantity of two Spoon- —
fulls cold, upon an empty Stomach at Night, by the next Morning it will —
have its defired Effe@; if not, let the Dofe be repeated for three Nights fuc-
ceflively. It muft be ufed whilft frefh, otherwife by its great narcotic and
ftupifying Qualities it becomes very dangerous. .

The Pint Apple; Lat. Anana.

F the general, or at leaft if the Judgment of the moft numerous Patt
I of Mankind, who have tafted of this Fruit, may be relied upon, it de-
ferves the Preference of all other Fruits; the agreeable Variety,and the delicate
quick Poignancy of its Juice is juftly efteemed to excel every other. The
Roots of this Plant are many, fpreading in a circular manner. From the
Centre rifes a hard ftrong Stalk furrounded near the Earth, and for a con-
fiderable Way up the Stalk with long green Leaves, whofe Edges are finely
ferrated. Thefe Leaves are fet on alternately ; the Top of the Stalk fuftains
the Fruit which is called the Pive, from fome Refemblance it hath on the
Outfide to the Cone the Pine-tree bears. The Top of the Fruit is beautifully
decorated: with a Corona of fine green fharp-pointed Leaves, whofe Edges,
as thofe below on the Stalk, are finely ferrated. When the Fruit is young,

_ of about four Inches long, it is furrounded, efpecially near the Top, with fine

blue Flowers, each confifting of one Leaf, which is divided into three Parts,

and is funnel-fhaped. The Embryos are. produced in the T ubercles:

Thefe afterwards become a flefhy Fruit full of Juice. ‘The Seeds, which
are lodged in thefe Tubercles, are very fmall, and almoft kidney-fhaped. Some 4
time before the Fruit is ripe, two, three, or four Suckers grow from the 4
oe : ee Stalk .

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Book VIII. J/land of BARBADOS, oe

Stalk below, yet clofe to the Fruit: Thefe Shoots are taken off, and planted ;
and will in about fourteen Months time producea ripe Pine. Thofe who can-
not procure thefe Suckers, fometimes plant the Top or Corona. This, though
intended by Nature chiefly as an Ornament to the Fruit, yet will grow,
and in time bear a Fruit, not fo foon, nor fo good, as that produced by thofe
Suckers, which Nature intended to be the Means of propagating this Fruit
The three beft Sorts of Pines are the Surinam, the Sugar-loaf, and Queen-
Pine. ‘The Fruit ought to be eaten foon after it is cut, nor ought it to be
kept upon the Stalk in the Garden, as the Cuftom too often is, till it be
very foft on the Outfide.
This is delineated in Plate XXI.

The Witp Pine.
THs differs in Tafte from the Pine already defcribed, as much as a Crab-
apple doth from the beft Ruffet or Golden-pippin. Its Leaves are
very large, in proportion to the Bulk of the Fruit, which is but fmall.

The LARGE WILD BarREN Pine; Lat. Caraguata.

HIS, in Propriety of Language, ought to be looked upon as an aquatic
Plant, though fufpended in the Air dmong the Branches of lofty Trees,
to whofe Boughs it is faftened by its numerous Roots, | which ferve not to
fuck, or draw from them any nutticious Juices to further its Growth, as
the Mifletoe doth from the Orange-tree, &c. but only to be its Supporter
provident Nature having in a very extraordinary Manner fupplied this with
other Means to preferve its Species; for the Leaves, which much refemble
thofe of Pine, but only larger, furround this Plant in a circular manner, each
Leaf near the Stalk terminating in an hollow Bucket, which contains about
halfa Pint of Water. It is by thefe numerous {mall Refervoirs of Water that
the Roots, as well as every other Part of this Plant, are fupplied with Nourifh-
ment without the Help of any Earth. The flourifhing Condition of this, as
well as the great Growth of Fig-trees upon barren Rocks, fhews that Water
is of greater Ufe to Vegetation than Earth.

The BuTTON-PINE.

HIS chiefly differs from the common Pines by its Smalnefs, as well
as by its four Tafte: Therefore it is never cultivated. Its outward Coat
is likewife redder, when ripe, than any other.

The SMALL BaRREN PINE.

‘THE Leaves of this very much refemble a Pine. From the Middle of
thefe, inftead of a Pine-apple, grows a woody Stalk rifing to about

three Feet high, and divided into many Branches, Thefe are almoft intirely
Non covered

The Natural Hiftory of the Book VII,

covered with {mall red fharp-pointed Berries, each guarded at the Stalk
with a fine fharp Prickle, and at the Top with two fomewhat lefs,

The Pen-cwyn; Lat. Karatas.

HE Word Pen-gwyn is evidently a Celtic Word, compounded of Pen an
Head, and Gwyn white; but how this Fruit came originally to have
a Celtic Name, is foreign to my prefent Purpofe to inquire into. ‘The Out
fide of this Plant is compofed of fome Scores of hard ftiff green Leaves
growing to about nine Feet high, and two Inches in Breadth, having their
Sides or Edges guarded, at every Inch and an half Diftance,with fharp-hooked
Prickles. Thefe Leaves turn very fcoopingly inward on the upper Side, by
which means they fave and convey the Dew, and the Rain, that fall upon
them, to the Roots. They grow likewife almoft impenetrably thick near
the Earth, furrounding and guarding a circular Corona, or Bottom, of about
a Foot Diameter. From this grows a Clufter of Fruits, each of about
four Inches long, and one in Breadth, both Ends being fharp-pointed, and
the Middle of a quadrangular Form; by which means they are fo clofely
joined, that they cannot well, until very ripe, be taken afunder. The
outward Covering of this Fruitis a {mooth whitifh yellow gramineous Hufk;
this covers and peels off from a white pulpy Subftance, wherein are in-
numerable {mall flattifh black Seeds. This, being the eatable Part, hath fome
fmall ‘Refemblance, in its Flavour, of the Pine; and is looked upon to be
cooling and wholfome. If any of thefe, when near ripe, are gnawed by Rats
or other Vermin, the wounded Part will emit Drops of the moft tranf{pa-
rent Gum. This Coagulation fhews, that its Juices are much impregnated
with volatile Oil. Dr. Zowne very juftly recommends the Ule of this
Fruit in Fevers, provided it be ufed very moderately ; for by its grate-
ful and aétive Sharpnefs it is capable of penetrating through the moft —
tough and tenacious Scurf, by that means uncovering the Orifices of
the Salival Duéts, and enabling the Glands of the Mouth and Throat to
difcharge the Contents, which could not be done before the Impediment
was removed.

The Grounp-Nut; Lat. Arachidna.

fe ays differs very little from that called in England by the fame
Name, The Nut, which is the Root of the Grafs, lies three Inches
deep in the Earth. This is no bigger than a black Cherry covered over
with a ruffet Skin, or tender Bark, the Infide being as folid as the Kernel
of a Hafel-nut, and well-tafted.

PO ee 5

a]

SS

Vilcount COBHAM,

ae = ea,

sc

ae en ee ae

Book VI. Slandof BARBADOS...

The GINGER; Lat. Zinziper.

INGER is rather of the Reed-kind, than of the Iris, as ne
and others would have it. Its Stalk feldom exceeds eighteen Inches
in Height, from whofe Side grow, in an alternate Order, four or five narrow
fharp-pointed gramineous Leaves, of about five Inches long, the Extremity
of the: Stalk ending in a foft-pointed Spire. When the Plant is dug up, its
Roots are thofe flattith digitated Races called Ginger: Thefe Races are
{craped clean, and Sun-dried. It would be needlefs to deferibe the Qualities
of a Root fo well known: I hall therefore conclude the Defcription of ‘it
with obferving, that the ufual time of planting it is in May and Fune; and of
digging it up, in February and March. What is moft remarkable in this
Plant is, that the {mall or Seed-Ginger, when planted, doth not decay in
the Ground, as almoft all other Seeds or Plants do: For though it pro-
duces the Plant, and the feveral Races at its Root, the firft Year ; yet it re+
mains itfelf uncorruptible, and may the next Year be planted again as a
Mother-plant, and fo on the fucceeding Year. However, after fuch a time,
it becomes fo far exhaufted of its prolific Virtue, that it bears but a poor
Crop : Therefore the moft general Cuftom is to plant yearly with frefh Suckers,
or the {malleft Races of Ginger. The Land intended for this Plant muft be
very richly manured.

The Sra-Stpe LaureEt.

HIS beautiful Shrub grows generally near the Sea-fide, cloathed with
numerous Leaves. The Edges of thefe are. remarkably indented.
‘This is delineated in Plate XXII,

: The Larce Ducx-WEED.
7 dae always grows in Ponds of ftanding Water, and generally covers

their Surface with its broad Leaves, and much refembles in Shape
and Texture thofe of the Water-Lily in England. Their upper Side is
of a fmooth fhining yellowifh Green, the under Side of a very dark Pur-
_ ple: Their Veins and high Ribs are tinged with Yellow ; and their Footftalks
are round, fmooth, and of the fame Colour. The Infide of this is perfo-
rated into many longitudinal Pipes, and its Length is in proportion to
the Depth of the Pond; for it always grows till its Roots penetrate
the Mud, or other Sediment, in the Bottom.
The Flower likewife, which is fimilar to thofe of the fame Kind in
England, always opens at Break of Day, and clofes as {oon as the Sun appears.

The

{One

234 | The Natural Hiftory of the &c. Book VIII.

The SmaLL Duck-WEED.

HIS hath many long ftringy mofly green Roots. The Plant, {pread-

ing itelf upon the Surface of the Water, is compofed of {everal
round-pointed Inch-long Leaves, of a greenifh-white Colour, and regularly
veined towards their Extremities, The Stalk, as well as above the firft half
of the Leaf joining to it, is bagged or ftuffed in the Infide of near one
fifth Part of an Inch thick: This, when cut through, is full of {mall lon-
gitudinal Veins, or open Tabi. From that Part to the Extremity the
Leaf affumes its thin proper Texture.

CAPIL-

Book VIII. Mland of BARBADOS. 226

C A’ PT Dstt aetee Ricay.

AN D

PARASTTICAL PLANTS

The AGNus ScyTHIcUus.

W* are now come to treat of a Plant of the parafitical Clafs, tho’
dignified with the Name and Quality of an Animal, which (if
we believe many Writers of Wonders) hath not only the Shape of a Lamb,
and is woolly, but likewife feeds upon the adjacent Plants. To increafe
the Wonder, it is faid, that, if thefe are removed, the Lamb foon after dies.

This, and many other furprifing Qualities, are attributed to this fup-
pofed Animal, which the Zartars ftrongly affirm to exift ; yet conceal
the Place where it is found. _ However chimerical this may appear, and
in reality is, yet the otherwife judicious Kempfer was {fo credulous, as to
fpend a great Part of his Life in Search after it; tho’ a moderate Atten-
tion to the Motives of his Credibility would have {pared him his laborious
Search: For there is not a more fufpicious, or even a furer Sign of Craft,
or Cunning, and of an intended Impofition upon the Credulity of Man-
kind, than a fedulous Endeavour to keep any pretended Difcovery of this
Kind from the Infpedtion of the Public. What byaffed human Nature
to embrace low Art and Cunning, in Exchange for that true Wifdom,
and beft of Policy, undifguifed Truth, was, and ftill continues to be,
that groveling and fordid, yet almoft univerfal Paffion, the Love of Gain.
In the following Inftance we fhall find, this Vice is not only the Attendant
of luxurious fa, or the effeminate Part of Ewrope, but that it reigns even
among the rude unpolifhed Zartars, whom Luxury, one would have
imagined, had not made Slaves to its unneceffary Wants. However, we
find that thefe, like the Ephefian Copperfmith, are artful enough to
fecure their own Gain; for, as Furs are in great Efteem, and in high
Value, among the Nobility of Zartary, and the neighbouring Turks, the
near Refemblance of the Down growing upon this Plant, to the Wool of
avery young Lamb, afforded the cunning Zartars room to impofe upon
the World, and gave Rife to that barbarous Piece of Cruelty of privately

_ Mipping up the Ewes, as foon as the Lambs had attained to the ote
G.: Ooo Ox"

be

The Natural Hifory of the Book WHF,

of having any Wool upon them ; the Skins of which, being then delicately
foft, thefe cunning Dealers fubftitute in the room of, and call them, the
Skins of this fappofed Scythian Lamb.

But, to return to my Subje& ; to prove that mott of, if not all, the pre-
tended Qualities attributed to this Lamb, how fpecioufly foever they are
applied toit, asa ftrange Mixture of areal animal Exiftence, and vege-
table Appearance, are really and truly the infeparable Properties of this,
as well as many other parafitical Plants. However it muft be owned, that
this is the moft furprifing of any of this Clafs, and is ds rare as it is curidus,

As to the Proof of its fuppofed animal Life from its dying, as they term
it, if the adjacent Vegetables are taken away; this is literally true of its
Decay asa Vegetable, as- all other parafitical. Plants will do, when deprived
of that foftering Nourifhment, which they draw from the ‘Trees they prey
upon. For Inftance, if a Branch of an Oak, which hath the Mifletoe
growing upon it, decays, the latter, which before lived and flourifhed by
the Juices it received from the Oak, muft, when this becomes dry and
arid, decay likewife with the decaying Branch, Fn the fame manner, if
the Tree, of even the Branch of it, from which the Agnus Scyrhieus
receives its Nourifhment, is cut down, it muft alfo perith with if.

The Body of this Plant is about the Thicknefs of one’s Finger, anid
many Feet in Length; the Infide of a white’ clofe Subflance, fornéwhat
juicy, and eafily cut thro’ with a Knife. The outfide Rind is tough, and
deeply covered with a fine filky Down, fomewhat refembling Wool; and

~ the Body of the Plant is here-and-there irregularly geniculated, having, —

among fo many Bendings, fome, which diftantly refemble, in Make and
Bignefs, the Legs of a young Lamb; efpecially as it is covered over with a fine
filky Down, or Hair, fomewhat curled. This accidental Likenefs of Shape
and Covering it was, that gave Rife to the Notion of its being a Lamb;
and lucrative Reafons may have help’d to keep it up. The Body of this
Plant wreaths itfelf in feveral loofe irregular Foldings about the Body of a
Tree, and with its feveral flender ligneous Roots penetrates thro’ the Bark,
and from thence fucks thofe Juices, which ought to nourifh the Tree.
From the Extremity of the Stalk rifes a Footftalk of about twenty Inches
long, fupporting a fingle cylindrical Leaf, very near of the fame Length.
The Back of the Leaf, on each fide the middle Rib, is flightly and regularly
pitted into a great Number of depreffled Spots: In thefe are feen a great
many very {mall yellow Seeds, which, when ripe, are carried off by the
Wind ; and if they fall uponany neighbouring Tree, as fome, among fuch
a Number, unavoidably muft, they then, efpecially if the Bark of it proves
fulcated, take Root, and are thus propagated.

The

Book VIE. Sand of BARBADOS.

The FERN-LIKE Pant.

me ats grows to about fifteen Inches high, and is by far the moft

beautiful of the Fern-kind ; its many Side-branches jutting ont
alternately in a very elegant Manner, I found this Plant growing in the
Eftate of Mr. Strahan, in St. Andrew's Parith.

The MounrTAIN-FERN.

HIS grows to often twelve or fifteen Feet high, very much, in its

Shape and Texture, tefembling a Fern; its Root cover’d with a
reddifh Down. I found this near the Eftate of Benjamin Mellowes, E{q;
to whofe Skill, and communicative Temper, I owe the Difcovery of many
Plants.

The Brack Matpen-Harr.

I Found this beautiful Plant growing upon the Wall of 8%. Lucy's

Church,

Matpen-Harr.

HIS is generally found growing on the Side of fhady Cliffs, Sides
of Wells, and other old Walls: It is thought to be a good Peétoral,
as moft capillary Plants are ; and therefore it is gathered, and, with Sugar,
boiled into Syrup, and made ufe of,

GRA

237

The Natural Hiftory of the Book VIII,

GRA ASS ErSp ReEs Babes,

AND

GRAMINEOUS PLANTS.

4 ay

Of GRASSES.

'T is no {mall Inftance of God’s Wifdom and Goodnefs, that the Face of
I the Earth is covered with Grafs, for the Ufe of Cattle; and that its Ver-
dure fhould, above all other Colours; be moft grateful to the human Eye.
The Variety likewife that is obferved in their different Species, affords in-
Gnite Ufe and Amufement. Reeds and Rufhes cover with a beautiful
Green the otherwife difagreeable Surface of a miry wet Soil, and, by
their numerous Roots, prevent its being wafhed off by Floods. It is
in thefe, that feveral Kinds of Birds, fuch as Coots, make their Nefts ; and
among thefe likewife they find their Food, and are, whilft feeding,
fhelter’d from the Sight of their Enemies. If we afcend up the Hills
and Mountains, there the Carpet-Downs’open to our View, and, with
their wide Extent and Verdure, yield an innocent Delight; and if the
fteep Sides of Hills were not cloathed with Grafs, the narrow interme-
diate Valleys would be fcorched up with the reflecting Rays from their
oppofite ftony Surface.

The STAR-GRASS.

HIS is the moft remarkable of any of the Grafs-kind. Its Roots
are many and fibrous. The feveral Stalks join there together, as in
a Bunch of Scallions. . The main Stalk rifes about fourteen Inches high.
This is fmall, round, and folid ; furrounded, within two Inches to the
Ground, with feveral flender narrow gramineous Leaves. From thence
upward the Stalk rifes in an upright Spire, which, at the Top, fpreads
into feven other grafly Leaves, ftanding almoft horizontally round a Tuft
of {mall whitith Sced-veffels, containing a great many {mall black Seeds.
Thefe Leaves are remarkably ftained, or, as it were, enamel’d on the Infide
with a clear White for near an Inch long; the Remainder of the Leaf
is perfectly Green. ‘They are in their Bloom in Fune and Fuly; but this
white Part is not a tranfitory Embellifhment, but is as permanent as
the Leaf.
Dutcs

Book VII. Sand of BARBADOS.

DurcH Grass; Grainen da&tylon procuimbens, —

ae IS hath but few Roots at its Appearance from the Ground. It is
divided into many low Branches, each thickly cloath’d with narrow
fharp-pointed Leaves, each main Stalk ending in two or three angular
almoft horizontal Spears, bearded on one Side with fharp-pointed {mall
capfular Seed-veffels. This Grafs is much coveted by Cattle of every
Kind.
Ponp-Grass, or GANKER-WEED.
T HIS is a fucculeht jointed Grafs, with fharp-pointed gramineous
Leaves: The main Stalk is jointed at every four or five Inches, and
as it creeps along the Ground, there fprout; from each Joint, two white
{trong Roots, which foon penetrate into the Earth; and by this means it
is too fuccefsfully propagated, to the great Prejudice of the Planter, It
i§ faid to be of fo corfofive a Nature, that a Cataplafin of this bruifed
Plant, ftééped in Uritie, will eat down any Malander; or fuch-like fun-
gous Excrefcences. It is further fuppofed; or rather believed, that, if the
Juice be given to a breeding Sow, it will make Her abfolutely barren:
This Plant grows beft ih wet marfhy Land.

SAVANNAH=GRASs.
Ts IS is a long efeeping Grafs; full of Joints: From each Joint
rifes a grafly fharp-pointed Leaf, and, as it creeps along the Ground,
it fhoots Roots from each Joint, and fo propagates. It grows to a
great Length:

Rice-Grass.

HIS Grafs grows to about two Feet high. Its Roots are many

and white. The main Stalk is fomewhat flat, fending out from
its Sides feveral Leavés alternately : Thefe are grafly, and about five
Inches long. ‘Fhe main Stalk ends in two oppofite Leaves. From the
Centre of thefe rifes a tWo-inch-long Spear, on whofe Side alternately
rife feveral triangular Races, compofed of feveral Seeds. This is much
coveted by Cattle of every Kind.

The PrusttzGrass.

“EA HIS Grafs feldom grows above a Foot high, decorated near
Ht the Root with many narrow {poon-like blunt-pointed Leaves ; the
Spear continuing naked from thefe Leaves for. feveral Inches; but de-
corated at the Top with feveral {mall Pannicles,. fet round the Stalk

circularly, ending in an umbilical Form ; each Divifion of thisPanni-

Ppp cle

‘3

240

The Natural Fiftory of the Book VIII,

cle being bearded with a fine white Down, at whofe Root lie the {mall
capfular Seed-veflels. The green Leaves near the Ground are flightly
cover'd with a very foft light-colour’d Pile.

Friac-Grass.

HIS hath but few Roots, The main Stalk is jointed near the

Ground at every two or three Inches afunder. The grafly Side-
blades are fharp-pointed, and near eight Inches long. As thefe grow no
higher round the Stalk than about eighteen Inches, the remaining Part
of the Stalk, which is generally two Feet more in Height, continues un-
jointed ; its Extremity ending in a five-inch-long white Pannicle, whofe
numerous {mall capfular Veflels are thickly ftudded with very- fine white
Down.

ScotcH Grass ; Lat. Gramen panicum.

| T HIS very ufeful Grafs grows in fwampy wet Places. Its Roots are

fibrous and many. The main Stalk grows in Joints, at three or four
Inches afunder, rifing often to five Feet in Height. Its Side-leaves are
many and grafly. Its quick Growth, and always thriving in fuch wet Places,
makes it very valuable in the dry Time of the Year, when other green
Fodder is fcarce. Cattle of every Kind prefer this and Rice-Grafs to
any other. The Method of producing it is to cut it in {mall Pieces,
leaving always a Joint to every Piece. Thefe are ftuck in, at eight
Inches diftant, round the Sides of Ponds, or other. wet marfhy Land;
and will not only foon grow up themfelves, but propagate others, and
confequently grow prodigious thick. This may be feveral times cut
down, and another renewed Crop be in a few Weeks reaped again.

Dwrau, or AMMADWRAH.

“PO HIS is of the Ruth-kind. Its Root, which hath a very ftrong

Smell, is often fteeped in Water, and mingled with the Juice of
the Mufk-buth. With this the Coramantee Negroes anoint their Skin
by way of Perfume, efpecially when they are to go to their Merry-meetings,
or public Dances.

| Ponp-WEED.

ape E Roots of this Plant are many, white, and ftringy. The main
Stalk is as thick as one’s little Finger, {trong and hairy, growing

to about two Feet high. Its Leaves, which are fet on alternately upon
fhort Footftalks, are near four Inches long, and fcarce one broad,
fharp-pointed, and their Edges irregularly ferrated. The middle Rib, as
well as the Side-ones, are very regular and prominent, which makes the
oppofite Side of the Leaf deeply furrowed.
tia « - Doe’s-”

Book VIII. Yland of B ARBADOS.
Doa’s-GRass.

HIS derives its Name frony common Obfervation, that Dogs, when
fick, often eat of this Grafs, which foon after clears their Stomachs
by its €metic Quality. This Grafs is fo well defcribed by Mr. Miller, in
his Botanicum Officinale, that it would thew more Impertinence than
Judgment to give it the Reader in any other Words. “« Dog’s-Grafs hath
“ many long flender creeping Roots, ‘white and Jointed, {preading much
“in the Earth, with {mall Fibres at every Joint ; from which arife feyeral
tall Stalks, not fo thick as the Stalk of Wheat, having two or three
“ Joints, and as many long fomewhat broad Leaves, one at each Knot or
“ Joint : On the Top of each Stalk grows one long fpiked Head, in Shape
“ jike an Ear of Wheat, but fomewhat flatter, confifting of two Rows of
“ chafty Glumes.” It grows in moft Parts of the land: And a Decoétion
of it is looked upon to be good againft the Gravel,

The Witp-Dwrau.

(THis hath an hard bulbous Root, its grafly Stalk, which is green and
~- triangular, feldom rifing above feventeen Inches high. It regularly
branches near the Top into a Star-fathion, generally into three or four
grafly Leaves; from the Centre of thefe rife two or three Spikes, coyer’d
at the Top with a coarfe Flag, like that of a Reed.

The Nut-Grass.

4h FITS is of two Sorts, the one intirely Propagating its Species by its
Seed, the other by its numerous Nuts or Roots. The former is lefs
prejudicial to the Planter, tho’, both by its very quick Growth and
Increafe, it is of great Differvice, by preventing, or, at leaft, by fucking up,
the Nourifhment of the Manure from the planted Canes, or Corn, as well
as, by its thick Growth, choaking them with their numerous wreathing
Roots. This was firft brought here in a Pot of Flowers fent from England,
to Mr. Lillington in St. Thomas's Parith: From thence it hath been more
or lefs unluckily propagated throughout the whole Ifland,

RED-FLacG, or PLusu-Grass.

| Be IS grows to the Height of the laft-defcrib’d, and every way re-

fembles it ; except that its Pannicle is longer, and of a deep-red
Colour, furrounding the Extremity of the Stalk in a circular Manner 3
each capfular Seed-veflel guarded with half an Inch long foft- pointed
Briftle. Neither this nor the former is eaten by Cattle, unlefs in great

Want.
The GINGER-GRAss,

Tals is called Ginger-Grafs, from the great Refemblance there is
between the Leaves of this, and the Flags, or fpire-like Leaves, of
Ginger. WYTHS

241

242

The Natural Hiftory of the Book VIII.

Wea TBS and VINES

The BLACK BASKET-WYTH.

Pus is perhaps the ftrongeft of all other Wyths, or of any Vegetable

of equal Bulk: It is of a blackifh Colour, feldom growing ‘thicker
than one’s Finger. It derives its Name from its Ufe in making Bafkets; for
which Purpofe its great Strength renders it very ferviceable. If thefe grew
in Paleftine, we may be allowed, at leaft, to conjecture, that they were
the fame with which Swm/an was bound; for we know of no other Wyths
of fufficient Strength to be worthy of an Experiment of that Nature.

The Cow-Gut-WytTH.

apus is a fcandent Vine, bearing Yam-like Leaves ; the Flowers areof @
the Bell-fafhion, and yellow. Inever could obferve,that the Flowers were
fucceeded by either Pods, or Berries. The Wyth itfelf is very ftrong and pli- —
able; therefore made ufe of to tie the Blade of Canes, wherewith Megroes —
thatch their Houfes.

sis The Honey-WytTu.

Have given this Wyth the above Name, from its fweet fragrant Smell,
| or rather from the great Refort of Bees to its Flower. a
Wea The PuppDING-WYTH.

plese refembles, in. its Leaves, thofe of Yams: They are chiefly made 4
- ufe of as Bandages to tie Bundles of Straw or Ruihes with which —

_the poorer Sort of People thatch their Houfes..

The Wild YamM-VINeE.

HIS hath its Name from the great Refemblance its Leaves have to
Yam-vine-leaves. As it is tough and ligneous, it is made ufe of to
make Bafkets. nee

The WILD VINE.

‘HIS is of two Sorts, each bearing a monopetalous Flower, expanding

4 horizontally; one ofa pale White,, the other equally chequered with a

fky-coloured Blue: ‘Thefe are {mall trailing Vines, creeping over {hrubby
‘Trees, having lieart-like Leaves. ‘

cet

Book VHI. Sand o BARBADOS.

The Hoc-Vine; Lat. Convolvulus,

HIS is a creeping Vine, with a green hairy Stalk. From each Sidelof

~ this Stalk rife a great many Pedicles, of above an Inch and an half
long ; fupporting, on their refpective Summits, four or five tharp-pointed
Leaves, about an Inch and an half long, and an Inch broad. Thee fpread
horizontally regular round the Tops of the Footftalks. The F lowers, in gé-
neral, are four in Number, yellow, and of the Bell-fafhion, whofe Ore are
much expanded: Thefe are fucceeded by as many brownifh Capfiule, each
inclofing {mall Seeds.

The Sweet Vine.

HIS Vine, at fome Diftance from it, perfumes the Air with a very

fragrant Smell ; but the nearer you come to it, the lefs agreeable, it
being then faint, if not offenfive. The Stalk affords a great Quantity of
milky clammy Juice. The Leaves are {mall and blunt-pointed, and the
Flowers {mall and white.

The Sea-Sipe Vine; Lat. Convolvulus marinus.

FIIS is a luxuriant trailing Vine, creepitig along the fahdy Banks feat
| the Sea-fide. Its Stalk is long and fucculent, cloathed with middle=
fized fmooth fhining-green Leaves. Intermixt with the appear feveral
large bell-mouthed Flowers, of a pale White without, and a deep Purple
within. As it grows chiefly upon the Sand, its continued Verdure is very
agreeable, and covers it ; and by fo doing prevents the Reflexion of the Sun
from the hot Sand, which would otherwife be very prejudicial to the Eyes of
thofe Travellers, whofe Bufine& requires them to ufe fuch Roads,

The StLvER VINE.

ELIS is a weak creeping Vine, valued chiefly for being very good to

: feed Horfes with, It derives its Name from a fhining whitith Hoari-
nefs upon the upper Side of its Leaves. Its Roots are many and fibrous. It
grows chiefly in Gullies, and other fuch fhady Places, é

The Wiip Pursiain.

‘TH IS is of two Sorts, the Red and White, each being a erceping {mall-

jointed Plant: They emit from each Joint many fmall fibrous Roots ;
the-fmall upright Branches bearing narrow green Leaves of a'long oval Shape.
Each Sort bears a {ealy conic clover-like Flower, differing only. in their re-
{hective Colours, which are red and white: The white Sort, boiled to’a' Décoc-
tion, makes a-good Gargle for fore Mouths. It grows chiefly by the'Sea+fide.

244

The Natural Hiftory of the . Book VIE.

The PotsoN-WYTH.

fe HIS grows to a great Length, and is, tho’ woody, yet of a very {pongy
Nature. ‘The Leaves are about two Inches long, and at the Stem
near an Inch and a Quarter broad. The Root, when pounded, and ap-
plied by way of Cataplafm, is of a very drawing Nature ; and therefore
it is often ufed to ripen Boils and Tumours. Its Flowers are fucceeded
by Berries, black when ripe.

The Rigut-Wytn, or the Cats-CLAw-WYTH.

4 Bese is a ligneous ftrong Vine, creeping upon the neighbouring ‘Trees
# or Rocks to a very great Height. The Leaves on the upper Side
are of a dark-green, fharp-pointed, ftanding in Pairs upon one common
inch-long Footftalk; each Pair oppofite to one another on the leffer Stalks.

From the Bofom of the Leavesrife numerous {mall Clafpers, orT endrils: Thefe

not only cling round any neighbouring Supporter, as the Grape-Vine does ;
but, at’ the Extremity of each Clafper, it is fenced or provided witha forked
Claw like a Fith-hook, but fomewhat more lax inthe Bending. This ends
in a tharp prickly Hook or Talon, by which it can not only take hold of, but
pierce into, the tender Bark of ‘Trees, as well as faften to the Cavities of —
Rocks. It bears a yellow Flower, but never vifibly fucceeded by Pods; or. J
Berries. Its grateful Verdure, and being thickly covered with Leaves,
affords an agreeable Shade all the Year. . :

The Ricut-Wyru. Fe Ale

oi HIS fcandent Wyth is an Evergreen, bearing upon its Stalks feveral
A deep-green Leaves, fet on in a Triparture-order, iffuing from the
feveral Joint, which are many in Number. Thefe Wyths, when full-
grown, are, near the Ground, as big as one’s Arm. Their Branches have many
Clafpers or Tendrils, by. which they climb up any neighbouring Tree,
growing fo thick, that it makes.a very dark, cool, and agreeable Shade. .

The SuGar-CanE ; Lat. Arundo Saccharifera. :

S it would be more curious than requifite, to examine. the feveral
controverfial Opinions, whether Canes were originally the Growth
of the Eaf or Weft Indies; 1 thall therefore proceed to obferve, that in
the Manner of their Growth, Form of their Flags or Leaves, and Make of

their * Pannicle, they refemble the Reeds which grow in wet marfhy 2

_* There are but few Canes, efpecially if they grow in a deep Soil, that fhoot out into an Arrow decorated

Ee the Top with a Pannicle; and thofe that do, grow generally in a fhallow Soil ; tho? the Glumes of their
ee contain a whitifh Duft, or rather Seed: Yet thefe, being fowed, never vegetate. §

é ‘i moft natural, and perhaps the only proper, Method of producing Canes is by Suckers, or, as Experi-

suELSled cal He Sad hig of i : ee ‘Thefe being cut into Pieces of about a'Foot long, and planted
j : es deep, and two i i i i i

duce fom ie tones cae Bs ae Wo Feet wide, and covered with good Manure, each Piece will pro;

i Grounds

Book VUI. Jfland of BARBADOS...

Grounds in England or elfewhere ; however, with this general Difference,
that the Sugar-Canes are every Way far larger; and the Infide, inftead
of being hollow, is full of white Pith, containing a very {weet Liquid.
The intermediate Diftance between each Joint of a Cane is of different
Lengths, according to the Nature of the Soil, Richnefs of the Manure,
and feafonable Weather during their Growth ; but in general from one to
four Inches long, and from half an Inch to an Inch Diameter, feldom
more. ‘The Length of the whole Cane likewife depends upon the above
Circumftances. It generally grows to Perfection in about fourteen Months;
its then Height (the top Flag-part excluded) is from threeand an half to feven
Feet, a Medium between both being the moft common Length, even ina
very good Soil, and feafonable Years. The Body of the Cane is ftrong, but
brittle, of a fine Straw-colour, inclinable to a Yellow. The Extremity of
each, for a confiderable Length, is cloathed with many long reed-like
Leaves, or Blades, whofe Edges are very finely and fharply ferrated: And
the middle longitudinal Rib in each is high and prominent.

F. Labat, in his Hiftory, fays, that there were Canes in the Ifland of
Tobago, of twenty-four Feet in Length: If he meant this in general, his
Affertion is a ftrong Specimen of that Vanity, to fay no worfe, which
influences many Writers to be fond.of Relations of the marvelous Kind.
But whoever judges of the Length of Sugar-Canes, in general, from thefe
Inftances, if there were any fuch, may as reafonably conclude from the
Height of one Goliah, that the Philifines were in general of a gigantic
Stature. ’

Whatfoever Difference fome Soils, and very feafonable Weather, may
occafion in the Growth of this Plant; yet in this all Writers agree, that it
is (unhappily for the Planter) liable to one Diforder hitherto incurable,
that is, the Yellow Blaft.

This, among Difeafes peculiar to Canes, as the Plague among thofe
which happen to Men, too juftly claims the horrible Precedence.

And as the Ingenious in this Part of the World have not as yet agreed
in their Opinions about the Caufe of this deftructive Blaft; I may with-
out any Apology (I hope) offer my own; 7. ¢. That it proceeds from
Swarms of little Infects, at firft invifible to the naked Eye; and as the
Juice of the Cane is their proper Food, they, in Search of it, wound the
tender Blades of the Cane, and confequently deftroy the Veffels. Hence
the Circulation being impeded, the Growth of the Plant is checked ; and
foon after it withers, decays, or dies, in proportion to their Degree of
Ravage.

From this Suppofition we may eafily account for the various Phenomena,
which attend the Blaft, whether in its firft Appearance, or its further Pro-
grefs, It is difficult to diftinguith the Blaft in its Infancy, from the Effe&
of dry Weather; the Appearance in fome Inftances feems to bealike:
However, the firft .feafonable Rain manifefts the Difference ; the uninfected

Plant reaps the Benefit of it, thrives and flourifhes with great Vigour ;
whilft

448

2.46

The Natural Hiftory of the Book Vif.

whilft the infested, being «made more ‘foft and tender by the Rain, be-
comes eafier to be pierced iby the devouring Worms. At fuch and other
times, there are often feen, on the Blades of fuch fickly Canes, many
small protuberant Knobs, of a foft downy Subftance, often containing
in them fmall white Maggots, which, I believe, turn afterwards into
{mall brownifh Moths, which are to be feen in great Multitudes among
the Blades of infeéted Canes. It is likewife obfervable, that fuch Blades
will be full of brownith decaying Spots: Thefe are fo many Places, which
have been deeper pierced by the Worms.

Multitudes of Ants are likewife feen on the blafted Canes; thefe are
invited hither to fuck the Juice that oufes out of the wounded Leaves,
efpecially when the Plant hath attained any Degree of * Sweetnels. This
appears by: the Clamminefs, that, at fuch times, covers the Leaves, prevent:
ing all Perfpiration. In this lacerated Condition of the Plant, the Juices
want their natural free progreflive Motion upwards ; the moft fubtile
and fineft Part. burfting through the wounded Leaves, whilft the more
grofs returns back unfecreted to the radical Veflels. By this means they
are overloaded, and, burfting, fupply the Ants at the Roots with anourifh-
ing Liquid. In this injured Condition the Roots become incapable of
fupplying the Stalk or Leaves with Nourifhment from the Earth, if the
latter fhould ever recover. ; ‘

- The Blaft is obferyed to be moft frequent in very dry Years, there having
been but little of it when feafonable Rains have begun early, and. conti-
nued till the Canes were ripe. In fuch Years, a great many of thefe Vers
min are. perhaps drowned by the heavy Rains, as well as their Eegs
made lefs prolific. i 56

It is obfervable, that the Blaft ufually appears fucceflively, in: the fame
Fields, and often in the very fame Spot of Land : It is therefore very
likely, that thefe are but the fucceffive Offspring of Parent-Egos, from,
time to time depofited there by the fmall brown Moths. above-men-
tioned. And when the Blaft is found in Fields. of Canes, far frony in-
fedted Places, we may, in all Probability, conclude, that the Egos were
conveyed thither by the Wind. . What makes this more evident. is, that
the Infection always f{preads fafter to. the Leeward, or with the Wind.

Tt is remarkable, that if Canes have been once: infeged with the
Blaft, although they afterwards, to, alt Appearance, feem. to. recover; yet
the Juice of fuch Canes will neither afford fo. much, Sugar; nor fo good
of its Kind, as if obtained from. Canes that were never infeed: I con
ceive that, in this Cafe, the delicate Strainers, adapted to fecrete: thie
Particles, which conftitute. the Sugar, have been fo; much, injured, as not’
to be in a Condition. to. perform their Officesto. Perfedtion, although |
fufficient to faftain the Plant alive, and ina feeming Vigour.

*. Perhaps the Attendance of. the Ants may, praceed from, two, Gaufes: They maybe invited, as above

’ mentioned, when. the Canes have attained fome Degree of Maturity i the {weet Juice, which oufes out

a Pr tee as. maybe perceived by the Clamminefs of the: Blades; or, “if this is:not- the Cafe,
waen te 4 lant is very) young, they, may perhaps be, allured to prey, upon’ the dead. and livine Bodies: of
thefe little Animals in acne the Cae i PARE At Prey, upan the dead.and living, Bodies’ 9

2 Should

Book VIII. land of BARBADOS,

Should it be afked, If this Blaft is occafioned by Worms, how comes it
to pafs, that the adjoining, and often the intermixt Corn and Pulfe fhould
be free from it ? it may be eafily accounted for from fimilar Inftances in
England, where the fmall Worms, caufing the Blight or Blaft, which deftroys
the tender Buds of Apple-trees, never affects the Pear or Cherry-trees, tho’
in the fame Orchard ; for, in all Probability, neither of thefe affords a proper
Nourifhment for them.

Having thus, till better Reafons are offered, fhewed the Nature of the
Difeafe, the next Thing neceflary will be to look fora Cure,

Foc Opus, bic Labor eft.

Various are the laudable Endeavours to this End, which the Inquifitive
in this and the neighbouring Iflands have made; but, alas! made in vain :
Therefore, as this Difeafe hath been hitherto of the Number of thofe which are
incurable, and almoft literally as deftru@tive to us, and our neighbouring
Iflands, as the Locufts were to the Egyptians ; a ftudious Attempt to remove
fo great an Evil, will, I dare fay, meet’ with the Approbation of every Well-
wither to our Wef?-India Wlands ; efpecially fince what I have to offer upon
this Subject 1s attended with the ftrongeft Probability of Succefs: And as it
requires very little Expence, and lefs Labour, I may with more Confidence
venture to recommend it to the Public.

When the Canes appear to be firft infe@ted, which happens generally when
they are young, take an equal Quantity of Brimftone, Aloes, and. the Bark
of bitter Wood ; let thefe be put in the Middle of a Bundle of wet Straw 3
the Whole muft be put in a Cradle of Wire as large or larger than the Crown
of an Hat, made Lattice or Neét-fathion ; this is to be faftened to a wooden
Handle of convenient Length, and kept to the Windward of the infe@ed
Bunch of Cane, having firft fet the inclofed Combuftibles on Fire; and hold-
ing it there till the thick Smoke hath for fome time penetrated among all the
infected Blades, and fo on to the reft, for a few Mornings and Evenings: This
by its very Nature cannot fail of killing thofe minute Animalcules, as well as
deftroying thofe that are inEmbryo in thofe downy WVidus’s already men-
tioned. Experience, which is the moft convincing of Proofs, gives a {trong
Sanction to this Method; for we find, that the Smoke of Brimftone, in an in-
clofed Room full of Flour, peftered with Wevils, will, in a few Minutes,
intirely deftroy them. If then Wevils, which have a {trong fcaly Covering,
and are grown to their full Strength, can be thus deftroyed; how much
more probable is.it, that fuch tender fmall Animalcules may likewife, in the
fame manner, be deftroyed? If it be faid, that in the former the Smoke is more
confined, it muft likewife be confidered, that a far weaker Degree of this
fulphureous Smoke will deftroy Animals of a far weaker T exture, and per-
haps of but a few Days old. “The Neceffity and Ufe of the other Ingre-
dients of the fame Nature are too evident to be further explained.

The Cane-plant being defcribed, and the Difeafes of it confidered, and a
more than probable Remedy propofed, I fhall proceed barely to touch on the
Method of making Sugar.

Recer The

247

48

‘feafonable Weather, and from Canes grown kindly ripe.

The Natural Fiiflory Of ODE Book VIII.

The * Canes, when ripe, are {queezed between the iron-cafed Rollers of
Wind-mills, or Cattle-mills. The Juice thus prefled out is boiled firft in
a very large Copper or Chaldron, mixed with a very {mall Quantity of
Lime. When this is ufed in too {mall a Proportion at firft, a little Lime-
water may be afterwards poured into the Chaldron. A ftrong Lixivium of
Afhes will perform the Office of white Lime, and may be fubftituted in the
room of it ; and was originally ufed, tho’ the latter is generally thought to
be more efficacious. It is probable, that the Benefits arifing from either are, in
a great meafure, owing to their alcaline Qualities. The Sugar-cane, when
ripe, is of all other Plants the fweeteft; however, there is a latent Acid ftill
lurking in the Juice; this is apparent by its turning four, if fuffered to re-
main unboiled any confiderable Time after Expreflion. The Addition
therefore of Temper, as the Planters call it, being a certain Quantity of white
Lime, is neceflary to deftroy, in a great meafure, the remaining Acid, and to
form a neutral Salt.

That this is one Ufe of Temper, is plain from the different Quantities of
that which are ufed according to the different Qualities of the Cane-juice :
That from unripe Canes, as more abounding with Acids, requires a larger
Quantity, as doth that alfo from Canes too ripe, and tainted: For in the
latter the acid Salts, that before were neutralized, feem to be again difen-
gaged, and fet at Liberty, as may be difcovered by its acid Tafte. And
indeed many Inftances occur in making Sugar, which demand an extraor-
dinary Proportion of Lime; all thefe betray a Tendency to an Acidity in
the Juice : But, when the Canes grow kindly ripe, the acid Particles in their |
Juice are few ; and as the Poignancy of thefe is inconfiderable, the Juice
will confequently require a lefs Quantity of Lime. There is a further Ufe
in Lime, befides the foregoing ; for it fuits greatly in cleanfing the Liquor.

When the Quantity of Lime is duly proportioned, if the Liquor is put into
a Glafs, an immediate Separation will follow, the Impurities fettling at the
Bottom, leaving the clear Juice at the Top: But if there is a Deficiency of
Temper, the Separation will be imperfe&t: If it too much abounds, there
will be little or no Separation at all. ;

When the Lime is mixed with the Juice in the Copper or Chaldron, the
Sordes or Impurities, being no longer intimately united with the boiling Li-
quor, and being forced about with the Heat of the Fire, are eafily entangled
in a vifcous Subftance that is naturally in the Cane-juice ; and then rife with:
it to thes Top of the Copper, forming a thick tough Scum.

* If, when Canesare ripe, the Weather fhould prove very rainy, their Juice, if at that time exprefled, will re-
quire a far longer Boiling, before it comes to the Confiftency of Sugar, than if it had been extracted in Weather
moderately dry. However, this Difference in the Quality of the Juice doth not intirely proceed, as it is generally
fuppofed, from the greater Quantity of Water at that time in the Plant, but from the greater Number of newly
fprung up Particles, occafioned by the late Rain. Thefe, if foon afterwards exprefled, having not had fufficient
time to ripen; the Make of their Particles is, as in all Acids, angular, and fharp-pointed, and therefore diffi,
milar to thofe ripe ones : They will therefore refift the Heat longer before they are broken, and brought to fuch a

Confiftency as to incorporate with the others that are already ripe. From fuch a Mixture of ripe and unripe Juices,
it naturally follows, that the Sugar then made will be neither of equal Confiftency nor Goodnefs with that made in

1

This

Book VII. land of BARBADOS.

_ This Vifcidity is very apparently difcovered on the leaden Beds of the
Mills, as well as on the wooden Gutters, where the Juice in its Paflage de-
pofits it; and its * faponaceous Quality is no lefs evident in wafhing the
Cloths that have been any ways ufed in cleaning the Beds of the Mills, or
hath any other way been foaked in the Cane-juice.

The Clarification of the Liquor, as far as it is done in the firft Copper,
is perfected after the more grofs Scum is taken off ; the remaining Impu-
rity, as the Liquor boils, is tkimmed off from the four or five remaining
Coppers or ‘Taches, into which the Liquor is fucceflively poured ; each of
thefe being gradually lefs, as they are to contain a Quantity of Liquor ftill
wafting as it boils.

In conveying this to the fourth Copper, it is in its Paflage ftrained
thro’ a thick Woolen Cloth, where it leaves all the Remainder of its Im-
purities, that had efcaped the Scummer.

After this a light white Scum is taken off ; and, when this ceafes to
arife in any confiderable Quantity, and the Liquor, by long boiling, be-
comes more of a Syrup than a thin Liquid, it is then poured into the firft
Tache, and from this to a leffer, till it is conveyed to the laft. .When it
hath here attained the due Confiftence neceflary to become Sugar ; it may
be afferted in general, that no more than a feventh Part of the Whole
remains; which Diminution is occafioned by the Impurities being {cum-
med off, and the watery Particles evaporated.

From this laft Stage, whilft of the Confiftency of a thick granulated
Syrup, it isconveyed into a large Brafs Cooler, where it begins, as it cools, to
fhoot into Cryftals, which are the genuine and effential Salts of the
Plant. ‘Thefe are forwarded and helped to hoot, by gently ftirring the
whole Mafs; by which means the Air is admitted to every Part, and the
Particles of Sugar difengage themfelves from the clammy Subftance of
the Melaffes. baibind ‘

If the Syrup be continued longer on the Fire, than is neceflary to bring
it to a proper Thicknefs, the Particles of Sugar cannot grain, or cryftal-
lize, when afterwards in the Cooler, for want of a fufficient intermediate
Fluid; the whole Mafs in fuch a Cafe being too well united, to fuffer
the Melaffes to feparate from it.

On the other hand, if the Syrup hath not undergone a fufficient Eva-
poration, the Grains or Salts will be: larger indeed, but clofe to each
other ;. Hence feveral of them being too much feparated from their neigh-
bouring Particles, they become too weak to refift fingly, and are therefore
drained away in the intermediate Fluid, the Melaffes. Upon this Principle
we may account for the Make of Sugar-candy, whofe large Cryftals are
Beri Ua ntehnnmehende Remco Mcrae aeepemieel ohge eres

of this ‘Cane-juice when intirely ripe. It is likewife fo nourifhing, that Slaves have fubfifted upon this alone
for a whole Week.
_ Repeated Draughts of it are very efficacious, to remove the Effect of the poifonous Caffado-juice.

From this Juice likewife, when mixed with Water, and fermented, is made a Drink, called the Sugar-Drink.
This, tho’ it appears muddy, yet is very wholfome and diuretic.

obtained

250

The Natural Hiftory of the Book VIII.

obtained from a Syrup too thin to fhoot into Salts capable of uniting clofe
together.

The proper Time to remove it from the Cooler to the Pots or Moulds,
is when it hath grained or cryftallized ; the better the Sugar is, the fooner
this is completed : Hence that juft, but ill-expreffed Notion, that good
Sugar may be potted fooner than bad. The Pots or Moulds made ufe of
are earthen, and of a pyramidal Form, containing from eight to thirteen
Gallons.

About twenty-four Hours after the Sugar is potted, the {mall round
Hole in the Bottom of each Pot is unftopped, and the Pots put upon
earthen Jars containing about four Gallons, into which! Veffels the Melaffes
draitt from the Sugar, the latter becoming fit for Exportation in about a
Month’s time, and fometimes fooner. The Sugar in this Degree of Per-
fection is called Mufcovado, which is a Term too well known to want any
further Explanation. What is called here clayed Sugar, is brought to that
Degree of Whitenefs, by making a Batter of the fofteft fineft white Clay
mixed with, Water: And after the upper Part of the Mz/covado Sugar in
the above-mentioned earthen Pots is dug up, and clofely laid on again in
a level Manner, or rather fomewhat fhelving towards the Middle, a fuf-
ficient Layer of this Batter is poured upon the Top of the Sugar in the
Pot. ‘The Water from this by Degrees gently oufes from the Clay, thro’
the Sugar ; and when all the Moifture from the Clay is abforbed by it,
which is generally done in about a Month’s time, another Layer of freth
Putty is laid on, the former old one being firft taken away. In about five
Weeks after the lattet is put on, this becomes dry, and is taken off ; and the
Water iffuing from it meeting with lefs grofs Vifcidities than the former,
wathes the Particles of Sugar clean, and carries away with it thofe lefs
feculent Impurities. This completes the Work, as far as it is manufaétured
here; tho this is brought toa far greater Degree of Whitenefs and Per-
feGtion in England.

Out of the above-mentioned Skimmings, when mixed with a certain
Quantity of Water and Melaffes, and fermented, is extraéted that {pirituous
Liquor called Rum. And from the great Quantity of Oil in the Cane-
juice, which is confiderably tranfmitted to the Rum, proceeds the Excellency
of this Spirit, when compared with Brandy : The latter, wariting this Oili-
nefs, ftimulates and lacerates the Coats of the Stomach ; whereas the former,
if firft meliorated by Age, and made into weak Punch, and drank mode-
rately, by its Oilinefs preferves the Bowels.

-Moft of our Planters are yearly great Sufferers (efpecially when they
firft begin to diftil) for want of proper Knowlege how to raife and con-
tinue a regular Fermentation in the Mu//a intended for Diftillation: Yet I
imagine, that their want of Suecefs may not only be accounted for, but
likewife remedied.

In order to ‘do this with Certainty, we muft obferve, that no Fermen-
tation can be raifed under thirty-fix Degrees of Heat, ‘or kept up after

: ninety ;

Book VIL. JJandof BARBADOS. © tovt

ninety; a leffer than the former will not be fufficiently wari to raife an
Ebullition, and a greater than the latter diflipates the {pirituous Particles
too much. ‘Therefore if Experiments were made with a Thermometer iri
every Diftil-houfe, to fix the certain Degree of Heat, that.a well-propor-
tioned. Mul/a would ferment in, it would be eafy, by the Help of this In-
ftrument, always afterwards to afcertain this neceflary Degreé of: Heat, let
the Change of Weather be ever fo fudden or confiderable..’ For;if the
Heat proved fo great as to exceed that Degree; in which fuch a well=
proportioned Mul/a was ufed in Time paft to’ ferment eft, then’ the
Windows’ towards the Eaft ought to be opened fo-as:to admit {uch a
Quantity of cold Air as would reduce the’Heat to a'proper Standard.

- On the contrary, if the Spirit in the Thermometer finks. below the
neceflary Degree of Heat, then thefe Windows ought to be intirely or
partially fhut up, in order to procure a fufficient Degree of Heat. By
this means the Diftiller may come to a Certainty, and proceed by Rule,
and not by Chance, ' a

‘If after fuch Rules,’ and neceflary Cautions, the Muj/a doth not fer-
ment, if this happens in the Beginning of the Crop fuch a Failure ought
to be attributed to the then, comparatively {peaking, four and unripe Juices
of the Canes: For the Juices of thefe, as well’as moft, if not all other
unripe Fruits, witnefs that of the Grape, feldom or never ferment well
becaufe their Particles, in that unripe State, are not fufliciently micliorated
by the Heat’ of the Sun. In fuch a Cafe, Iam apt to believe, that a
greater Proportion of Sweetening, than when the Canes areripe, fhould be
added to the Mulfa, abba M2 BU hel Testy, EE
~ On the other hand, a’ difproportionate Quantity of Sweets, as: they-are
oily, will prove too inaétive, and will incline thé’ Liquor more‘to'a Ran~
cidity, than Fermentation’: Therefore a greater Quantity of Water, and
thin returned Liquor, which hath a ‘great deal of Acidity in:it, fhould’
be added to the Skimmings of Canes that are full-ripe, and confequently
very fweet. AAA

As to thofe who keep their fermenting Veffels in the open ‘Air, or ill-
covered under Sheds, their bad Succefs may be evidently accounted-for; by
the Inequality of the Heat and Cold they are expofed to.

I cannot conclude the Defcription of this very ufeful Plant, without
taking. Notice of a moft furprifing Inftance of the Effect of fome -Ef.
fluvia, or Vapours that arofe from the Mudgeon or Dregs of the Liquor
tetutned from the: Still, and which for fome time had been referved in a
Ciftern. . : :

* “In the Month of April 1743. Abel Alleyne, Efq; the then Manager
At the Eftate of the Honourable and Reverend: Society for propagating
the Gofpel in foreign Parts, ordered one of the Cifterns, which the re-
turned Liquor was kept in, to be cleanfed: The Quantity of this thick
Sediment in it was not above feven Inches deep. ‘The farft Negro Slave

who attempted to clean it, was no fooner at the Bottom, than dead ; the
Seis * Sf fecond

# 252 The Natural Hiffory of the Book Vill. '

fecond and third met with the ‘fame Fate inftantly. “A white Perfon, who
was a Workman on the Eftate, being near at hand, determined, if poffi-
ble, to bring them up, imagining they were only ina {wooning Fit. To
this Purpofe he went down to the Bottom of the Ciftern, which was .
about nine Feet deep, and found the Negroes dead: He went down a fe=
cond time with a Rope, in order to fling it-round them, and to bring
them up; but he shad no-fooner reached the Bottom, but a fulphureots
fuffocating warm Blaft took away his Senfes, and he was taken up for
dead; however, being blooded, though he ‘was for a long time after-
wards very fickly, yet he at daft recovered. The beft Method of difli-
pating thefe noxious Vapours is to admit into them a free Circula-
tion of the Air, as'well as to pour in, by Gutters, a confiderable Quantity
of Water. This Plant is delineated in Plate XXIII. Fig. 2.

The Dump-Cane,

pet S Plant grows to four Feet high, having, at the Top, two green
fhining Leaves, about nine Inches long ; between thefe rifes up a
{mall Spire: The Body of the Plant hath fome Refemblance of a Sugar-
Cane. From hence, and from the Effeds it hath upon Perfons who igno-
rantly tafte it, it derives the Name of Dumb-Cane; for as foon as any:
of the Juice is fwallowed, the Tongue, Fauces, and Ocfophagus, im-
mediately {well fo prodigioufly, that the Perfon affli@ed cannot {peak
It fo affects the falival Glands, that it caufes an immediate Salivation.
If what is thus difcharged, hath the fame Quality as that occafioned by.
Mercury, and if the narcotic Quality could be corrected, it might, per-
haps, be of great Ufe in Phyfic ; for it hath been experienced, that {e-
veral poifonous Plants, whofe Juices were properly corrected, and ex-
actly dos’d, have been fuccefsful Remedies.
A Phyfician, who accompanied the Duke of Aemarle formerly to
Jamaica, fays, that the Juice of the Dumb-Cane, mixed with a certain
Portion of frefh Fat, is a fovereign Remedy in Dropfies, externally ufed,
by. rubbing the Part affected with this Ointment,

The REED.

april? is a flender long graffy Stalk, creeping upon the adjoining

Wood, jointed at every fix Inches: From thefe Joints iffue feveral

{maller Side-branches, cloathed alternately with long tharp-pointed grami-

_ neous Leaves. The main Stalk is hollow ; the Side-ones {olid. The

Flowers are fucceeded by feveral {mall grifly-grey Colour Grains, like
Guiney Corn.

Book VI. Sand of BARBADOS. a
OF ! :
GRAMINEOUS PLANTS

{ R. Ray, in treating of the Wifdom of Ghd in the Creation, juftly
obferves, that it is no {mall Inftance of his Goodnefs, that Wheat,

and we may add Rye, the moft common Corn uféd for Food, fhould
be the Growth of moft Parts of Exrope and Afia. It is likewife no le&
worthy our Notice to obferve, that where the Soil under ‘the Torrid Zones is
too hot to produce fuch, the fame divine Wifdom hath appointed other Kinds
of Corn to grow and ripen there in great Plenty. Thus in Africa, and the
Weft-Indies, the Want of Wheat is fupplied by Indian and Guiney Corn.
And in fome Places, where the exceffive Heat of the Climate renders Labour,
and the Cultivation of Corn, painful, there bountiful Providence, with an
unfparing Hand, ordains Food without Labour, by caufing Plantain and
Banana ‘Trees to grow in great Plenty; whofe Fruit is, by many Perfons,
preferred to any Kind of Bread whatfoever. It was under the Shade of thefe
that many harmlefs Nations of Tdians lived fecuré, until Luxury taught
their more artful Neighbours unneceflary Wants: And fuccefsful Tyranny
called that a glorious Conqueft, which was the Effe@ of Fraud and Op-
preffion. — ° ;

The INDIAN CoRN; Lat. Mays.
ee Roots of this Plant are many: Its Stalk, which is jointed at uncer-
tain Diftances, and within pithy, is ftrong, and of a Reed-like Subftance:
It hath likewife feveral long Reed-like Leaves. The Extremity of the Stalk is
decorated with a Tuft of waving chaffy Glumes, which are called the
Male-flowers.
From the Side of the Stalk, generally neat the Summit, appear the
Ears, which are fometimes three in Number: Thefe ftand upon {hort Foot-
ftalks, and are inwrapped in fometiies ten or eleven green hufky Leaves,
the Whole having the Appearance of a long Cone, from whofe Summit ap-
pears a Taffel of long filky Filaments, each having its Rife from one of the
Grains: Thefe are looked upon to be the Female Flowers. The clofe-folded
Leaves prevent the inclofed Grains from the Injury of Weather whilft young,
and from Vermin and Birds when ripe ; and anfwer every Intention of a
Pod in leguminous Plants. The Ear, which is generally from five to eight
Inches long, contains often three hundred Grains, which clofely, and in per-
pendicular Rows, regularly furround a ftrong chaffy Hutk, whofe Infide
is pithy. This is delineated in Plate XXIII. Fig. 2.
I Jos’s

£o0 4 The Natural Hiftory of the Book VIII.

Jos’s Tears; Lat. Lacryme Jobi.

Ak HE Stalk and Pannicle of this Plant much refemble that of the Guiney

Corn ; and their Seeds, which are inclofed in {mall Capfule, are about
the Bignefs.of an Englifh Pea, and of different Colours. -“Thefe are ftrung.
upon Silk, and ufed-inftead of Bracelets by fome of the poorer “Sort; but
efpecially by the Wegrees.

- Gurney Corn; Lat. Milium Indicum arundinaceum. ©

7 REND different Sorts of this Corn are generally diftinguifhed into that of
the Loofe-car Guiney Wheat, the White, and the Red, the Loaf,. or
the Clove-corn. The Stalk of each is a Reed or Cane-like Subftance, jointed,
at about nine or ten Inches afunder, more or lefs: Its Roots are many and.
long, clofely matted together, and to be feen, fome Parts. of them, above-. 7]
ground: The Stalk often grows to eight Feet high, fometimes higher, ac-

. cording to the Richnefs of the Soil it is planted in. It bears long Reed-like
Leaves, gently: waving into feveral Bendings, ending in a fharp Point. The.
Top of theStalk terminates ina {picated Tuft, compofed of numberlefs Fibres,
each fupporting many {mall Grains of about the Bignefs of a Coriander-feed.
Ihave reckoned on one large Ear near four thoufand Grains, There is like-

_ wife fometimes one, if not two. other {mall Ears upon the Stalks, fomewhat.
below the large one, which terminates the Stalks; however, where thefe Side-,
ears are, the main one is generally lef. This Grain made into Bread,. or, ©
otherwife ufed, is juftly efteemed very wholfome. It is with this that the.
Slaves are generally fed, each being allowed from a Pint to a Quart’ —
apiece every Day. This is delineated in Plate XXIII. Fig, 3.

Book IX, Iand of BARBADOS.

B'O.O K; IX.

rel Ue FE feveral foregoing Books being taken up in confider~
€: Les ing the Nature of our Land-Animals, Vegetables and Mi-
nerals, I {hall proceed to make fome Remarks on the

x Shores and its Inhabitants ; firft curforily obferving, that
thofe are (a few Bays excepted) intirely invironed with high
Cliffs, from three to fixty Feet high ; which, under Provi-
dence, are in a.great meafure, our Bulwarks againft our Enemies, as well
as fix’d Boundaries to the raging of the Sea in the Time of Hurricanes,

As far as the Sea in moderate Weather wafhes them, they are almoft
one continued Rock from thence upwards; they are in fome Places (ef-
pecially at the North End of the Parith of St. Lucy’s) fomewhat thattered
and divided, by Veins of gritty Marl, Earth and loomy Chalk ; likewife
all the Stones found on the Shores (except a few Flints on a Place called
the Green-Shoal) are of the Afterites-Kind ; and the Sand (except in a
few deep Bays) feems, ‘in a great meafure, to be only Fragments of Star-
{tones and Corals. to

The feveral Cavities in the Cliffs. facing the Sea, are proper Dens for
Racoons, and fuch like wild Beafts. They are likewife a Place of
Safety for feveral Sea-birds to breed in, efpecially, at a Place called the
Bird-rock; where are to be feen,-at moft Times of the Year, a great
many of their Nefts and Eggs: The young ones are fharp-bill’d, web-
footed, and very fat, but tafte fifhy. The old ones are feldom or ever
{een in the Day-time; for they are obliged to range to fo great a Diftance
from the Shore for Food, that they have been {een Scores of Miles: from
Land ; yet they dire& their Courfe, in the darkeft Night, with a fur-
prizing Exactnefs, to their refpective Nefts,

S{f The

2 52

The Natural Hiffory of the Book IX.

The Sea Weeds, which grow in Plenty near the Shores of this Hland,
are no lefs beautiful ‘to the:Eye.than they are ufeful ; affording Food
for feveral Kinds‘ of Fifth, fuch as the Tortoife, Chubbs, Mullets, Blue-
fith, and the Mofs-grooper, &e. :

And as in Northern Climates they prove a Shelter from the Inclemency
of the cold Weather, to fuch Fith as are obliged to feek their Food in
fhallow. Water; fo likewife, in hot Countries, they equally fhelter them

from the intenfe Heat of the Sun. Nor are the large Beds of Sea-Weeds,

which: are feen floating in the Ocean, without their peculiar Ufes ; among,
others, in thefe feveral Kinds of the leffer and moft helplefs Species of
Fith, depofit their Spawn; and here likewife they are proteéted whilft
young from their Enemies. _ =

The Variety of thefe Weeds, efpecially the foft Fic, growing on
the Rocks and Stones near the Shore, are not only curious in their
Make, but they are likewife, in all Probability, (were we to know all the
Intentions of Providence in creating them,) as many, as ufeful, and
valuable, as the terreftial Vegetables we are better acquainted with.

Some of them, like Groves in Miniature, extend their numerous Branches
to a confiderable Diftance : Others, like weak creeping Vines, are of fo
fmall, foft and delicate a Texture, that they may be intended for Food,

to the fmalleft Animalcules. So that upon the whole, from the little

that we do know of fubmarine Produétions, we may juftly conclude, that,
as the Earth is full of God’s Goodnefs, fo is the great and wide Sea,

The BUACK-FRINGED Sra-WEEp.

os ae is very finely fringed, and very bufhy, efpecially near the
Top. Its feveral Subdivifions are neatly bearded with infinite
Numbers of fhort, hairy, foft pointed Briftles. Its moft fubftantial
lower Branches are thickly ftudded with {everal {mall Berries,

The Frince Sra-Wexp.

HE Colour of this is generally White, aaa exactly refembles
the Fringe or Border of Cufhions: It is found upon almoft every
fandy Bay. CRA o ;

The WuitE, NARRoW-LEAFED SEA-WEED:

ae HE Roots of this are clofely matted together. Its feveral, thick-
{et, capillarious, fringy Branches, ate divided into lateral, {maller
ones ; and thefe again, elegantly fubdivided into others, ftill lefs; each
generally ending in a triparture Divifion, and fometimes, tho’ rarely, in
a white, leafy, broad Point.

2 The

Book IX. [land of BARBADOS. 253

The Lone Brown Sea-wEep.

HIS Mofs is the longeft of all others, being often above twelve

i Inches in Length; the main Branches are feldom fubdivided into

lefler ones ; each being thickly cloathed with {mall oval Leaves, inter-

mixed with brownifh Berries. This chiefly grows upon Rocks, at fome
Diftance from the Shore.

The WuitTe BRoaD-LEAF’pD Sea-WEED.

HE Leaves of this fomewhat refemble thofe of a fmall curled
Lettuce, but far more membranoufly thin ; and the Leaves more
finuated and involved in the F oldings of each other.

The Pate-GREEN SEA-WEED.

HIS grows into a Clufter of thin, flat, pale-green Leaves, di-
vided fideways into many Branches, each terminating in a blunt, —
forked Point.

The CoraL Seta-WEED.

HIS extends itfelf from the Rocks, in a long, naked Stem, of a

brown. yellowifh Colour, in Subftance near as thick a as Raven’s
Quill; each, at its Extremity, divided into a Group of many blunt-
pointed Divifions.

The BRowN HEAD-LEAF’D SEA-WEED. ~

HIS grows in a thick Bunch; the Leaves, -as they grow, widen ;
and, towards the Top, divide into five or fix deep round-pointed
Sections.

The Fine, WHITE Sea-WEED.

HE Branches of this are very {mall, and all over hairy: I have

i found this Sort growing upon the Sea-Cliffs, near a Place called

_ the Spout, in St. Lucy’s Parifh: There is likewife a black Sort, which

differs from this only in Colour, as well as a dark green fimilar to it.

This, as it grows, becomes a ftronger Plant, and expands into Branches,
refembling, in Miniature, a Deer’s Horn,

The

DIA The Natural Fiiflory of the Book IX.

The NEw-ENGLAND, or RIBBAND SEA-WEED.

HIS refembles a Half-inch-wide green Ribband, and is about two
Foot long; itis generally to be found in deep Water.

The Russet Narrow-Lear’p SEA-WEED.

HIS grows in Bunches, upon one common Foot-ftalk ; its
Branches, ‘which are about two Inches long, are flat, and later-
ally divided into many others, ending generally in a blunt, forked Point.

The FEATHER SEA-WEED.

HE Roots of this are long, and creeping, having feveral up-

right, fingle Stalks ; thefe are about four Inches high, each exaét-
ly teenies a {mall blunt-pointed Pen-feather, whofe Plumes are wet,
and feparated : Thefe are in general, of a dark Colour.

The SEa-JEws-Ears.

HE SE are thin and pellucid ; ofa femioval Form, growing upon
ool Boe — Rocks.

The Orance-CoLour SeRaNainDE

HIS feldom grows above four Inches high, is of a fine bright
Orange-colour, and very much refembles a fmall, thick-branch’d
Tree, in Miniature.

The BLack BRANCHING SEA-WEED.

HIS divides into many upright freight —— each forked — |
at the Top.

The KNoTED SEA-GRAss.

HIS is by far lefs pliable than the laft defcribed, and abour- a as
flender as a ftrong Horfe-hair, the whole being feemingly knoted,
the intermediate Space being very fmall. ©
The PaLE-YELLoW SEA-Grass.

HIS is of a fine, foft, filky Texture, growing upon old Logs of
Wood under Water, and hanging wavingly in it,

The tl

Book IX. Sand of BARBADOS.

The SHort Purprisy Sea-Moss.

HIS is feldom above an Inch long, and generally grows upon the
Extremity of a pendent Rock or Stone.

The PALE PurPLE SEA-WEED.

os very beautiful Weed grows like a Tree in Miniature ; it is
very full of Branches; and the Whole tran{parent.

The CARBUNCLE.

ae EIS isa ftony or thelly Excrefcence, growing hollow upon Rocks,
and fometimes even upon the Back of a Tortoife-fhell: When up-

on the latter, they are generally of a Limpet-fhape, the former; of many

irregular Shapes: Each Sort is inhabited by a Shell-fith peculiarly,

The Turrep PENNATED SEA-WEED.

Me E Roots of this are {mall and long; the main Stem is generally
~ fingle, each Side elegantly adorned with fmall oval Leaves, grow-
ing oppofite to one another, and, when dried, of a tranfparent yellow Go-
lour; thefe grow in feveral Pairs, and then difcontinue; fo that the
Stalk fhall appear naked for about a Quarter of an Inch in Length; and
then another Tuft rifes; and fo on alternately to the Top. This Plant
feldom grows above four Inches high,

The PENNATED SEa-WEED.

i Be feldom grows above three Inches high, and exactly refembles a
very fmall Pen-feather. It generally grows upon old Logs of Wood
in the Sea, and moft commonly not far from Shore.

The GREEN Broap-Lear’p Sra-WEED.

ape IS differs not materially, in its Make, from the White-lettuce Sea-
Weed, already defcribed. It is obferved, that Tortoifes feed more
upon this, than any other Kind of Sea-Weed.

The RED-LEAr’D Sk A-WeEED.
4b HESE grow in many oblong Leaves, about three Quarters of aii
Inch long, and of a light-purplifh Colour ; generally between high
and low Water-mark.

chet — Zhe

255

J

256

The Natural Hiftory of the Book IX.

The SzEA-GRass,
pet S is of a green Colour, hanging in many very fine long filky

Shreds ; growing generally upon the Rocks, between high and low
Water-mark.

The THICK PLUSHY Sea-Moss.

ans IS is generally of a green Colour, of a foft pluthy ‘Texture ;

growing upon Stones and Rocks in the Sea,

The GRAPE-SEA-WEED.

HIS is of a dark Amber-colour. Its feveral Branches are fo many
hollow Tubes, the Extremity of each generally ending in a {mall,
round Berry, about as big as a Grain of Pepper.

The GREEN SiLKyY Sea-Moss.

"BA HIS grows generally between high and low Water-mark ; and very
much refembles, in its Texture and Appearance, a confufed feat-
tered Clufter of raw Silk, — : 2

OF

Qi EF
EXANGUIOUS ANIMALS,

and, according to Arifforle, they may be farther claffed, by the
following Order, into three Kinds

(x) Firft, Thofe that are compofed of a foft flefhy Texture ; fuch as

Snails.

(2) Secondly, Thofe that are more firm ; as all the cruftaceous Kinds,
fuch as Crabs and Lobfters,

And (3), Thirdly, Thofe that inhabit the firmeft Shells; fuch as Oy-
fters, as well as all other Shell-fith.

Thefe, and fuch bloodlefs Animals, are called Exanguious.

T: ESE are divided into Terreftrial, Aquatic, and Amphibious ;

The MARBLED SNAIL.

Found thefe in Plenty upon the Bank of a Pond, whofe freth Water
I had a Mixture of Salt-water, fometimes thrown into it at high Tides.

The young Snails hang in great Numbers upon the Grafs, in the wa-
tery Edges of the Pond,

(1) Meranta éoly dou chvouimnce by)ee Et]ds ences 70 wupnodes, ev]dc de rd SERED, Hy To Evoupocm
toy Codwv, biov TO Tey Lyrioy ivr.

(2) Maransocegnce el dou 70 pe sepedv eos exsas, ey]ds ds 70 pochaxdy % Toupuedes, +d
os sepedy Tay B Oeausov, ara Prasoav, Giov 70 Tay Karpaewy yirG., % TO Toy ecupredeny.

(3) Ocpanddegua tet, dy év]dg fev 50 capuddes, éx]os d: rd SEp20Y, Joousdy, xy notrautloy,aan 2
Prarroy, rotrov ds to TAY KoyMieov wy TAY dspeo yév@n,

+ The

258

The Natural Hiftory of the Book IX.

The Sta-LeEECH.

WON HE common People call this thie Sea, or the Black-pudding :
However, I fhall call it, the Sea-leech; it hath the Name of
Black-pudding from its great Refemblance to it.

Its ordinary Bulk is about five Inches long, and two in Breadth ;
yet I have known it to extend itfelf above eight Inches in Length.

They are generally found clinging to the lower Sides of Rocks or
Stones, between high and low Water-mark. “este

They have no Appearance of Eyes, Legs, or Feet; at leaft, to the
naked Eye. :

Their Motion is very flow, and of the mufcular Kind.

When the Tide of Flood begins to wath the Holes they are in, they
extend from what we muft now call the Head-Part, in a Bunch, ten or
twelve Snouts like the Horns of a Snail, all coming from one common
Root, like a Bunch of Coral; the Top of each being far wider than the
Shank.

Tam confident, that thefe (if I may be allowed to compare {mall Things
with great) are defigned, as Trunks are to Elephants, to be the Inftru-
ments of receiving their Nourifhment thro’ them.

Having examined the Infide of this, it is one continued Circumyvolu-
tion of white Guts, not bigger than the bafe String of a Fiddle.

The Water that it emits, when {queez’d, is of {0 corrofive a Nature,
that it fmarts very much, and raifes Blifters upon that Part of the Skin,
upon which it falls.

The NakepD Sea-SNalt.

a is generally of about an Inch and an half long; but, as it is
capable of greatly contracting or expanding itfelf, it appears of va-
tious Bulk, according to its different Motions; flender, when it extends
itfelf, and thick almoft to a Roundnefs, when it is contra@ed,
It is found under the Rocks and Stones near the Shore,

The Sra-ScorPIon.
W HAT we call here the Scorpion, is by Petiver called Stella

marina Scolopendroides.

Its five Rays might perhaps properly caufe it to be called the Syella

Marina.

Book IX. Wandof BARBADOS, 289

The Sza-Fo RTy-LeEc.

a HIS is about two Inches and a quarter long ; the Back jointed;
and divided into feveral dumuli, thick-fet, with fi fhort white
Briftles. . ; ; 4
Thefe, when they are all ereé, exactly refemble Pluth.
The Head is guarded with a Forceps, refembling that of a Land Forty
Legs; and is found under Stones and Rocks near the Shore.

The SEa-SucxEr.

6 Bo almoft fhapelefs Animal is of a brown fungous tough Jel-
ly-like Subftance, fticking to the Rock always under Water: At a

Diftance, it hath the Appearance of a Sponge.

Tt is generally of an irregular roundifh Shape, of about an Inch and
an half in Diameter.

In the Centre of it appears a round Hole, about a quarter of an
Inch broad: This I take to be its Mouth; for when this is touched, it
clofes its Sides together. i

I SHALL finith this Clafs of Exanguious Animals, by defcribing one
of a furprifing Make, fixed to the Rocks and Stones, without any
thelly Covering. :

Its Length, is about an Inch, and three Quarters ; and is an Inch in
Diameter ; the Outfide granated, very much refembling the Roe of a
Fifh, interfperfed with Véins of a Snuff-colour, and pale-red, mixed with
very pale green Lifts: When it is feeding, both Ends are flat, the one
cleaving to the Rock, the other expofed to the Flux and Reflux of the
Waves: In the Centre of the latter is its Mouth : In this, when it opens,
or gapes to receive what Nourifhment the Sea, by the dafhing of its
Waves, throws in its Way, are feen innumerable fmall blunt {piral
Feelers, of about a quarter of an Inch long; interwoven within one
another: Thefe are all in Motion, as well as the Mouth open, when the
Waves dafh againft the Rocks they are upon, as if they were, at that In-
ftant, in Search of Food. In the Intermiffion of the Waves, the Mouth
clofes ; and thefe Feclers, which are very many, and much refembling,
in Shape, the fmall Vefcule, which conftitutes the pulpy Part of Oranges
or Lemons) are contracted, and with a ftrong, but flow mufcular Motion
clofe together, and are, as it were, fucked back into the Body of the Ani-
mal: Yet they immediately dart out upon the Return of the Waves;
but when the Whole is intirely left dry, by the Abfence of the Water,
this flat circular End, in which the Mouth and Feelers appeared, and

Uuu which,

260

Fig. 4.

Ihe Natural Hiftory of the Book IX.

which, juft before, when feeding, were of an Inch Diameter, is in an
Inftant contracted, like the Mouth of a Purfe drawn together ; and be-
comes of a blunt conic Form, the Bafe being the Part fixed or clinging
to the Rock.

Its Appearance, in this its quiefcent State, is reprefented in Plate X.

There is likewife a lefs Sort, of the fame Species with the Hbeve.

defcribed, differing chiefly in Colour, which of the fmaller Kind is

black.

OF

‘Book IX. Wlandof BARBADOS.

O F

CRUSTACEOUS ANIMALS,

S thofe Kinds of Fifh, whofe Safety depends upon their Swiftnefs
A in Swimming, have not only their Tails and Fins properly adapted
for that Purpofe, but their Eyes likewife (witnefs the Dolphin) never jut-
ting out above the Surface of the Head, left they fhould retard their
Motion thro’ fo thick a Medium; fo, on the other hand, as the Safety
of Crabs and Lobfters, &'c. depends not upon their Celerity, and as
thefe inhabit the Cavities of fubmarine Rocks and Cliffs, where their
Enemies often lurk under the fame Shelter ; to prevent therefore a fudden
Surprize from any of thefe, Providence hath not only guarded them
with a ftrong fhelly Covering, and often Prickles ; but hath fo commo-
dioufly formed the Eyes of thefe Creatures, that by their great Promi-
nency, and jutting out, fometimes above half an Inch, they can, with-
out moving their Bodies, take at once a circular View all around them.

The Wef-India Lobfters, or what are {0 called, being in Reality the
fame Make in this Part of America, differ in general, from the Exgli/b
Kind, by their Want of Claws, and being guarded with many Prickles.

Thefe, as well as all other Kind of Shell-fith, as Milton elegantly ex-
preffes it,

Within their pearly Shells at Eafe attend
_ Moift Nourifhment, or under Rocks their Food
In jointed Armour waich.-------

The

261

262

iV an
*

The Natural Fiflory of the Book IX.

Lhe Dominico-LossTER.

Gh Lobfter feldom weighs more than about two Pounds.

The Rep LoBsTER.

pus is the largeft Lobfter that we have in this Seas for it often

_ weighs twenty Pounds; its Colour as above ; but the larger it is in
Bulk, the lefs delicious it is. ;

The GREEN LopsTer.

f | ‘HIS derives its Name partly from its Colour ; and generally weighs,
when full-grown, between three and four Pounds.
Its two largeft Horns, or Feelers, are about eighteen Inches long:

From between thefe come two leffer ones, forked or divided near their

Extremities. ci os
_ The Eyes are guarded by two fharp-pointed crooked Horns.
The Extremities of the Feet are hairy; and the Shell upon the Back,
efpecially about the Roots of the great Feclers, is very thickly ftudded —
with fharp Prickles. ; oe

.. . The QuEEN or the Bonne-Grace LogsTer.
og fet largeft of this Sort never weigh above two Pounds.
4 This is juftly efteemed one of the beft of the Lobfter Kind.

poo <5: GARE The Lazy Cras. eae a

‘ap FIIS ds a very large beautiful Crab. HS cd

The Back ‘is generally full of {mall Knobs of a: pale-fcarlet Co-

- dour ;. guarded here and there, but efpecially’ about the Edges of the

‘Back-Shell, .with fhort fharp Prickles.

It hath four ftrong: Legs ona Side; thefe are covered over with a
fhort brownifh Hair or Pile, andvare likewife, in the Male Crab, defended
with Prickles, the laft Joint:of each Leg ending in a fharp Point.

Its two great Claws, from the Setting-on to the Body to their Extremi-
ties, are often ten Incheslong, 9 >

The very Tips of the two meeting Claws, with which it holds its Prey,
remarkably differ from all other.Crabs, by their great Breadth, as well as
by their feveral regular Indentings, which, when they clofe together, fall
as regularly into their Sockets as the oppofite Sides of a Pair of Nippers.

A Claw of one of thefe uncommon Crabs may be {een in the Colleétion
of Mr. Peter Collinfon. sialaepele
_ The Whole is delineated in Plate XXV. Fig. r.

: The

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Pri { a si
— RNS SSAA ATT
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Wht 7
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i

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Plate 0s humbly Insorbdlie. |

ik eS egaa Ss.

: a Uprace the D UKE of NORFOLK,

* :
‘*
, oe
y

Book IX. land of BARBADOS. 263

The HorsMAn-CRAB or BEN-TRoTTERS,

eas {mall whitith Crab, which is generally to be found between

high and low Water-Mark, and is called Florfeman from its great
Speed in fecuring itfelf, either by Tunning into its Hole, or the Sea, is
far lefs than the white Land-Crab: Its Number of Feet are equal.

The Cius-Men,

i Eewee are very {mall Crabs, near as fmall as thofe called the She-
Biters. ;

They are to be feen near the Edges of falt-water Marthes ; they
burrow in thefe fandy and clayey Places.

‘Their Claws are very large, in proportion to their Bodies: From hence it
is faid that they derive their Name.

The Sur-Brrers.

aE HESE are very {mall Crabs, inhabiting the Shoals,
Their Backs are not wider than an Englifp Shilling,
Their Claws, in proportion, are very large,

The LONG-LEGGED VERY SMALL WHITE Crap.

fee Body of this is not larger than an Englifh Silver Groat.
Its very flender Legs are at leaft a Foot and an half long, and re-
femble knotted Thread.

This Species of Crabs are fo feldom to be met with, that I never faw but

one, and that dead, which was in the Colle@ion of my learned Friend
Dr. Warren, deceafed.

The ScuTTLE-CRap.

or HIS is a {mall brownifh Crab, marbled on the Back with darkith

Lines.

It feeds generally upon the Mofs that grows upon the Rocks, between
high and low Water-Mark.

Their Armour, when caft, which they caft once a Year, looks very
beautiful.

This Crab will creep up and down the moft fteep perpendicular, or even
a projected Rock,

>. © o< The

264

The Natural Hiftory of the Book IX,

The Rep SEA-Crae.
T HIS differs very little, if any thing, from the fame Species in Eg-

land, except in the Colour, which is of a fine Scarlet ; and there- _
fore abundantly brighter than that of the Exgli/b Crab, which is of a dirty
Red.
They grow here to a great Size ; but are not, however, fo large as
thofe of the fame Kind in Exgland, but better tafted.

The Str-EAGER CRAB,

HE Back-Shell of moft Crabs is fomewhat roundifh ; but of this
tis near four Inches long, and not full two broad, the oppofite
Parts in Length ending in a fharp ftrong Prickle.

From each of thefe Points to the other the Shape of the Shell comes
neareft to that of a Semicircle.

This is regularly and deeply indented like the Tecth of a Saw, each
ending in a fharp Point.

The Colour of the upper Shell is blackifh, clouded or ftained with
fome {cattered Spots of Pale-white. :

The two Claws are long, ‘but flender ; the upper Joint, as well as the
Claw itfelf, guarded with three or four Prickles or Teeth.

The upper Part of the laft Joint is irregularly {quared, and of a
brownifhColour; the Part underneath fomewhat rounder, and of a bluith
Colour. '

Their Legs are equal in Number to thofe of the Crabs already defcribed ;
and they are chiefly caught in falt-water Ponds near the Sea.

They are juftly efteemed good Eating.

The Larce Waite Lanp-Crap.

A eae: Claws of this are very long and large, in proportion to the

reft of the Body.
' ‘Thefe always burrow in a fandy Soil, near the Sea ; and come chiefly
out at Nights, to feed upon the green Grafs, and tender Vines, growing
tipon fuch Places.

They often likewife feed upon Manchaneel Apples, as well as upon
the Leaves or Berries of Poifon-trees.

At fuch times they are dangerous to be eaten, unlefs very great Care be
taken to wath the Fat, as well as the other Meat on the Infide, with a fuffi-
eient Quantity of Lime- Juice and Water.

The

Book IX. land of BARBADOS. 265

The MuLatTro Cras.

HIS differs from the white, already defcribed, chiefly in the Colour

of its Shell, which is yellowifh, and its Refidence, which is often

up inthe Country, above two or three Miles diftant from the Sea. c

They generally burrow about the Edges of frefh-water Ponds, the
Bottom of their Holes being always fo deep as to reach the Water.

Thefe feed in the Night upon the green tender Grafs about the Sides of

the Ponds, and are in general efteemed as good Eating as the white

Crabs ; but prove equally as poifonous, if eaten foon after they have fed

| upon the Berries of Poifon-trees; unlefs, as before, the Fat and the in-

fide Meat is firft wafhed in Lime-Juice ; which either correéts or wafhes

off the venomous Quality.

The Buack LanpD-CRas.

HIS {mall Crab, though I have never feen it, yet, as I am credibly
informed, is generally an Inhabitant of old Timber-Houfes, and fuch
Ruins; and it is very fat and delicious, but rare and uncommon,

The RED LAND-CRAB:

HIS is but a {mall Crab ; the Back feldom above two Inches long 5
its Colour of a blackifh Red.

It hath two Claws, and four Legs, on a Side.

Thefe Crabs, after a heavy Shower of Rain in the Months of March,
April, and May, are to be feen in great Numbers, loaden with Spawn,
going down to the Sea-Side to depofit it in the Sand, near the Wath
of the Water; and foon afterwards to return into the Country, but
generally not very far from the Sea; though I have often feen them at
above two Miles Diftance from the falt Water.

As thefe are very fat, they. are efteemed good Eating.

The common Method of dreffing them among the Negroes is, to roaft
them.

This Species of Crabs were perhaps very plentiful in Jza/y in the Time
of Virgil ; for, in his fourth Georgic, he forbids roafting of red Crabs
near an Apiary, the Smell of them being difagreeable to the Bees.

The SoLDIER-CRAB.
— HIS is amphibious.

Sometimes it is caught upon the Rocks at a confiderable Diftance
from the Land; but they are moft commonly feen upon the Shore,

It

266

The Natural Hiftory of the Book IX,

It is thought to have derived its Name from its frequent Change of its
Quarters; for its firft Appearance is generally in a very {mall Periwinkle-fhell ;
as it grows too big for this, it looks out for another empty Shell, agreeable
to its prefentBulk ; foon after, it takes up its Abode in a large Wilk-thell.

It hath two Claws, refembling thofe of a Crab.

The Tail-Part affords a great Quantity of Oil, which is looked upon
to be of great Service to lubricate fwoln or ftiff Joints.

Thefe are often found cleaving to Rocks in the Sea, but oftener in
Granaries on Shore, where they deftroy much Corn.

The Tail, or the hinder Part, is covered witha thin Skin.

This is delineated in Plate KXV. Fig. 2.

. The HorNED CRAs.

HIS Crab is of a middle Size.
The Shell upon the Back, in fome Places, is much elevated, and
again indented.

Its Head is guarded with two Pair of Horns, both very ftrong, and
fharp-pointed ; the one Pair about an Inch and an half long, the other
not above half an Inch. .

Each Side of the Trunk or Body is likewife armed with four fharp
Prickles, refembling a Cock’s Spur.

The Body is fupported by four Legs on a Side, befides two long. feed-
ing Claws, each ending in a Forceps.

The whole Crab is covered with brownith pluthy Hairs,

As to the reft of its Make, it differs from other Crabs, in that its Shell
is longer in proportion than moft other Crabs, the Sir-Eager excepted, and
more fharp-pointed than any towards the Head.

This is delineated in Plate XXV. Fig. 3.

The SEA Gocr Rocu.

HIS is of the Crab-Kind, and about an Inch long,
Its upper Shell, which is of a brownifh White, freckled with Black,
much refembles, in its Make, that of a ‘Tortoife.
The Head is provided with two hairy Feelers, like the Land-Cock-
Roch.
It hath likewife near the Mouth two long Legs, or Providers, one confi-
derably longer than the other. _
The Body is likewife fupported by fix other fhorter hairy ftrong Legs.
The Tail-Part ends in a fharp-pointed Flap, which covers Part of the
Belly, and in the Females is the Repofitory of the Spawn.
Thefe live in Holes in the Sand, in the Wath of the Water.
They are fometimes eaten ; and have a Crab-like Tafte.

SEALE, S

Book IX. and of BARBADOS.

SHELLS, ad SHELL-FISH.

HESE are alfo of the exanguious Tribe; and differ from the

cruftaceous Kind, by having their Organs lefs perfe& ; for, as the
admirable Mr. Locke obferves, an Oyfter or Muffel hath not as many,
nor as quick Senfes as a Man, or feveral other Animals : Nor, if it had,
‘would it, in that State, and Incapacity of transferring itfelf from one Place
to another, be bettered by them. What Good would Sight and Hearing
do to a Creature that cannot move itfelf to or from an Obje& wherein at
a Diftance it perceived Good or Evil? And would not Quicknefs of Sen-
fation be an Inconvenience to an Animal, that muft be ftill where Chance
hath once placed it, and there receive the Afflux of col
clean or foul Water, as it happens to come to it?

It may be expected, that I fhould here confider thefe beautiful Pro-
ductions ina phyfical Light, and as they are a Curiofity belonging to the
Cabinets of the Virtwofi : Yet I thall beg leave to {peak of them, as they
contribute to the Amufement of the Ladies. And this I am the rather
induced to do, as I have heard feveral of the Fair Sex, who are fond of
Shell-work, frequently ridiculed, as wafting their Time in a trifling and
ufelefs Manner ; and this not without a very confiderable Expence. That
this Employment is by no means trifling or ufelefs, is eafily proved, as it
is abfolutely grounded on the noble and elegant Art of Defigning, and as
its End is equally that of Imitation. What the Painter performs by an
Affemblage of various Colours properly diftributed, is here produced by
a Difpofition of Shells, as their different Tinétures, Shapes, or Sizes,
happen to direct the Fancy: Add to this, that the Reprefentation is by
far more ftriking in Shell-work, than on the Canvas,

I have {een a Rofe in Shells, glowing with as exquifite a Red, as that
which it received from the Spring. And hence it appears, that Shell-
work partakes of the Nature of Painting, if not of Statuary; imitating
not only by Colours, buta full Relievo. In fhort, nothing can be more
properly termed a new Creation, than a well-executed Syftem of Shell-
work,

der or warmer,

Wyy What

267

268

The Natural Hiftory of the Book IX:

What can be more delightful to the Imagination, than a Grotto com-
pletely embellifhed with this Kind of Imagery? With what truly roman-
tic Ideas muft it infpire one, to fit in a Room furnifhed with the Riches
of the moft diftant Shores and Oceans! And thefe not confufedly thrown
together, but judicioufly difpofed into regular Reprefentations of natural
Objedts! We are ftruck with Aftonifhment! Nor can we determine,
whether we fhould moft admire the Sun, which gave to each particular
Shell its delicate Hue, or the Hand of the fair Artift, which ranged
them with fo much Skill.

It will be needlefs perhaps to add in this Place, that one of Mr. 4a.
difon’s Sources of the Pleafures of Imagination may be found in a
Work of this Sort, in its higheft Perfection ; namely, The Beautiful.

Thus I have obviated the Obje@tion, that this Amufement (or rather
Art) is ufelefs and trifling. And here it will be proper to take Notice,
that the Genius of Women is much better fitted for this Employment,
than that of Men. For as Shell-work confifts in forming pleafant Pic-
tures, and agreeable Reprefentations, and as thefe are effected by the
means of Shape and Colour artificially put together, a certain Facility
and Fancifulnefs is required, which our Sex is an intire Stranger to.

But, allowing this Diverfion to be trifling and ufelefs, the mof ill-
natured Caviller cannot deny, but that it is innocent. How many La-
dies do we {ee fafhionably murdering their Time in Gaming | A Diverfion
attended with fome of the moft abje& Vices, and fhocking Confequences :
‘Vices; which one would think inconfiftent with the Softnefs of the Sex,
and Confequences, which, I am fure, that SoftnefS can but ill fuftain.
A Praétice this, which ruins their Honour, their F amilies, and Fortunes ;
and (what one would think the Ladies would take more to Heart)---their
Faces. Whereas the Joys of this our Purfuit are pure, and intirely
founded on a contemplative Turn of Mind; efpecially, if we fuppofe,
that one of our modern Calyp/a’s, after having thus adorned her Grot,
would no doubt chufe to reap the Fruit of her Labours, by making it a
Place to cultivate her Mind in by Mufing,

Some Diverfions muft indifputably be indulged the Fair Sex; and this,
I think, is not only as becoming, but as proper, as any. We cannot
fuppofe, that our Cynthia’s and Flavia’s can leap a five-barr’d Gate, or
walk half a Day with a Gun in queft of a Wood-cock; Sports, which
are better fuited to the Strength and Roughnefs of the oppofite Sex.
But it may be objected, that there are other Diverfions equally adapted
to the Delicacy of Women ; for Inftance, the Cultivation of Flowers:
In the firft Place, I hall remark, that the Study of the Florift is not fo
pleafing ; whofe chief Pride confifts in a Variety and Beauty of Colours,
Now I appeal to the moft experienced Naturalift, Whether the moft
choice Colle&ion of Tulips, can vie in beautiful Colours with the Pa-
mana, or Sun-fhell, the Ear-thell, and the Murex, which affords the
genuine Zyrian Purple? And now I am particularly infifting on the

Beauty

Book IX. land of BARBADOS, 269

Beauty of Shells, I cannot but obferve, that no antient Author, befides
Lucretius, has taken notice of them in that View. His Lines are thefe:

Concharumg; genus, parili ratione, videmus
Pingere telluris gremium, qua mollibus undis
Littoris incurvi bibulam lavit equor arenam. L. Ul. v. 374.

The Race of Shells, with ever-varying Birth,
So paint the Bofom of the bounteous Earth ;
Where the calm Sea the concave Margin laves,
And bathes the thirfty Beach with gentle Waves,

In the next Place, the Study of Flowers is more expenfive. I confefs in-
deed, that a Colletion of Shells cannot be prepared without fome con-
fiderable Charge. But do not we daily fee large Sums thrown away on
a fingle Tulip-root, the Succefs of whofe future Beauty is intirely pre-
carious ? And are not the Hopes and Fears of its Mafter determined by
Showers and Sun-fhine ? Befides, after much Pains and Solicitude, when
the Flower is arrived at its utmoft Luftre, how foon does it fade! Where-
as the Strength and Beauty of the Shell is fixed, and will fand through
many Ages. Indeed, the only Argument that the Study of Flowers has
to recommend itfelf to the Ladies, is, that it will admirably teach them
how frail and fugitive is Beauty !

I fhall only add, that I hope the following Book, from what has been
faid, will be confidered as not only written to gratify the Curiofity of the
inquifitive Philfopher, but to improve the Imagination of the Female
Artificer.

Of the MuREX:

UT of all the Shell-fifh, which are picked up on the Shores of this
Ifland, the Purple-Fifh is the moft curious and valuable, and de-
ferves a diftin& and a more accurate Defcription. :

We make no Scruple to affert, that this Purple-Fith is the fo much
celebrated Murex of the Antients; fince it fo well agrees with the Ac-
count which Pliny and other Vaturaliffs have tranfmitted to us of the
latter ; as we fhall endeavour to evince in the following Remarks.

And that we may proceed with as much Clearnefs ‘and Perfpicuity as
we can; it may not be amifs to enumerate the feveral Appellations with
which this particular Species or Sort of the Purple-Fith was diftinguifhed
from the reft, and to account for each as well as we may.

I, It is too notorious, that claffical Authors, and more efpecially the ee
Poets, have indi/criminately ufed the Words Purpura, and Murex; and”
have given the general Name, Purple, to the feveral particular Tin&ures
of thefe different Shell-Fifh, as if the Dye of the one did not differ from

the

270

The Natural Hiffory of the Book IX.

the Dye of the other; and the Purpura and Murex were on2 and the
fame Fith. But let us, if it be poflible, be more exact, and diftinguifh
them as well as we can; which we fhall attempt to do, by giving the
Reader as clear and precife a Defcription of the Murex [for to that more
efpecially fhall we confine our Inquiries] as we are able to collect from
antient Authors.

xie, and, The Murex is often called by Greek Authors, xiv, and Buccinum
'y 3° 7p

Buccinum.

Murex.

by the Latins ; both which Appellations are evidently beftowed upon it,
becaufe it belongs to the Tribe of thofe Shell-fifh which are ftiled Bucci-
natores ; or, as Horace names them, /onantes Conche, founding Conchs ;
whofe Shells, being twifted, hollow, and fit for the Retention of the Air,
refemble, in an imperfeét Degree, that Shell, . which the Antients ufed in
giving their Alarms and Summons, both at Sea, and on Land ; and which
fome of the Moderns at this Day carry and ufe in their Ships.

2. And as thefe Names are attributed to the Murex from the Form or
Make of its Shell; fo we are induced to believe, that the Appellation
Murex owes its Rife to the Roughne/s of it. For its Shell is ftudded with
Prickles, ranged in regular Rows, as is the Purpura alfo, and many other
Shells of this Clafs: So that the Name Murex is by no means proper to
the Purple Conch we are {peaking of ; but belongs to a large Tribe, whofe
particular Families are varioufly diftinguifhed. It is confeffed, that
Pliny (a) (if we underftand him, and the Copy be clear of Errors] af-
ferts, ‘* that the Buccinum hath no Prickles, as hath the Purpura; and
“ that in the Shells of both there is a Number of circular Rows, or Ribs,
“ correfponding to the Number of their Years.” But we prefume this
laborious Naturalift either-means, that the Prickles of the Buccinum are
not fo prominent or large as thofe of the Purpura; or herein has forgotten

himfelf. For if the Buccinum and Murex are the fame Fifh, and allowed

by him (4) to be fo ; it follows, that the Buceimum muft have the Aculeos,
as well as the Purpura, fince the Name Murex was evidently beftowed
upon it, becaufe its Shell is poizted: or prickled(c). ‘This is the proper
Senfe of the Word Murex; which is therefore applied to Calthorps, or
Chauffe-trappes, warlike Engines, which are armed with Iron Tecth, or

Spikes ; and its Derivative Muricatus, to every thing that is fharpened

and pointed.
From thefe two Appellations, taken together, we may form a juft De-
{cription of the Murex, and define it to be “ a Conch, ftudded on its

(4a) Alterum [viz. Purpura] clavatum eft ad turbinem ufq; aculeis in orbem feptenis

Jere; qui non funt Buccino; fed utrifg, orbes totidem, quot habeant annos. Nat. Hitt.
. 1X. C. 36.

(4) See Notes, did. And Vofius in his Etymologicon fhews, that the Murex anfwers
to Ariftotle’s Kipuk [i. e. the Buccinum], and is {uppofed by fome to be derived from it.
In Voce Murex, 1

(¢) So Iidorus fays, “* Murex eft Cochlea Maris, diéfa ab Acumine & Afperitate.”
belie c. 6. Originum, Here Tfidorus’s Acumen fignifies juft the fame Thing, as Pliny’s
cule.

S° outer

Book IX. land of BARBADOS. 271
“ outer Shellwith foarp and regular Points 3 and twifted or wreathed in the

“ Form and Likene/s of the Blowing-fhell.” Tn which loft Particular it is
diftinguifhed from the other Purple-Fifh, which is ufually filed the
Purpura.

3. Ineed not add, that the Murex is often called Oftrum alfo: For from oneum.
this Name we fhall receive no further Tnformation in our prefent Inquiry ;
unlefs it be, that as this Word means really no more than the Se// (@) ;
fo we may from hence conclude, that the Antients beftowed this Appel-
lation upon it, by way of Eminence 3 to teftify, as it were, the jut
Senfe they had of its fuperior Excellence to all other Shells,

Uf. Thus far then as to the Wames attributed by the Antients to the
Murex 5 which have enabled us to difcover the For and Fa/bion of its
Shell ; which the curious Reader will find to correfpond with the annexed
Draught [Plate XXIV. Fig, 2.], which is taken from a Shell now lying
beforeme. The Murex is a {mall Fifth ; the beft and ‘largeft Sort of
them, if we believe Atheneus (e), not exceeding one Pound in Weight.
Thofe we met with on the Shore of this Ifland (as far we could difcover)
are much lefs, falling very fhort, even the greateft of them, of a
Pound ; and moft of them being little more than half as heavy. "The
Dimenfions of the Shell before us, which is one of the common Size of
thofe, that are here found, will juttify this Account: For on the Jiat Side,

© or Mouth, it meafures no more than three Inches and an half in Length,
and two in Breadth; and on the Curve, or outward Shell, four Inches
and an half in Length ; and over the thickeft Part, three Inches and an
half in Breadth: And this Meafure rather exceeds, than falls fhort of the
Truth. Sih

The Colour of the outward Shell is a dark Grey, fometimes faintly
tinged with a Yellow. :

Its Size.

(d) Oftrum is derived from the Greek aspeov, a Name, which the Grecians beltow on
all Sorts of .Shell-Fith. It was alfo ftiled Conchylium, for the fame Reafon, 7. e. the
Shell-Fifh, from the fame Greek Origin, xoyysav. But neither this nor that Appel-
lation was peculiar to the Murex, properly fo called; but attributed alfo to the
Purpura, :

(e) Thvov}es 0 Enon roy peyeroy % pretraion? Ly iii, Cy Big Bed There are fome of the
“© great ones, and thofe of a Pound Weight.” He calls them indeed TlopQvpas,. the
Purple-Fith ; but I make no Doubt this Word muft be taken for the Jeveral Species ; for
the Murex, as well as for the Purpura, But if this be not granted, it will follow, that
if the largeft Purpure do not weigh more than a Pound, the largeft Murex will not weigh
fo much: For Pliny affures us, that the Purpura is larger than the Murex, Buccinum
minor Concha, L. ix. €.36. And though Rondeletius here corrects the prefent Read-
ing, and changes minor into major’; yet this Liberty with the Text is not to be al-
lowed. And Atheneus’s Authority in another Place, Z, iii, C. 11. is againft it, who
fays, that the fimaller Purpure are bred on the Shores and Sea-coaft [the ufual Haunts
of the Murex, as we fhall fee hereafter] ; and that their Flos is red ; whereas thaf of the
larger Purpure is moftly black, and {ometimes, egudpdv puxpdr, a little red, i, ¢. of the
Violet Colour. Thefe two Circumftances convince us, that by the fmaller Purpura,
Atheneus means the Murex.
ZZz The

272 The Natural Hiftory of the Book 1X,

The Inhabitant of fo fmall a Shell cannot reafonably be expected to
abound with a large Quantity of fo valuable a Liquor ; and indeed an
hundred of them are fcarcely fufficient to wet and difcolour a Cambrick
or Lawn Handkerchief of an ordinary Size. }

Where WI. As the Shell of the Murex differs from that of the Purpura; fo |

ft. the Places, which each more particularly delights to frequent and inhabit,
are alfo different. Pliny, in Tecounting the various Kinds or Sorts of the
Purpura, diftinguifhes them very circumftantially (whether juitly or No,
let the Reader determine) by the Places of their Abode ; ftiling fome
Pelagie (f), that love and haunt the deep Water; and are thofe of which
he fpeaks, when he fays, that fome are caught with {mall Nets, caft into
the Deep: Others again he calls Listorales (, £), fuch as frequent the
Shore ; others Luzen/es, which delight in Mud and Slime; and others
Algenfes, which fhroud or hide themfelves in the Sea-Weed. But the
Buccinum, or, what is the fame, the Murex, fticks and faftens, he fays,
only on Rocks, and there or thereabouts is gathered or picked up (é}.
And in this Situation I firft difcovered it. For, walking one Day on the
Shore, on the North Side of the Ifland, and feeing a Shell-Fith, fixed to
the Rock before me, I ordered a Slave to fetch it. The Lad, advancing
towards it with too much Hurry and Impetuofity, grafped it with fo
much Roughnefs, that his Hand was immediately ftained with a florid
and moft delightful Crimfon. di

This Accident, the Reader will fuppofe, awakened my Curiofity in
no lefs a Degree, than one of much the like Nature did that of the.
Egyptian Hercules; whom the Inhabitants of old Tyre acknowlege to
have been the firft Difcoverer of the Murex, and Inventor of the Purple-
Dye. ‘ He,” as Julius Pollux relates the Story, amufing himfelf on
“* the Sea-coaft, and perceiving the Hair of his Dog’s Lips to be. tinged
*¢ with a fine Red, was excited to examine more nicely into the Caufe ;

‘ and difcovered that his Dog had found, and been cating, the Purpura, or
** Purple-Fith (2). Or rather thus 5 as the Story is related by Polydore

*) The Scholiaft on Apollonius’s Argonauts, commenting on the Word Top Puioeaveer,.
1. vu. 461, explains it, ndJa Catbec evebupeiro, “ He thought upon it deeph or ferioufly in
‘* his Mind ;” and adds this Reafon, Top Quine yele eidog inebvog éy Reber ris baracons eugig=
xopevoy s the Purple is a Kind of Fith found in the Bottom of the Sea, See alfo Scho),
in L. ii. v. 548,

(g) Tam induced to believe thefe Purpura littorales are the Murex ; and that what he
fays of them, means no more, than what he tells us of the Buccinum or Murex, when
he fays, it is gathered or taken about or near the Rocks, And then the Purpure kittorales
of Pkny are the fame as the /maller Purpurea of Athenceus, which are bred on the
Shores and Sea-coaft.

(2) Buccinum non nifi petris adberet ; circague [copulos legitur., L, ix. C, 36,

(2) No one will doubt, I believe, that this was the Murex ;and yet we fee the Grams
marian calls it the Purpura: An Inftance of what hath been before obferved, that thefe.. th
Names are attributed indifcriminately by Authors to the fame Fifth, And Polydore Vergil, ‘i
in the Citation that follows, is guilty of the fame Error.

Fergil,

Book IX. [land of BARBADOS

Vergil (1), who hath given it a more {prightly and gallant Turn, « Her
“ cules was in Love with a young Lady, a Native of that City, whofe
“ Name was Tyros. A Dog that ufed always to attend her, creeping one
‘* Day. among the Rocks, found a Purple-Fifh ; and, having broken the
“ Shell, and eaten the Meat, returned to-his Miflref with his Chaps tinged
“ with a purple or fcarletDye. TheLady, delighted with this uncommon
“* and beautiful Tin@ure, declared to Flercules, when he was paying her the
“ next Vifit, fhe would no longer receive his Addreffes, till he had procured
‘her a Gown of a Colour as bright and {plendid, as what he faw on the
* Dog’s Lips. This full and potitive Injun@ion forced the Hero to go
“in queft of the Shell-Fith 3 which being found, -he not long after
“ brought the Lady the Prefent the had required, and became the Inven-
* tor of the Purple-Dye.” The Tyrians, it is evident, gave fo much
Credit to the moft particular Circumftance belonging to this Tradition,
viz. the Manner whereby the Purple-Fifh was firft difcovered, as to preferve
the Remembrance of it long after on their Coins 3 fome of which may be
now feen, with the Dog and Purple-Fifh, in the Cabinets of the Cu-
rious.

But to return: T thall offer my Remarks on the feveral Particulars of
thefe Stories hereafter, in the Proce of this Differtation, and as they occur :
And in this Place only take notice, that though thefe Authors differ very
much in other Circumftances ; yet they agree in z4is, that the Dog, both
that belonging to Hercules, and that of the young Lady, found the Shell
among the Rocks, which Pliny fays is the ufual Habitation of the Murex,
and the Place where I firft difcovered the Barbados Shell ; which we
prefume is a ¢hird Circumftance in favour of our Shell, towards praying
it to be the Murex of the Antients.

473

~ IV. Phe Flos or Tinfture of the Barbados Conch ftained, as we before fine
obferved, the Hand of the Slave, with a florid and bright Red. Now "es

W Tinéure.

Ariftotle (m), in defcribing the wfpuxss, 7. e. the Murices (for of them only
he muft be fuppofed to {peak), ufes almoft the very fame Words, faying,
“¢ The Juice or Liquor, being either {queezed or emitted, dyes the Hand
“ with a florid Colour.” — And Pliny (x), after him, affures us, that the
Tin@ure of the Buccinum, mixed with that of the Purpura Pelagia,
gives the latter au/leritatem illam, nitoremque illum, gui queritur, cocci, the
Fulne[s and Brightnefs of Scarlet. Laftly, we obferve, that the Shell
which Zyros's Dog picked up, emitted a Liquor, which tinged his Chaps
with a Scarlet-Dye (2). This Cofur, then, we fappofe to be, among

(!) De Rerum Invent. Lib. iti. ©. 6.

(m) The Wordsare inferted into Atheneus, L. iii, C. 11. from Arifotle, by his Latin
Tranflator ; and are thefe, « xpreffus tlle fuccus manum tingit florida colore.””

(2) Nat. Hitt. Lid. ix. C. 38.

(0) “ Sua labia puniceo colore infecit.” P. Vergil. ibid.

other

274 The Natural Fiflory of ibe Book IX.

other Marks, a diftinguifbing Note and Sign of the Murex, properly fo

called. For Piimy (p) aflures us, there are only two Kinds or Genus’s of

the Purple-Fifb ; and that, from the different Mixture of the refpedctive
uices of each, the various Sorts of Purp!e were made. “

The Colour therefore of the Flos or Tin@ture is another favourable Cir-
cumftance, which ftrengthens our Comparifon, and renders it probable,
that the Barbados Conch, we are now treating of, is the Murex of the An-.
tients. And here we defire the Reader to recolle@ another Particular in. ,
the forementioned Story, which mutt not be omitted : It is this; TheLady
required, that Hercules thould prefent her with a Veft or Garment of as

beautiful and lively a Colour, as that, which he then faw on the Dog’s Fi
Lips (9).
This Purple-Juice is. repofited in a fmall tranfparent Bag, or rather :

Vein, on the Back of the Fifh, not far from the Head. And when it is
taken with a Pencil or otherwife from the Vein, the Shell being broken,

it is of the Confiftence of a thin Cream, of a yellow-greenith Colour ;
{melling raw, and very difagreeably ; and the Wool, Cotton, or Linen,
that hath been foaked in this Liquor a few Hours, afterwards affumes a h
-deep fearlet Hue. But what -fhall we fay is the Reafon, why: this fame sh
Liquor, when transfufed or ejected through the Mouth of the living Fith,
dyes the Hand of him who plucks it from the Rock, immediately 2 Is it be- ¢
caufe, when the Juice is percolated or ftrained through the Vein by the :
ving Fith, it is mixed with fome other Liquor, that accelerates this Al- Pr
teration of Colours? Or becaufe, when the Fith is dead, the Fils is itfelf
debilitated ; becaufe lefs vigorous and able to exert its extraordinary Vir- de
tue? Whatever be the Caufe, the Faét is certain: For the Liquor, when fic
emitted by the Fith, immediately ftains the Hand ; but when taken out ee
of the Vein of the dead Fith, it is /ame time before the Wool receives the th
Tindture. %
But though we are not able to account for this fudden Tran/iutation of sh
Colour; yet the UW of it arifing to the Fith itfelf we think is evident 3 th
and affords us a frefh Inftance of the Wifdom and Contrivance cf the .
great Creator; who hath hereby furnifhed the Murex with the Means of 8
: Ca
§e
(¢) Concharum, ad purpuras 8 conchylia, eadem quidem off materia ; Jed diftat tempe-
ee Duo funt genera, Buccinum minor Concha alterum Purpura vocatur, Lib. a
(@) i illius labris fplendidiorem, fays P. Vergil. ibid. RONG
~ (7) Buccinum fer fe damnatur, quia fucum remittit. Plinii L. ix. C. 38. t
(s) Athenaus, from Ariftotle, fays, dive Hécoy TE pjnovos x TE roayqre dvbos Exeow, oe
ab, it. C. 11, Myxov, or Papaver, is rd ei]ds +& ixbtoc, internum, Jeuintefinum pifcis, as he ¢
acquaints us from Epenetus, ibid. Pliny fays, the Flos lies in medits faucibus ; which his &
Annotator corrects, ‘and fays, inter hec [viz. cervicem & papaver) fupra ventrem flos uv
Situs ef, Liix, C. 36, . 2 a
t

fecuring

Book 1X. Iandof BARBADOS.

fecuring itfelf from Danger ; which, as the Ink-Fifh, is dire@ed, at the
Approach of its Enemy, to emit this purple Liquor, which, being zau-
fous and offenfive, annoys and beats off its Affailant. a

The Larcrt Concu.

Buccinum maximum, ‘labro maxime patente purpureo, clavicula muricata:
nah Lift. Hift. Conchyl.

HIS kind of Fith is of two Sorts, diftinguithed by the Thicknefs
or Thinnefs of their Shell.

That with the thinneft Shell is generally the largeft, and the other the
moft ponderous.

The Outfide is of a brownifh White, fludded at uncertain Diftances
with blunt-knobbed Protuberances.

The Infide is finely polifhed ; and its Colour, near the Extremity, of a
pale Red ; farther in, of adeep Maiden’s-bluth.

The Head of the Fifh is guarded with a black horny Beak; or Tongue.

This, being extended out of the Shell, and fixed in the Sand, by a
{trong mufcular Motion, drags the Fifh with its cumberous Weight of
Shell after it.

Ariftotle and Pliny are of Opinion, that the Ufe of this Beak, in fome
of the Conch Kind, is-to pierce thro’ other leffer Shell-Fifh, which they
prey upon.

Though this may be one of their Ways of. Feeding, yet they are fel-
dom deftitute of Food at lefs Trouble; for there grows upon the Out=
fide of their Shells a fine whitifh Mofs. This, in all Probability, is no lefs
agreeable to them, than the green broad-leaved Mols is to the Tortoi/e ; for
the whole Fifh (except the Tail, which remains in the Shell) is feen to
come out of it to feed upon this Mofs, which it licks very.clean from the
Shell; fo that they always carry fome Part of their Food along with
them.

They are likewife to be met with feeding, after great Floods, in the
Sea, oppolite to deep Gullies, or Rivers ; for as. thefe Torrents’ generally
carry a great Quantity of Land-Fruit, Leaves, and fuch Feces, into the
Sea ; the Conchs are often feen to feed upon them.

They are evidently Male and Female. The Penis of the Male is
above two-Inches long.

The horny Beak above-mentioned is near two Inches in Length, and
three Quarters of an Inch broad, fharp-pointed, and fomewhat crooked.

This is fortified with a flrong middle Rib, and faftened to a tough
cartilaginous Neck, as thick as one’s Thumb. ‘- :

The upper Part of this, by feveral crofs Indentings, is made as‘ rough
as a Rafp : It is with this Part that it licks, or rather fcrapes off, the Mofs
that grows upon its own Shell.

Aaaa About

275

296

The Natural Hiftory of the Book Ix.

About two Inches lower appear three cartilaginous Protuberances of a
blunt conic Form. ; ‘

Two of thefe are about an Inch and an half long, on whofe Extremi-
ties appear the Eyes, furrounded by two bluifh Circles.

The Third, which ftands between thefe, is near as thick as a large
Swan’s Quill, and two Inches long ; the Extremity of it ending in a
Mouth, which, when the Fifh doth not feed, is ftrongly contracted.

Somewhat below thefe, in the Male, appears the Penis.

When the Tail-part, which is gritty, and fomewhat fandy, is taken.
away, the reft of the Fifh, being fry’d, eats like Tripe, but fhorter, {weeter,
and more lufcious.

The empty Shell, efpecially thofe that are thin, is made ufe of, inftead
of Sounding-Horns or Bells, to call out the Slaves to their Work in the
Morning ; for the Tip-end of the Shell being broken off, till the Cavity
appears of about the Bignefs of a Mouth-Piece to a French-Horn, they
blow into it, and it founds fo loud, that it may be heard in a calm Morn-
ing, above a Mile off.

It feems that thefe were made ufe of as early as the Time of the Ro-
mans ; for Perfius fays,

Buccina jam prifcos cogebat ad arma Quirites.

Neither was the Ufe of the Fifh unknown to the Romans ; which ap-

pears by the following Lines.

Lubrica nafcentes implent conchylia lune.
Sed non omne mare eft generofe fertile tefe.
Murice Baiano melior Lucrina peloris.
Hor.
------ wiles pellent obftantia concha.
Hor.

Manilius likewife very well defcribes their burying themfelves in ‘the
Sand; which they do during the Winter Months,

Sic fubmerfa fretis concharum, & carcere claufa.

Thefe are found in great Plenty at the Bottom of the Sea, in about
five or fix Fathom Water, in moft of our Bays; but chiefly to the Lee-
ward of the Ifland, efpecially in the Summer-Months. :
. If the Day is windy, the Divers cannot well fee them from their
oats. : .

To remedy this rippling of the Water, they fprinkle a Spoonful of Oil
upon the Surface of it.

This

ul

Book IX. I/fand of BARBADOS. 2g4

This for a hort time unites the broken Surface of the Water; by which
means the Divers can clearly perceive any Object at the Bottom:
When the Conchs are thus feen, they dive, and bring them up.

The Cow-HEEL Concu, or HELMET-SHELL.

Buccinum roftratum grande, raris lineis circumdatum, lave, non nif

ima parte cujufque orbis frriata, Lift. Hift. Conchyl. Tab. g11.

S aces is often five Inches long; the Outfide of a dirty White, and

clouded at uncertain Diftances with brownifh Spots: The firft Cir-
cumvolution takes up the greateft Part of the Shell: The Lip is not ex-
panded, asin the large grey Conch ; but is thickly welted, turning out-
wards: The inclofed Fith is eatable, as in the former.

The SMALL BROAD-LIPPED CoNCH.

Buccinum breviroftrum labrofum craffum nodofum, columella late plana.
Lift. Hift. Conchyl. Tab. 989.

HIS Shell is about three Inches long ; its Mouth very ‘wide, and
its Lips much expanded: The firft Circumvolution of this takes up
the greateft Part of the Shell.

The SMALL CoNncnH.

Buccinum minimum oblongum leve, e cinereo & fufco variegatum, ritu
angufto.
HIS is about an Inch long: The Aperture for the Mouth is long,
and narrow; the whole Shell fmooth and fhining, more or lefs
fpeckled with greyifh-white and brownith Spots.

The LARGE BROwN ConNcHA VENERIS.

Concha Veneris major fufca, cui macule fufce albis circulis circumdata.
Lift. Hift. Conchyl. Tab. 698.

HIS is often near four Inches long, and about half as broad over

the Middle, growing bluntly tapering towards both Ends: The Co-
four of this is of a fhining Brown, interfperfed with whitifh and black
Spots: The Slit or Mouth is on each Side dentated,

The

278

The Natural Hiffory of the Book IX.

The BRowN BuAck-sPOTTED SMALL Concu.

Concha Veneris parva fubfufca levis nigris maculis donata.

HIS is a very {mall well-polifhed Shell, not much exceeding a
» . Quarter of an Inch, Its Back is high-raifed, and variegated with

blackith Spots.
T he SMALL DARK-COLOURED CoNCH.

Concha Veneris fubfufea levis, elato dorfo bifafciata. Lift. Hift. Con-
chyl. Tab. 670.

#5 1 js from an Inch to two Inches long, of a dark-reddifh

Brown: In every thing elfe it refembles the laft-defcribed.

The SMALL WHITE ConcHA VENERIS.

Concha Veneris alba.

an Inch long: Thefe often go here by the Name of Rice-/bells,

ale. HI S isa very {mall white Conch, not much above a Quarter of
and at a Diftance very much refemble that Grain.

The Music-SHELL.

This is what Doétor Lifter calls Buccinum muficum grave, faciatum ex
lineis quibufdam interfectis, et maculatum,: clavicula leniter muricata.

HIS Shell is about two Inches long, and near an Inch broad

towards the Clavicle: Its Mouth is large: The Circumvolutions
are fcarce perceivable, feveral longitudinal Rifings fupplying feemingly
their Places: The Shell is thick and ponderous, and of a Flefh-colour,
regularly niarked with blackifh ftrait Lines and feeming Notes, as if
drawn for Mufic: Thefeare as regularly croffled with other leffer Lines :
It is from thefe that it derives the Name of Mujrc—fbell.

The

Book IX. Ifand of BARBADOS. 279

The BrEEF-SHELL.

Patella oblonga, articulata articulis frriatis, extus Jubfufcis, intus e
viridi ceruleis.

HIS is from one.to two Inches long: The Shell, which is of a
| blackith-grey Colour, is divided into eight Joints laid over one
another: By theHelp of thefe the inclofed Fith can either bend inwardly,
or expand and ftreighten its Shell at Pleafure. The Edges of the Shell are
covered over with a greenifh ftrong bearded thread-like Subftance :
The Fith, which is of a pale-reddith Colour, is very firm eating, fhort,
and well-tafted. Thefe Beeves are likewife diftinguifhed into the Day and
Night- Beeves,

The Cornua AMMONIs.

FEANHESE are properly called Zubuli vermium albidi, vel e rubro

iB fufei; and are generally of a dull-white Colour, incurvated in
many Revolutions like a Ram’s Horn, but far clofer together; the
{mall gyral Extremity ending in a Point, the other being fealed or glazed
over. There are fome to be met with by far lefs curvated than the above-~
defcribed. They are often found upon a Place called Long Bay, in the
Parifhes of S¢. Andrew, and St. Fofeph.

The Sta-Eaca.

HESE are diftinguifhed into three Sorts; the black, the grey,

and the fhooting Sea-Egg. The two former are chiefly the
eatable Kind: Their Appearance very much refembles an Hedge-hog
in a defentfive Pofture: It is of a globular Form, depreffed at both Ends;
its Mouth being a {mall round Hole in the Middle of one of the depreffed.
Surfaces, having five Teeth, the Points of all meeting in the Centre :
The whole Shell is very thickly ftudded round with fharp-pointed Prickles
of about an Inch long. Thefe ferve as offenfive and defenfive Weapons,
the latter to guard it againft the white Gavally, a Fith, which, inftead of
Teeth, hath ftrong bony Mandibles, and preys upon Shell-Fifh. Thefe
Prickles ferve alfo inftead of Feet; for, by moving thefe, it can roll‘on in
an orbicular manner to find out its Prey, or to avoid Danger. Thefe
Prickles are jointed to the Shells by a Socket, which exactly fits a protube-
rant Knob arifing from the Surface of the Shell. From the Socket of thefe
Prickles arife likewife many {mall cartilaginous Sinews, which terminate
in the innumerable {mall Holes, which in a very beautiful Manner per-
forate the Shell. It is by the Help of thefe that the Prickles are cable
Bbbb o

280

The Natural Hiftory of ibe Book IX.

of Motion. When it moves, which it does but flowly, it feems as ifa
Grove of Spears was in Motion. The Infide of the Shell is lined with
about five Lobes of a granulated yellow Subftance, refembling the Roe of
aFifh: Thefe Lobes are in Length about three Inches, and in Breadth
near an Inch: However, their Bulk depends much upon the Time of their
being taken; for thefe Lobes are larger, and even better tafted, in the
(4). Full than in the Wane of the Moon ; but if not quickly eaten, or

put into flrong Vinegar to harden, they very foon difolve into a rich |

reddith Liquid: A full-grown Shell is about fourtcen Inches in Circum-

ference. ‘The Difference between the black, the grey, and' the whitifh
Sort, is not worth mentioning: However, the black fhooting Sea-~Egg dif.

fers from all the reft by the extraordinary Length of its Prickles, and its
great Force in darting them to annoy its Enemy; which it does with
that Violence, that I have known them to ftrike or dart them thro’ the
thick flefhy Part of the Toe-nail of a Fifherman. The Sea-Eggs were
known to the Romans; which appears from the Words of Horace.

£52 -b S55 Mifeno oriuntur echinie

Hlorret .capillis, ut marinus, afperis,
Echinus. Epod, V, 27.

It appears ‘from a Paflage in Lwcilius, that the Antients were set well
acquainted with the proper Scafon for taking this Fifh, as being larger
and more delicate in the Full of the Moon, © sy

-----Luna alit oftrea, et implet echinos.

2 hele Sed-Eges are to be found in the Bottom of fine fandy Bays, in

about feven orcight Feet Water. This is delineated in Plate XXVI.
Fig. a0 Fig. :25 AS oe Sone

The Puate-Fisu, or the Fiat Sra-Ecc.

HE Plate-Fifh hath a flat Shell fomewhat difhing inwards on
one Side; It is generally from two to three Inches Diameter. The
upper and the under Shell are fo thin, and fo clofe together, that the in-
clofed Fifh is very fmall. The feveral thoufand little Holes in thefeShells,
by which, I fuppofe, Nourifhment is conveyed to the Fifh, are no lefs re-
markable for their Number, than their Regularity and Beauty. This

(2) This evidently confutes Mr. Robault, ‘who fays, that the Moon hath no Influence
in replenifhing at the Full, or leffening at the Wane, the Meat that is inclofed in thefe
and fuch-like Shell-Fith. see

: 2 Shell-

tine

Plate zz peg wae

~

BESS ORS
SSRISN Se)
SSOSESSS

WSS

os
bs
yy
A
{
“4
4 By
i Hi)
oe
Hi
4
i

x
<<

VéTheDUKE of BEDFORD
Shu Plate ts hurl
| oO

J. Myre ve-

Book IX. Ifand of BARBADOS, a

Shell-Fifh is generally found flightly covered with Sand, which I
take to be their Security from being perceived by Crabs, Conchs, Or
other Animals, which prey upon them: Their Surfaces are covered |
with thick fetaceous Vi//i; and the Middle of the Shell is by {mall
Punctures divided into the Appearance of five narrow rofaceous Leaves,
as well as four oblong Holes. of near half an Inch long, and a quarter
wide. Perhaps Nature intended thefe, that the Fith might faften itfelf by
them to the Points of Stones or Rocks in the Bottom, left the Current

fhould drive them away from their F eeding-place, or Place of Safety.
Plate XXVIII. Fig. 3. Fig. 4. .

~The Musse.-Sue tt.

Y < HIS is not here above an Inch and an half long at moft; and the
inclofed Fifh is proportionably fmaller, a dozen of them. not

weighing an Exglifh one: Thefe I have found in Beds to the Leeward
_ of the Ifland in the Parith of Sz Lucy.

The LARGE WHITE CockLe.

XHES Eare found near Meedham’s Fort. The Shell is a great deal
_ larger than that of the Engli/b Cockle, and flatter. ;

The Rispep Limper.

H ESE are ‘called here the Wipple-Shell. Some are of a white
Colour, others brownifh, and’ {ome fpotted: ‘There are likewife of
thefe Species fome that are {mooth, | + sede't

The 'FHIMBLE-LIMPET.

<. HIS is fmaller, and more compreffed, than the laft-deferibed,

\

The Rock-OysTErR.

HIS is a rocky rather than a fhelly Subftance. It grows to the

Side of moffy Shoals and Rocks at different Diftances from the

Shore. When opened, they have the Refemblance of a Shell'on the In-
fide, and contain a flefhy Subftance, in Tafte very much refembling an
_Oyfter, differing very little, if any thing, from the NtegencesO fers
9°

282

The Natural Hiftory of the Book IX..

fo commonly growing to the Roots of thofe Trees, in feveral of our

W eft-India Iflands.

The RED SPECKLED WILK-SHELL.

HESE Shells are beautifully ftreaked with fmall broken Veins

of Red upon a white Ground : They are to be found in Plenty
clinging to the Rocks on the Leeward-fide of the Ifland, efpecially in
St. Lucy's Parith.

The BLUE and WHITE-MARBLED WILK-SHELL.

HIS is of the Make and Bignefs of the laft-mentioned, and differs

_ only in this, that the white Ground of this is finely fpeckled with

blue broken Streaks: Thefe are likewife found chiefly in the Leeward-
part of the Ifland.

The BLACKIsH WILK-SHELLS.

HESE are of the Bignefs of the laft deferibed ; and I take them
| to be the fame Species, but that the Shells of thefe are turned. black
with Age,

PUNCHES.

T HESE long flender Worms are very feldom feen. Their Habitations
are innumerable Clufters of wreathed vermicular open-mouthed
Tubes, cemented together into irregular Lumps, and fometimes into
large Beds many Feet in Circumference: Thefe Tubes differ in Colour,
being fome of an Amber-colour, fome black, and others of a dirty
White. The Aperture, by which the Worm enters, is round and open,
of the Bignefs of a Raven’s Quill. The Edges of thefe Tubes are {o fharp,
that they will, if trod upon, cut a circular Incifion in the Flefh, leaving
the middle Space of their Diameters untouched : This Pun@ure exactly
refembles the Impreflion made upon Leather by an Inftrument, which
the Shoemakers call a Punch, Thefe are generally found between high
and low Water-Mark. i

The

Book IX. I/land of BARBADOS. 283

The Prickty Ham-Musset.

TT HIS Shell is often eight Inches lotig, fmooth within, and rough
™ without ; being ftudded without jutting feeming Tubes. This is
feldom found with Fifh in them on our Shores. | a

The Larce THrREAD-GiRDED CockiE.

oF HIS is a large flat Cockle, generally found in the Sand near
Needham’s Fort. | |

GRATER SCALLOP.

“3 HES E are here but f{mall, and very feldom found on our Shores,

CURL-GIRDED NEEDLE.

£2 F1IS is vety fharp-pointed, of about two Inches long and wreath-
ed. From the Ufe made of it, it is often called here she Tobacco-
Stopper. I have found thefe upon the green Shoal near Six Men’s Fort
in S¢. Peter's Parifh, ‘The Fifh inhabiting this Shell, when it moves,
carries it upright: When. Numbers of thefe are together, and in Mo-
tion, they refemble a Grove of Spears.

TRITON’s TRUMPET.

Ws HIS is the largeft, as well as the moft beautiful of the ‘Turbinate
Kind, and very feldom to be met with upon our Shores: Thefe
are beautifully ftained with black and white Spots, and the Shell is often
nine Inches long,

Cece The

284

The Natural Hiftory of the Book IX.

The SMooTtH Grey CAskeET.

fA, Small Species of thefe are often found on our Shores, but feldom
A any of the large Sort: What are here found are generally of a

yellowith dirty-white Colour.

The SPIRE-SHELL.

peer are generally fmall, and very fmooth, of a reddifh Brown,
{potted with Black. There are others of a Pale White, fpotted with

Black ; both Sorts generally well polifhed. ‘Théfe are very common

upon almoft all our Shores,

The WELTED CASKET.

ns is generally of a brown Colour, and furrowed length-ways; It
is of a far ftronger Confiftence than the laft-defcribed,

The Grey Casket.

cps is generally of a grey Colour 3; and fometimes they are found
of a brownifh Grey. Their Texture is generally very thin,

The Wuirticic.

aps is generally of a bluith Colour, and is often found upon the fe-

veral Shores of the Iland,

The Knozspep TRUMPET.

Ue HIS Shell is of a dirty White, as well as fome of a brown Colour ;
# and found in many of our Bays, but not in great Plenty.

The SmoorH-Lippep. Casket.

es Shell is often found on the Shore at Maycock’s Bay in the
Parith of St. Lucy.

AGATE

BM eed oF

Ee

Book IX. land of BARBADOS. 28:

AGATE-STAMPER,
‘THs Shell is from half an Inch to two Inches in Length, gétierally |
of a reddifh Brown {potted with Black - They are likewife found of

a pale-white as well as bluith Colour, and .very common upon th¢
Shores: of this Ifland, .

The Rovay Sraircase.

ar IS is a fmall white fpiral Shell, belted with a thatp rifing Ridge
from the Top to the Bottom in the Form of a wreathed Staircafe,

The SportEeD CYLINDER*SHELL:

ae HS is about two Inches long, of a dirty Colour, white {peckled with
fometimes black, fometimes brown Spots,
: The Brown CYLINDER-SHELL.
4 ‘HIS is thii, and well polifhed ; feldom longer than two Inches, .
and of a reddifh-brown Colour, _ |
The Moe Cowzy.
T° HIS is very feldom found on the Shores of this Ifland : What I faw
_was three Inches long, of a brown Colour, and faintly fpotted with
Black.
The TRIANGULAR STRIATED BuccINuUM:
HIS is a middle-fized Shell, thickly labiated, and _ pretty fhatp-

“pointed ; the feveral Striz, on the Back-part efpeeially, running,
tranfverfly and deep.

Thé

236

The Natural Hiftory of the Book YX.

The Tor-SHELL.

Tt HIS is a large Shell, {potted. moft commonly with Blue-and White,
_ fometimes with Red and White: When this rough outfide Coat is
taken off, the inner Part confifts of fine Mother of Pearl, . The Mouth-piece,

or Cover of the Mouth, is of an horny Subftance, of a brownifh-black —

Colour, incircled with feveral Ringlets of a Gold-colour. Thefe. are
generally found in deep Water, and in great Plenty in the Sea, oppofite

- to7S%. Lucy’s Parith. The laft Stage of an Hermit-Crab or Soldier is, to

inhabit one of thefe empty Shells.

THE

Book IX. land of BARBADOS.

r \HE Defcription of our feveral exanguious Tribes of Animals be-

ing completed ; our next Inquiry will naturally fall upon our
Submarine Plants. I fhall divide thefe into three Claffes: The Firft and
moft perfeé& is the large black Sea-Rod, which often grows to the
Height of a {mall Tree; this, as well as each of this Species, is {mooth,
black, and fhining, of a very tough Subftance, fomewhat between Horn
and Wood, fmelling ftrongly of the latter when burnt. ‘The Second. is
very bufhy, feldom exceeding four Feet in Height ; its very numerous
Branches arife almoft together from: very near the Root, and are in gene-
ral of an equal Height and Bignefs : This differs from the naked black
Sea-Rod, by having their Surface covered ‘with a calcareous Cruft (of
about the Thicknefs of an Englifo Shilling), and here and there marked
with Afterisks; the innner Texture of the Plant being of the fame Na~
ture as the above defcribed. The ‘Third and laft are all Kinds of Coral-

line Bodies,

The Larce Biacx Sea-Rop.

FS often grows to about fifteen Feet high, and always in a con-

i fiderable Depth of Water ; its Branches are few, but ftrong and

tapering ; the Outfide appearing almoft as {mooth, black, and fhining, as

Ebony; and if firft boiled in freth Water, and afterwards often oiled,
they will be very pliable and tough, and make very beautiful Switches.

The Lesser SEa-Rop.

<b FiIS is a flender {mall black Rod, having a great many very {mall

weak undivided Side-branches. This Species grows between high
and low Water-Mark in the Clefts of Rocks, feldom rifing above five
Foot high,
Dddd The

287

288

The Natural Hiftory of the Book IX.

The SEa-FEATHERS.

ee ee {eldom grow, on the Shores of this Ifland, above two Feet
- and an half high; they likewife feldom or never differ in_ their
Make or Texture, being each compofed of a ligneous horny Subftance,
and beautifully reticulated. Some are of a darkifh Colour, and others of
a light Grey: I obferved fome of the latter to have their Edges bordered
with a faint Yellow, flightly tinged with Green.

The INcrusTED Sea-Robs.

HESE are always in Bunches, feldom growing above four Feet
high; their many Branches {pring from one common Stalk, very

near the Root: Thefe are almoft all of a Size, in Length and Thicknefs ;

and. the Outfide covered with a calcareous Cruft, of about the
Thicknefs of an Exgli/b Shilling. The Surface of this is pitted with many
very {mall Star-like Holes. This is delineated in Plate XX VII. Fig. 1.

The SmaLyu IncrustED SEA-Rop.

hee feldom growsabove a Footand an half high; and its Surface, in-
_ dL” ftead of being, as the laft-defcribed, covered all over with a thin

‘pliable calcareous Cruft, is here-and-there annulated with irregular

knotty Bandages, of a white coralline Subflance, refembling the {mall
Star-Coral. This Kind of Sea-Rod branches very little, and its Branches
are but very flender,

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Book IX. Wlandof BARBADOS.

ONE)
) eas Zi"

Cows Ree Ak oS

HOUGKH thefe, in general, are Vegetables < yet we are not to look
upon them among the loweft Clafs of this Kind, becaufe they bear,
at leaft here, neither Leaves, Flowers, nor Fruit, having likewife their Con-
fiftences fo brittle, that they are neither malleable, nor any ways pliable :
However, theit innumerable Shoots and Branches are not void of Beauty,
nor ufelefs in medicinal Preparations ; the white Sort being, when pul-
verized, efteemed good to free the Stomach from acid four Juices; and
the red Coral is not lefs efficacious’ in ftopping Fluxes: From the
Growth of thefe, we may likewife obferve, that Providence is not tied
down in its Operations to mechanical Rules: For among Vegetables,
which flourith upon the the Surfaceof theEarth, all our Art and Contrivance
are in vain, unlefs we can procure them either natural or artificial Heat,
and a Communication of Air ; whereas thefe grow to a great Length in
above forty Fathom Water, where the Heat of the Sun cannot penetrate.
I fhall begin the Defcription of Corals with that called the Harts
horn Coral.

The SeA-Gincer, or the PALMED Harts-HoRN.

| eee is a digitated Sea-Coral, and is called Ginger from its very
hot Quality ; for if a Piece, newly broken, be apply’d to the Tongue,
it taftes exceffively hot. It is found in great Plenty upon the Shores in
the land of Antigua, as well as among many other Places upon the Pe=
Lican fboal in this Iland.

This is delineated in Plate XXVII. Fig. 2.

Thé

289

290

The Natural Hiffory of the Book IX.

The HartT’s-HORN CORAL.

oI HIS takes its Name from the great Refemblance its wide-extended
Branches have to an Hart’s-horn, both in Colour and Shape :, They
grow upon Rocks, at different Depths under Water : The Branches are
of a brownifh White, but always at the Top fharp-pointed, and tipped
with a clear White: They are of fo clofe a Texture, that, when ftruck by
any Piece of hard Wood or Iron, they afford a metallic vibrating Sound :
This Sort grows to be often above five Feet in Length, I have likewife
feen a leffer Sort, refembling the palmed Hart’s-horn.

The Pan SuHoat, or HonEYcoms STONES.

Ze HESE are to be found under Water at different Depths, from two
to twenty Feet: Their Shape generally refembles a Honeycomb,
and that not only as they are broad with a fimilar Thinnefs, but like-
wife as they are full of Holes: Several of thefe, efpecially near the thickeft
Edge, are cemented, or, as it were, waxed over, exactly refembling that
Part of an Honeycomb which is filled with Honey. From the Stone
when broken, drops a liquid Subftance of the Confiftence of thin Oil.
Thefe in few Years grow to a confiderable Bignefs, and are to be found
upon almoft all the Shores, more particularly at a Place in S¢. Lucy’s
Parifh, called Fryer’s Well. .

The WuitTeE CorAL.

fT HIS Coral is found upon the Shores of moft Bays in: the Ifland :
The Stars are compofed of fo many thin Partitions ; the interme-
diate Space, between each Line, hollow; and the folid waved Inter-
ftices of the Coral-fmooth, hard and well-polifhed : Thefe intervening
Ribs rife higher than the Star-like Refemblances.

This is delineated in Plate XVII. Fig. 7.

TheMILLiporA PERFORATA.
aL. HIS is all over perforated into innumerable fmall Holes, gene-
rally of an equal Size: I am of Opinion, that thefe Holes were
formerly filled with ftar-like Subftances; but, as the Rays which
compofe thefe, are from their fofter Texture, as well as their hollow In-
terftices, lefs able to bear the violent Toflings of the Waves againft the
fharp-pointed Rocks, that thefe Stars, in time, were fo intirely broken,

‘nothing now remains, but the Holes which they once occupied, among

the ftony Ribs.

i oa

tot

Book IX. [and of BARBADOS. 29%

The LARGE WHITE FINE-RAYED.STAR-COoRAL.

T HIS is very often of a confiderable Bulk, and its Surface thickly
crouded with very fmall Stars, whofe Rays.are fearce perceptible
to the naked Eye. © ;

The KNotty STAR-BEAMED CORAL.

ek IS is to be found on all our Shores, and very much re-
fembles that of the fame Cla& found in the Mediterranean by
Dr. Shaw, with this Difference only, that the Extremities of this are of
a blunt conic Shape,

The TuButar Corat.

TH IS fpreads into feveral thick fhort Branches ftudded all over
with innumerable {mall open-mouthed Tubes, the Whole generally
ef a brownith Colour without, and white within. :

The CoMMON Brain-STONE CorAL:

Fungus coralloides encephaloides, gyris in medio Sulcatis, lamellatis,
Jerratis. Boerh. Ind. Plant. Peas :
Lapis fungites cerebriformis. _ Ray’s Hift. App..p. 1850.

'T HIS, as do many others of the fame Species, derives its Name from

its Refemblance to the human Brain, the waving white Ribs rifthe
higher than the intermediate Spaces: Thefe Stones are to be feen very
common on all our Sea-fhores, as well as on the Land, efpecially about
Black Rock, in St. James’s Parith, and generally near the Sea.

The LARGE-RAYED BRAIN-STONE.
Fungus coralloides, laminis magis undulatis. Boerh. Ind. Plant. p. 2.

6 bu: IS hath its feveral finuated Rifings and ‘Depreflions intirely

rayed, whereas thefe Rifings in all other Kinds of Brain~fones are
fo many folid Veins dividing the porous Part into many ‘finuated In-
terftices,

What is called here the fine ribbed Brain-frone differs from the above
by having many hard finuated Veins running through it, and rifing
higher than its porous Interftices. :
fds Egepese The

29%

The Natiral Hifory of the Book IX.
The SMALL STAR-CORAL.

ot HIS differs from the laft defcribed, by having its Stars even with
the Superficies of the intervening Ribs.

The VERY sMaLi: STAR-CoR AL.

Fungus coralloides, frellis minoribus, rupibus corallinis accrefcens. Boerh,
Ind. Plant. p. 2.

“F HE Surface of this is almoft intirely covered with the Appearance
of very {mall Indentings like Stars.

The LARGE STAR-CORAL.

THe E Surface of this is indented with the Appearance of Stars, far
* larger than thofe already defcribed,

The Wire-SPonGE.
oe HIS is of the Sponge-kind, though it hath no Elafticity : Its Sub-

ftance is far more reticulated than any other Sponge: It grows
chiefly upon the broken Stumps of Sea-Rods: It generally grows of a
cylindrical Form, and hollow in the Middle: It is of the Colour of a
common Sponge, and its Parts are as ftiff as if they were compofed of
very fine Wire.

The Sort SPONGE.

HIS Clafs cleave to the Rocks, or rather grow from them, as Fews-
Ears do from Trees,

The BEAMED CorRAL.

Madrepora ramofffima fufca, halcyoniis et oftreis accretis infignis.
Boerh, Ind. Plant. p. 5.

oe ELE Specimen I {aw here has no Oyfters or Halcyonia on it; but
it hath a fine brown Tubulus Marinus.

Suatt conclude this Book with the Defcription of that furprifing Crea-
I ture the Animal Mower, firft obferving thatthe remarkable Place called the
Spout, in St. Lucy’s Parith, is a large Hollow under arocky Cliff impending
over the Sea : As the Waves continually ruth with a violent Force into this
hollow confined Part, it throws upwards, through an Hole in the Surface
of the Rock, a confiderable Body of Water, from fifteen to fifty Feet high,
containing feveral Hogfheads, It may be feen at feveral Miles Diftance.
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Book IX. and of BARBADOS,

THE

ANIMAL FLOWER,

S in Man, the moft perfe& Part of the fublunary Creation, there

are apparently feen feveral different Degrees of Perfe@ion of Body
and Mind ; and in Animals the Sagacity of fome is evidently fuperior to
that of others ; fo likewife in this feemingly confufed Spécies of animal
Life, and vegetable Appearance, the Chain gradually defcends with a
furprifing Mixture and Connexion. ire

Whoever hath Leifure and Abilities to purfue a general Inquiry of this
Nature, will foon find, that. this progreffive Series riins through the
whole Creation -=-- From the moft exalted Genius to the almoft fenfe-
lefs Idiot ---- From the moft fagacious fenfible Creature to the almoft
infenfible Muffel ---- From the towering Cedar to the Hyflop fpringing
from the Wall, or the humble Mof.

Such is that univerfal Harthony and Connexion, that runs through
the numberlefs Ranks and Orders of Beings, till we come at laft to in-
animate Matter.

This furprifing Creatuie, that I am to treat of, hath, for a long
time been the Obje@ of my own filent Adniiration 3 arid it would even
now be thought chimerical to mention, much more defcribe, the Qua-
lities of fo ftrange a Phenomenon, if the Polypus of late Years had not
afforded a furprifing Inftance of Almighty Power.

The Cave that contains this Animal, is near the Bottom of an high
rocky Cliff facing the Sea, in the North Part of the Tfland, in the Parith
of Sz. Lucy : The Defcent to it is very fteep and dangerous, being in fome

I Places

493

294

The Natural Hiftory of the. Book IX.

Places almoft perpendicular ; and what adds an Horror to this dreadful

Situation, is, that. the Waves from below almoft inceffantly break upon .

the Cliff, and fometimes reach its higheft Summit.

“As foon as you are freed from this complicated Apprehenfion of Dan-
ger (in your Way down) you enter a Cave fpacious enough to contain
five hundred People. The Roof of this is in fome Places imboffed with
conglaciated Incruftations intermixed with {mall T ubes, through whofe
Extremities a {mall Quantity of the moft limpid Water drops.

‘From this you enter another Cave, fmall in Comparifon of the for-
mer. ‘Fhe Bottom of this is a natural Bafon of Water of about faxteen
Feet long, and twelve in Breadth.® This, at low Water, is about eleven
Feet perpendicular Height from the Sea, which, when the Wind is high
on that Point, dathes into it; fo that the Water in it is intirely falt, ex-
cept a finall Mixture of frefh, which oufes and drops through the Roof
of the Cave.

In the Middle of this Bafon there is a fixt Stone, or Rock fas I fhall
call it, which is always under Water.

Round its Sides, at different Depths (feldom exceeding eighteen Inches)
are feen at all ‘Times of the Year feveral {eemingly fine radiated Flowers
6f a pale Yellow, or a bright Straw-colour flightly tinged with-Green.

‘Thefe have in Appearance a circular Border of thick-fet (1) Petals,
about the Size of, and much refembling, thofe ofa fingle Garden Mari-
gold, except that the Whole of this feeming Flower is narrower at the
Difcus, or Setting on of the Leaves, than any Flower of that Kind.

‘ "T have often attempted to pluck one of thefe from the Reck to which
they are always fixt; but could never effeé it. For as foon as my Fin-
gers came within two or three Inches of it, it would immediately con-
tra@, and clofe together its yellow Border, and fhrink back into the
Hole in the Rock; but, if left undifturbed for the Space of about four
Minutes, it would come gradually in Sight, expanding, though at firft
very cautioufly, its feeming Leaves, till at laft it appeared in its former
Bloom: However, it would again recoil with a furprifing Quicknefs,
when my Hand came within a {mall Diftance of it.

. Having tried the fame Experiment by attempting to touch it with my
Cane, and a {mall flender Rod, the Effect was the fame.

Thefe were ftrong Appearances of Animal Life; yet, as its Shape,
and want of local Motion, clafled it among Vegetables, I was for
fome time in Sufpenfe, and imagined it might be an aquatic Senfitive
Plant : And though its Contraction to avoid the Touch was quicker than
any Plant of that Kind ; yet, as its feeming Leaves might be, and in reality

( 1.) Petals are the fine coloured Leaves, which compofe in a Marigold, and fuch-like
Flowers, the yellow circular Border. ;

They are called Petals to diftinguifh them from the green Leaves of the Plant.

z ¥ were,

i .

Book IX. J/land of BARBADOS.

were, of a far thinner and more delicate (1) Texture than thofe of any
Plant ; and as Water is eight hundred times heavier than Air, the fud-
den Weight of fo thick a Medium, by its Undulation caufed by the Pref-
fure of my Hand or Stick, might very well account for its fudden
Contraétion. ; :

This was my Opinion, till a fubfequent Vifit cleared my Doubts; for
I plainly faw four dark-coloured Refemblances of Threads fomething like
the Legs of a Spider, rifing out of the Centre of what I have termed a
Flower. Their quick {pontanecous Motion from one Side to the other of
this circular yellow Border of feeming Leaves (which in reality were fo
many Arms or Feelers), and their clofing together in Imitation of a For-
ceps, as if they had hemmed in their Prey (which the yellow Border like-
wife foon furrounded and clofed to fecure), fully convinced me, that it was
a living Creature.

Its Body at a Diftance appears to be about as big as a Raven’s Quill,
and of a blackifh Colour; the one End fticking to the Rock, the other
extending a very {mall Diftance from it; and incircled round with a yel-
low Border, as above defcribed.

Thus what in its firft Appearance feems tobe of the vegetative Kind,
by its Motion, and quick Senfe of Self-prefervation, proves an Animal.

Now, fince the fame Wifdom and Goodnefs, which give Being to
Creatures, often preferve them in that Exiftence by Ways and Means
as wonderful as their Creation was before; this leads me to offer a probable
Conjecture, why God’s amazing Providence (which doth nothing in vain)
endued the Arms or Feelers of this Animal with a fine yellow Colour,
and ‘hath ordained it to differ in this Particular from the feveral Tribes of
fungous Animals, that are always found cleaving to ‘the Rocks in the
Sea.

As thefe latter may be fed with Spawn, or fome Animalcules, which
the Flux or Reflux of the Waves may throw in their Way, there was no
Need of any uncommon Means to intice their Prey (if Animals) within
their Reach ; whereas the Water in the Cave is, for the moft part, void of
any Motion that can convey Food for thefe Animals. Therefore there
was a Neceflity of fome extraordinary Temptation to allure their Prey
within their Power, to feize it; ‘otherwife they might ftarve in the midft
of Plenty.

To this End, that Divine: Goodnefs, which filleth every thing living
with Plenteoufnefs, hath finely devifed this providential Stratagem (if Imay

(1) Tho’ I could not by any means contrive to take or pluck from the Rock one
of thefe Animals intire ; yet T once cat off (with ‘a'Knife which I had for a long time
held out of Sight near the Mouth of an Hole, out of which one of thefe Animals appeared)
two of thefe feeming Leaves. Thefe, when out of the Water, retained.their Shape and
Colour; but, being compofed of a Membrane-like Subftance, furprifingly thin, it foon
fhriveled up, and decayed.

Fffft be

=05

296

The Natural Hiffory of the Book 1X.

be allowed the Expreffion), and given thefe Animals that fine tranfparent
Colour, to be a Means to provide for them their daily Food: For as
bright Rays of Light (or fomething fimilar in its Effect) are very invite-
ing to feveral Animals, efpecially thofe of the aquatic Kind, the beauti~
ful Colour of this circular Border may ferve as a Decoy for very young
Fifh, or other Animalcules, to divert themfelves (as Flies about the
Flame of a Candle) in fwimming about the Verge of this feemingly
harmlefs Flower, until they come within the Circle; then thefe bright
Leaves in Appearance prove, in Reality, fo many Arms or Feelers, that
with a quick Motion clofe together, and furround the Prey ;_ which,
being thus fecured, is conveyed to the Mouth, as above-mentioned.

There are likewife on the uppermoft Part of the Rock, in the above-
defcribed Bafin, innumerable Clufters of (what are here called) Water-
Bottles, very much refembling fcattered Clufters of unripe Grapes 5 the
Outfide confifting of a bluifh fkinny Tegument, like that of a Grape ;
the Infide full of Water fomewhat turbid,

Among thefe alfo are a great Number of Animal Flowers of the fame
Species with the yellow large ones. Thefe now to be defcribed are like-
wife fixt to the Rock, not in Holes, as the above-mentioned, but ftick-
ing to the Surface among thefe Water-Bottles, and generally not above
nine Inches under Water. :

The Leaves, or rather Feelers, of thefe are of a greyifh-purple Colour
variegated with black Spots, Their Motion likewife to avoid the Touch
is not fo quick.

Having plucked one of thefe from the Rock, I perceived the Body,
which was about an Inch long, to have, whilft between my Finger and

_ Thumb, a fenfible vermicular Motion: The Feelers likewife, which de-

corated one End of it, when expofed to the Air, thrunk up, and remained
as lifelefs: But as foon as the Whole was dipped in their proper Element

“the Water, they would immediately, as it were, affume a new Life, and

appear again in their full Vigour.

Soon after the Difcovery of thefe furprfing Animals, a great Number
of People came to view them: But as this was attended with fome {mall
Inconveniency to a Perfon, thro’ whofe Land they were obliged to pafs 5
he therefore, to get rid of the Company, refolved to deftroy the Object
of their Curiofity : In order to do fo effectually, he took a Piece of iron
prepared for that Purpofe ; and then carefully bored and drilled every
Part of the Holes where thefe feeming Flowers were bred; but, to his
great Surprize, they in a few Weeks appeared again iffuing from the fame
Holes,

Let us here, for awhile, ftop, and fee whether our much boafted Rea-
fon can find out how even a latent Principle of Life can be preferved,
after the whole organic Body is torn in Pieces.

When we fee this Animal, in a fhort time after, refufcitate, and appear

" in its former Proportion, Beauty, and Life, can we, after fuch an ocu-

lar

Book IX. - Hand of BARBADOS

lar Demonftration of fo aftonifhing a Change in a Creature deftined for
this Life only, and removed (in all Appearance) but a few Degrees from
the vegetable Creation, any longer entertain Doubts about the Poflibility
of another Doétrine of a far greater Confequence ? And as every paft Age
hath been, fo undoubtedly every future will be, blefled with fome fur-
prifing new Difcovery of God’s unfearchable Power and Wifdom,

Our own hath produced a wonderful Inftance of this; for what Scep-
tic, fome Years ago, would have believed the Poffibility of fo extraordi-
nary a Produ@tion as the Polypus ? Who would not have faid, with the
unbelieving Yews in the Wildernefs, Can God do this > And yet we
find, that this furprifing Generation is now a known Matter of Fad.

That the above-mentioned Conjecture about the Ufe and Efficacy of
its Colour is not groundlefs, may be made ftill more evident, by many
analogous ftriking Inftances,

For thofe ingenious Gentlemen, Mr. Zurberville Needham, and Mr.
Trembley, obferve, that Pelyps, and aquatic Infeéts, kept in Glaf& Vet.
fels, by excluding the Light from every Part, except one little Opening,
atter fome time all affembled at this Opening; and yet thefe Polypes have
not, perceptibly to the ftrongeft Magnifier, any Organ that in the leaft
refembles Eyes.

If Light is therefore fo attra@ive to thefe Animals which are vifible,
why may it not be likewife fo to other Animalcules to us imperceptible ?
And may we not further fuppofe, that the Appearance of the former to-
wards the Light may be in Search of thefe Animaleules, their deftined
Prey? c

But in what manner the Rays of Light affeé thefe Animals, whether by
its Motion acting upon their whole exceedingly delicate nervous Syftem, |
which, like the Retina ef the human Eye, isin every Part fenfitive, is, I
believe, inexplicable.

Where Sight is apparently wanting, as in Polyps, a Delicacy of Touch
may, for ought we know, and indeed in all Probability doth, take up
the gradual Chain, and, ina furprifing manner, fupply its Place,

Such is the infenfible Gradation, which is progreflively continued by
imperceptible Degrees thro’ the whole Creation, from animate to inani-
mate, rational to irrational, that we know not where precifely to deter-
mine their refpective Boundaries. In like manner, Light and Darknefs,
Motion and Reft, we {peak of as Things very different and oppofite: Yet
‘no one will prefume to fay, what is the Precife and abfolute Boundary
between langid Motion, and abfolute Reft 3 or determine the Period where
the laft dying Sound expires in dead Silence.

And perhaps this gradual Chain and Connexion terminates not with
fublunary Things; but may be progreffively continued far above the Ken
of the moft exalted Genius, or even the Comprehenfion of perhaps celef-
tial Beings, till all created Perfe@ion is loft in him, who is Perfeétion
itfelf,

297

This

x98

The Natural Hiftory of the Book IX.
‘This Animal, and the Cave containing it, are delineated in Plate XXIV.
Fig. I. isn ee

- The Savy. BLuiso ANIMAL FLOWER...

HESE grow in Clofters upon the Rocks between High and Low-

water Mark. ‘The Edges of each are compofed of a circular Bor-
der of fmall fiftular thread-like brown. Petals (if I may fo call them) fur-
rounding a fungous Subftance, of about the Breadth of an Ezgli/h Silver
‘Two-pence, and of a bluifh-green Colour. This Species is by far lefs quick
in avoiding approaching Danger than thofe already defcribed ; confequent-
ly their Organs of Senfation are lefs perfect ; for they will {ufter themfelves
to be touched, before their guardian Petals or Arms clofe together to de-
fend or preferve the Whole. I have obferved a larger Sort of the fame
Species, having their brown Petals or Arms longer than the above-de-
feribed, as well as of an irregtlar unequal Length: ‘Thefe likewife gradu-
ally leflen in their fenfitive Perfection, and are generally found at fome
Diftance under Water, whereas the former, in Neap Tides, are often for a
fhort time expofed to the Air, and that feemingly without any Prejudice.

The

THE

NATURAL HISTORY.

IMland of BAR BADOS.

Of the SEA and its (NHABITANTS.

|S the Earth is full of God’s Riches, fo is the great and
Rib| wide Sea, wherein are Things creeping innumerable,
both {mall and great. We are no fooner advanced to
the Shore, at leaft a few Yards farther upon the
{mooth Surface of the Water, on the Weft Side of
this Ifland, but we are, efpecially in calm Mornings and
Evenings, pleafed with the Sight of feveral Groves of
Coral, Sea-Feathers, and Sea-~Rods ; the former grow in thick Clufters,
yielding an imbrowned Shade, and remain as fturdy Oaks unmoved ;
‘the latter, with their numerous, pliant Branches, wavingly bend with
the undulating, flow Motion of the Water. The interfperfed, vacant,
fandy Spaces refemble fo many bright Lawns which pleafe with a Kind of
regular Confufion. :

G ggg The

300 The Natural Hiflory. of the Book X.
: The Whole is made more grateful ftill by the Sight of numerous © .
Tribes ‘of Fifhes, which either feed upon, or wantonly: {kim the Sur-
- face of the deep Water, or lie groveling at the Bottom. fe
There ‘the bulky Conch, as it moves, is feen to furrow the glittering
Sand ; and the Warlike Sea-Egg flowly waves its thoufand Spears.
4 Scene of this Nature cannot be better reprefented than in the
Words of Milton :

Thefe
With their Fins, and fbining. Scales
Glide under'the green We aves in Sculls:that oft
Bank the Mid-fea‘: Part jingle, .or with Mate.
Graze the Sea-weed, their Pafture, i eee Groves
Of Coral fray, or [porting with quick Glance
ne to i Sup es ius Ooats Bropp'd with Gold.

Asithé Inguiriespwe have made in the foregoing, Books have futh=
ciently convinced us, that. Nature hath provided. terreftrial Anunals,
fome with Strength, others with Swiftnefs, and even the weakeft and
feebleft of the exanguious Tribes (feemingly the moft helplefs and im-
perfegt)..with fome Skil. or Gontrivance, to preferve its.Specics ; fo we
{Fall be no lefs agreeably. furprized. to find that the fame Divifie Power
is not lef confpicuous in the Make of the Inhabitants of the wide-ex-
tended Ocean, from the huge Leviathan to the {malleft Fry. Each In-
dividual is not. only adapted, by its Blood and Juices, to the Element
they are in; not only taught to propagate their Species, but alfo to
preferve them from their Enemies; for the Lamb flies not the Wolf
with gréater Dread than the Flying-Fih doth the Dolphin, and that in
like Manner its Enemy the devouring Shark,

.. It is remarkable in the Flying-Fi/b, that thefe, whilft fmall and un-
fit for Ufe, are never feen near the Shores; and the few that accident-
ally appear, avoid the Bait or Net with a furprifing Shynefs; but when
full grown, and in PerfeGtion, they croud to a convenient Diftance from
the Shores, and by, their Tamenefs court, as it were, the deftroying
Hand of Man; for they will neither fly out of his Way, as they do
from the Dolphin, nor will they dive into the Deep ; but fuffer them-
felves to be taken up with the Hand, or with a {mall Hoop-net, which
is the common, and moft expeditious Way of taking them.
_ Many have been the fruitlefs Inquiries to find out the certain Pe-
riods and Caufes of the various and oppofite Sea Currents, fo remark-
able near this Ifland. As I have obferved thefe to be higher and
ftronger at the Full‘and Change of the Moon, as well as more rapid,
and more inclined to the Northward, this induced me to believe
that, tho” the primary Caufe of the Current, as well as the higher Flow
of the Water, at fuch Times, is 6wing to the Influence of the Moon ;
yet the Byafs of this Current, more to the Northward than to any other
Part,

Book X. Ifand of BARBADOS. 301

Part, is occafioned by the Nearnefs of the South=Weft Continent of
America to this Ifland, and the Remotenefs of the Continent on the
North-Eaft, or oppofite Part from it.

For, when, the Waters, at thefe Spring-Tides are elevated and. deprefl-
ed, by Turns, by the Influence of the Moon, they will naturally recede
towards that Point where they meet with the leaft Refiftance ; there-
fore, tho’ the Courfe of the Current may, and often doth, run towards
the South-Welt ;. yet, as foon as it is refifted by the Continent of
America, on that Point, which is not quite three hundred Miles
diftant from this Ifland, it recoils back with redoubled Force towards
the oppofite Point, which is the North-Eaft; and, as it meets there
with no Refiftance, ’till it comes to the Continent of Africa, which is
about two thoufand Miles diftant from this Ifland, it is no Wonder that
the Current, efpecially in the Decreafe of the Moon, is more inclined that
Way; and, when it varies from thefe Courfes, it may be attributed
chiefly to the Change of the Wind from the true Trade Eafterly
Winds to the South-Weft ; or perhaps to the great and violent Land-
Floods from the many and large Rivers from the neighbouring South-
Weft Continent of America, which may fometimes byafs thefe Currents.

It hath been obferved by many Writers, that the Sea-water is falter
in thefe hot Climates than in other Northern Seas. This Difference the
ingenious Mr. Rohautt fays; arifes from hence, viz. That the Sun’s
‘© Heat, being more intenfe near the Equator than in thofe Seas which
é are at a greater Diftance from it, a much greater Quantity of frefh
& Water muft continually afcend up in Vapours, than elfewhere ;
“ which do not often defcend again in Rain, ’till they are carried to a
“ oreat Diftance from thence: fo that there being a lefs Quantity of
that which temperates the Salt to be found in thofe Seas which are
© between the two Tropics, than in thofe Seas which are in the frigid
«& and temperate Zones ; it is no Wonder if their Waters are falter:”
And he likewife adds, “© That the Ocean is of much larger Extent be-
* tween the Tropics than any where elfe, and yet there are fewer Ri-
“ vers that difcharge themfelves into it.”

The Caufe of the Water’s greater Degree of Saltnefs in thefe Parts,
being thus explained, the Wifdom of fuch Allotments of Providence
will foon appear, when we farther confider, that as the calm Latitudes
are within the Tropics, therefore if the Sea was not much impregnated
with Salt, its Surface in thofe Parts, called the calm Latitudes, would
in all likelihood ftagnate, and fend up fo many impure and ftinking Va-
pours, that it would infect not only thofe but the adjacent ee with
Diftempers, perhaps very little lefs pernicious than the Plague itfelf.

Of all the Fifh caught in our adjoining Sea, I fhall take notice of
fuch only, as have been either infufliciently defcribed, or whofe Defcrip-
tions have been totally neglected by other Authors. Among the former

is the following. ects : a,

The Natural Hiftory of the Book :X.

The Toap-FisH. »

NHIS Fith, which is the Dread and ‘Terror of Fifhermen, is no lefs
“T ugly in its Shape, than mifchievous by its Prickles ; its Length
in general, is from Eight to Eleven Inches ; the Colour of the Skin, is
_of a brownith-red, intermix’d with blackifh Spots; the Head is very
large, in Proportion to the reft'of the Body, and almoft intirely cover’d
with fharp Prickles ; the Eyes are pretty large, incircled with a white
Iris ; its Back is remarkably arm’d with a Row of very fharp Prickles ;
~ thefe, when the Fith is neither in an offenfive nor defenfive Pofture, are
almoft couchant ; and, to prevent their Points being by any Accident
blunted, they are fheath’d in a ftrong mufcular Membrane, or Web,
dividing each Prickle. When the Fith is difturb’d, this Skin or Mem-
brane is immediately contracted, and lies in Folds clofe to the Back,
fo that almoft the whole Length of thefe Spears are then unfheath’d,
and better fitted to make deeper Wounds, than if the Web had been
immoveable, as it is in almoft every other Fifth, guarded for common
Defence with Prickles. When thefe Spears are ereét, if the unwary
Fifherman treads upon it, (for it will not attempt to get out of his
Way,) gives a ftrong Flutter with its Fins, and ftrikes or darts them into
his Foot: the Pain that immediately enfues, is not to be defcribed, be-
ing fo very violent for the Time it lafts, (which is generally till the fame
time of the next returning Tide) that the Agonies they endure are in-
expreflible: And as few, (if any) that have been once wounded, will
be fo hardy as to venture a fecond Time to the Sea, without being firft
guarded ; perhaps the Proverb, [éus Pifcator fapit, might have its Rife
from hence; efpecially if thefe Fifh are in Plenty upon the Ivahan
Shores. It is obferv’d that the Part affe4ted near the Wound turns livid;
but, if the Liver of the Fith be immediately applied to it, it gives Eafe
in fome fmall Degree. This I take to be owing to the Oylinefs of the
Liver, which blunts the Spicula of the poifonous Particles; for I am
very confident, that this fevere Pain doth not proceed from, or is oc-
cafion’d by the Wounds, or Punétures made in the Feet, however fen-
fible that mufcular and nervous Part may be, but from fome liquid
Poifon injected into the Wounds, thro’ thefe Prickles.

Of FLYING-FisH in general.

F this Clafs there are no lefs than Five Sorts, in this Part of the
‘@) Weft-Indies ; tho” there hath been I believe, as yet, but one of
them taken Notice of, or defcribed by the Writers of Natural Hiftory ;
which, by way of Eminency and Diftinction, is called the Flying-Fifb:
the reft, no lefs deferving of that Name, are the Flying-Gar-Fifb, the
Sea-Bat, the Guinea-Men, and the Ballabws. ;

The

‘Book X. Yiand of BARBADOS.

Go

‘The Fryinc-F isu.
! i NHIS Fith is prepofteroufly deferibed by moft Pavia often

A take more Pleafure in fetting Men a ftaring at Reprefentations
in themfelves incredible, than in candidly and horeftly relating fuch

Matters of Fa, as come within the Sphere of their Knowledge.
Thus, when this Fifth is-made the furprizing Topic of Wonder, as
the Generality of Mankind. know no other Method of flying but with
Wings, they are immediately induced to believe, that this Pith hath,
according to the real Acceptation of the Word, Wings to fly with ;
whereas what are fo called, are only Fins common in their Make with
the Fins of feveral other F ith, differing only in Bignefs, which in Pro-
portion to the Size of this Fifh, are indeed far larger than any other,
the Flying-Gar-Fifh excepted. This, that we are now defcribing, is
not, at its utmoft Growth, more than Nine Inches long, flattifh ‘on the
Back, and growing broader towards the Head ; the Back and Head are
of a dark Blue, and whitifh under the Belly ; they have two large Fins,
fituated po/? Bronchia; thefe in a full-gtown Fith’ are fix Inches long ;
and each in Breadth at their greateft Expanfion, about three Inches:
When purfued by a Dolphin, as their Swiftnefs in fwimming is far in-
ferior to that Filh, to avoid him they give a Spring out of the Water,
and immediately (if I may be allowed the Expreffion) unfurl or expand
their Fins, not with a tremulous, but a fteady; quick, gliding Motion ;
which they do with great Swiftnefs; but, if the Day be hot, or the
Weather fultry, their Flight is fhort; for, as foon as the Heat of the
Sun dries up the Moifture upon their Fins, which made tliem pliable,
they muft dip into the Water to receive a frefh Supply. By the beft
Guels that I could make; I never perceived any of them to fly above
feventy or eighty Yards, tho’ oftener but forty or fifty at a Time.
Their Increafe is prodigioufly great; otherwife the whole Species muft
have long ago beet deftroyed3 for they are a Prey to Men, Fifh, and
Birds; having no certain Tenure of Life, either in Air or Water:
for, when purfued by Dolphins, or other voracious Fith, if, to avoid
thefe, they feek Refuge in the Air, a Bird called the Cobler, among a
great many others; darts with the Swiftnefs of an Eagle to deftroy
them. I cannot help obferving here, that there is fomething very pe-
culiar in the Make of the Wings of this Bird; for, as it fecks its Prey
ata great Diftance from Land, and being obliged to be long upon the
Wing, often at the Diftance of a hundred Miles off, to be able
therefore to endure fo great a Flight; the Wings aré not only large in
Pioportion to the Body, the better to enable them to bear its Weight ;
but the Tip-end alfo of the Pinion, inftead of having one, the common
Make of moft Birds Wings, it hath two ftrong Bones; by which mean
the Vibration of the Wings is ftronger and more {teady. a
Hhhh The

uae

304 The Natural Hiftory of the Book X.

The Fuyinc-Gar-Fisu.

“THiS is a far larger Fifth than that properly called the Flying-Fifh : i
T hath along Duck-like Nofe; and its Fins are fo large, that it
ean raife itfelf out of the Water , but its Flight is fhert.

The FLYING-SEA-BaT.

Te is of different Size, from fix to fifteen Inches long ;
from the Head to the Tail 3 the Mouth is clofe to the lowermoft
Part of the Head ; the lower Jaws are expanded, and terminate in two
Jong Prickles, in Length an Inch 3 the Eyes are large ; between
thefe the Head finks in, or is much indented ; this, as well as the Neck,
is cover'd over with a hard Scarf, or thick Coat of Mail, which termi-
nate in two long fharp-pointed Lobes in each fide of the Back ; the reft
of the Body of the Fith, which is of a dark Grey above, and whitith
under the Belly, is cover’d over with hard fall Scales 3 from behind
the Gills on the Belly-fide rife two Fins ; thefe are in Length about two
thirds of the Length of the Fith 3 with thefe it flies; for, when ex-
panded, they are from the Extremity of the one, to th
the otherFin, full as broad as the Fith is long; thefe Fins are narrow |
and {trong when clofe to the Body ;_ but towards their Extremities very
membranaceous, thin, and of a black Colour 3 the Back is fupplied with
two {mall Fins; the Belly likewife under the Wings, is guarded with
two Inch-long, foft pointed Horns, the whole Fith ending in’ a mid-
dle-fized forked Tail; thefe when caught with a Hook, and brought
to the Surface, will fly a confiderable Way, unlefs check’d by pulling

the Line: they, as well as the two following, are very feldom ‘to be
‘met with.

tapering

e Extremity of

The Guinea-Man.

HIS is confiderably larger than the Flying-Fifh, and hath a fome-
what Duck-like Nofe, and Fins {0 large, ,that he can raife him-
felf out of the Water, and fly a {mall Diftance, tho’ not fo far as the
Elying-Fifh. :

~The Batuauw.
7 i 'HIS is a {mall Fith, feldom above feven or eight Inches long ; the

under Part of the Nofe is a great deal longer than the upper :

this likewife by its large Fins, flies a {mall Diftance ; but not near’
fo far as the Elying-Fifh,

The

Bock X, Mlavd-of BARBADOS,

The INK-Fisu, ee
ae HIS is of ‘the cartilaginous Kind, and hath been by feveral

Authors, fo well, and {0 often defcribed, that I have nothing
to add, unlefs that the Curious hitherto have in their Accounts look’d
upon this to be the only one that emits a black Liquid ; whereas the
two following are provided with fuch, which they {pirt out to difcolour
the Water when in Danger of being caught. By this Means they efcape
the Ken of their Enemies ; for, as they are not provided with defenfive
or offenfive Weapons, this Liquid, which is as black as Ink, is as
neceflary for their Prefervation, as Swiftnels is to a Dolphin, or their
large Fins to any of the Flying-Fifh Kind. The blackett Liquid lies
in the Tail of this Fith,

The Car or Nine Taits. ,
Y [ THIS éartilaginous Fith, notwithftanding its Name; hath but

five inftead of nine Tails ; which in general are not above ten
Inches long, tapering to the Point ; and, tho’ they are but flender;
yet their Strength and elaftick Power is almoft inconceivable. The
largeft of thefe feldom weighs above a Pound, yet it is found to be a
difficult Tafk for a very able Man to uncling one of them from the
Rocks to which they are fix’d. — As cartilaginous Fifhes in general
have no. Air Bladders, it is no Wonder that none of this Clafs are found
in deep Waters, their Refiderice being chiefly among Shoals and Rocks
between one and fix Foot deep. ‘They ‘feed chiefly upon Wilks,
young Conchs, and Crabs; the latter it breaks to Pieces, and the former
it fucks. out of their very Shells.

The ScurtLe Fisu.

e HIS hath eight Tails, arid often weighs tleat two Pounds co

every Part of this Fifh is full of ftrong elaftick Mufeles, efpe-
cially its numerous Tails; which are often fifteen Inches long, tapering
to the Point. This, as well as the Ink-Fifh; is provided with a black
Liquid, to difcolour the Water, whilft it makes its Efcape from its
Enemy, with this {mall Difference, that the Liquid is lodged in the
Head of this, whereas that of the Ink-Fifh \ies in its Tail.

The TRIANGULAR FIst.

“FY HIS often grows to be neat fifteen Inches long, weighing fix;
f feven or eight Potinds ; the Mouth is fmall, and pouched and
tinged with a blackifh Hue for near an Inch round ; the Teeth até
many;

ur

The Natural Hiflory of the Book X.
many, long and blunt-pointed ; the Body of the whole Fith is a
triangular Trunk, the Belly-part making the Bafe of the {malleft Angle ;
the Skin is black, hard and rough; being raifed into innumerable
{mall Angles reprefenting Fret-Work ; the Mouth lies level with the
Bafe of the Angle which coaftitutes the Belly-Part ; its Eyes are large,
and the upper Part of the Head much indented between them 3 the

“Back is very crooked and fharp-edged, being almoft of the Confiftence

of a Horn ; it hath two {mall Fins poft Bronchia one upon the Back

near the Tail, and one nearly oppofite to it under the Belly ; each

Side of the loweft Angle being: the Belly-Part is, near the Tail, guarded

with a fhort horny Prickle ; the whole Fifh ending in a forked Tail.
This is delineated in Plate XXVIII

The HorNED Conzy F isu,

we iu HIS chiefly differs from that already defcribed, by having its

Head guarded by a Pair of fhatp-pointed Horns of, fometimes,
near an Inch long, bending fomewhat downwards. There is another
temarkable Différence, which is peculiar to this Fifh alone ; for if eaten,
efpecially the Liver and the Head, the Perfon feeding on it will, in a
few Minutes after, be as drunk as if he had drank {trong Liquor to
Excefs : For his Reafon and his Limbs will fail him, until reftored to

both by a found Sleeps. '

The Soap Fisu.

’ L VHIS isa {mall Fifh, not above fix Inches long ; it is of fo
foapy a Nature, that when caught. and ftrongly agitated in

Water, it will caufe almoft as ftrong a Lather as an equal Quantity of
the beft Soap. I am of Opinion that Nature intended it this Quality
(fince it is incapable of every other Defence) to be as much a Means of
avoiding its Enemy, as the Swiftnefs of {wimming is. to fome, or their
Prickles to others : But as the extraordinary Slippinefs of this Fith can
be no Defence againft an Antagonift provided with Teeth, therefore I
beg Leave to conjecture that its’ natural Enemy is among the cartilagi-
nous Clafs of Fifh (efpecially as it is alway found feeding near the
Shore ;) and none more likely of this Kind than the Cat of Nine Tails,
and Scuttle-Fifh ; for thefe, by their numerous Tails which have fo
ftrong-a mufcular Force, grafp and hug their Prey to Death, unle& by
its Slippinefs it can difentangle itfelf from them: The Strength of the
above-mention’d Tails is otherwife fo great, that by fixing their Heads,
and, perhaps, fome of their Tails to a Rock. in the Bottom under
Water, and the remaining round the Arm of the Perfon diving for
them, there hath been one Inftance of the Diver not being able either.
to

Pt 28. pag 300

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to pluck up the Fith clinging to the Rock, nor to extficate himfelf
from it, and confequently perifhing in the Attempt.

The OLD Man.

HIS Fifh is about eleven Inches long from the Head to the

Tail, and about feven in Breadth ; the Head and Mouth are
fmall; the Teeth many and fharp; the whole Skin is black and rough :
It hath two very remarkable Prickles upon the Back, not far from the
Tail; thefe, when the Fith feeds, are couchant clofe to the Back ;
but, when annoy’d, are ereét and prove offenfive or defenfive Weapons ;
but as they have no membranaceous Web to fupport them by its Elaf-
ticity, as moft other Fifh (which Nature hath endued» with Prickles)
have, to fupply this feeming Want, this Fifh can, by the Help of very
ftrong Mufcles, join’d to the Root of thefe Prickles, raife them in an
inftant upright, ready to guard himfelf or annoy his Enemy ; and};
even when the Fifh is dead, if both thefe Prickles (the uppermoft
being above an Inch and a Quarter Jong) are lifted up into an upright
Pofition, the largeft falls into a Socket in the Back-Bone ; where it
will remain unmoveable, and will fooner break than bend. But as a —
{mall Touch upon the Trigger of a Gun’s Lock will bring down the
Cock from its full Bent, fo the leaft Motion or Touch upon the lower
Prickle will, in an inftant, bring down the upper clofe to the Back.

The Orb Wire. —
r HIS differs very little fron the laft defcribed; each having
their two Fins pof Bronchia ; ore on the Back, and one under
the Belly, of equal Size and Pofition, as well as the Make of their
forked Tail alike: However there is this material Difference, that as
the former hath its Prickles upon the Back near the Tail, this hath

them near the Head, with this additional Circumftance, that, inftead
of two, it hath three Prickles, but equally intended to be its Safe-guard;

The JAeR:

(REVHIS Fith is about fix Inches long, and neat two btoad from
the Back to the lower Part of the Belly ; the Eyes very large

in Proportion to the Bignefs of the Fith; and is furrounded with a
ellow Itis ; it hath two narrow, fharp-pointed Fins pot Bronchia ;
fone ftreight; one under the Belly, and another tipon the Back as far
as the Navel ;] likewife a Pair of {mail ones under the upper Part of
the Belly: Oppofite to thefe on the Back are likewife two f{mall, prickly
Fins ; the Back from Head to Tail is blackifh; and the Belly of a Sil-

ver:white: Thefe are often caught in very great Numbers in Nets:
iii They

408 The Hiflory of she Book X.

Ephraim

Chambers,

vide Cham-
bers’s Dic-

tionary.

They are ‘in“fome Seafons of the Year, efpecially, when catight in Chrift-
Church Parith or thereabouts, very poifonous ; at fuch Times there are
generally in their Gills two fmall red Lumps ; and when they are
fufpected to be poifonous, ‘they try the Experiment upon a Duck,
by giving her one of thefe to {wallow ; and if at that Seafon it is
‘poifonous, the Duck dies in about two Hours.

The Devin!

YH E ridiculous Reprefentation of. this Fith by moft Painters and

[ Engravers (even after its true Shapes being fo well known) is a

{trong Inftance that: vulgar’ Errors are» but with great Difficulty got

over. It is fo far. from ‘having a large Head and Gills, a crooked,

thorny Back, &c./as'.generally reprefented; that it is one of the
ftreighteft Fith that: fwims.: This is delineated in Plate XXIX.

‘The Sta Tortoise.

Rh AL OST, if not all Authors, who have treated of this fearce-
N to-be-called amphibious Animal, have inadvertently rank’d> it
among the teftaceous Kind 5 ‘tho’ it is apparently otherwife by its nu-
merous ftrong Ribs and Back-Bone; ‘The feveral Lamina, which
adorn and fortify its Back, are fo far. from being of the Shell-Kind,
that they are rather an elaftick, tranfparent, horny Subftance. A late
ingenious afd very ufeful, Author hath*been much impofed upon, by
a pretended Defcription of this Animal ; efpecially whete he afferts
that the Under-Shell is ‘what alone is made Ufe of 3; and that to
feparate this from the upper, ‘Fire; is made underneath ; and that as
foon as itis heated, the Shell: becomes eafily feparable, and fo taken
off with the Point of a Knife, and that with ‘0 little Prejudice, that
the Zortoife, being afterwards permitted to go into the’ Sea, not only
lives, but hath its Armour or Shéll foon. renewed. Thus that induf-
trious and learned Gentleman, whilft laudably defirous to give Man-
kind as true a Defcription of this, as he does of almoft every Thing
he treats of, wasmuch impofed upon by hisInformer. This Misfortune wil]
fometimes happen, when our Informations come from Perfons, who are
fond of aggrandizing, or leflening what is; or is ‘not, agreeable to their
own favourite Opinions, or groundlefs Imaginations. The Defcription
of the Zortoife juft now mentioned, is fo far from being true, that the
lower Shell; or what is fo called, is of no Manner of Ufe, the upper
alone being of Service ; nor can this be come at “till the Zorzoi/e is not
only dead, but all the Fleth likewife taken from the Ribs and Back ; ig
is not till then that a Fire is made under the infide of the Upper-Shell
(as I fthall in Conformity to the received Opinion call it ; though
it is manifeft it is not a Shell from its elaftick Quality.) And:

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Book X, land of B AR B ADOS, |

when this Heat hath penetrated thro’ the Ribs, anda cruity hard
Subftance which covers them, that the feveral foliaceous Lamina, gene-
ally about fixteen in Number, begin to exfoliate on the outfide : thofe

‘Tortoife of any confiderable Bignefs; is full twelve Inches long ; and its
Tefticles. are as delicious as thefe of Lambs: in Cooting-time, the Male
and Female remain in Coition, eight or nine Days, fome fay more; at
the Expiration of which Time the Male is fo reduced, that he is fearce
able to fwim, his Callapee (being the Belly-part) becomes from a hard
horny Subftance, as foft almoft as a Jelly. The Penis dryed and given
in Powder, is looked upori by fome to be a fovereign Remedy againft
the Gravel.

ting the Throat, (to give vent to the Blood which is always as cold aé
Water) the Fleth will keep not only uncotrtipted, but tho” cut in Pieces;
the fore Quarter and Callapee will continue to have a ftrong, lively, muf-
cular, convulfive Motion, for fourteen, or evén eighteen Hours; for if
at that Time it is pricked with a Pin or Fork, it will move and contraé&
itfelf vifibly. Some Part of the Fleth cuts reddifh; refembling coarle

Beef; another Part as white as a ‘Chicken ; the Fat about the Fins’

atid the Guts, is fomewhat Yellowifh, but the far greater Part, clofe td

the upper and under Shell, ig as green as a Leek; they aré caught of’
different Sizes; the largeft that hath been taken in this Ifland, within °
my Rememibrance,- did not exceed four-hundted Weight: They are’

often ignorantly reprefented to have three Hearts; this Miftake arifes-

from their having two large Auticles, one on each Side of it ; the Blood in

this Animal is very grofs, cold and vifcid ; and as the Heart hath but

RI Tie Natural Hiftory of the Book X.

one Ventricle, its Circulation is performed after the fame Manner as in
a Frog; in which, not above one third pafles through the Lungs ; it is
dicenile owing to the Coldnefs of the Blood, its flow Motion, and thick
Armour with which the Zor‘oi/e is furrounded, that it is at a very little
Expence of €pirits by tranfpiration ; and confequently hath lefs Need
of a'frefh Recruit: The Liver is large, and ofa dark Green, and the great
‘Gut or Colon, on the outfide full of feeming Prickles; however their Points
are foft and pliable, the Flefh when baked or ftewed, is a moft delicious and
nourifhing Diet ; the young Ones are often caught with a Hook and
Line: the propereft Bait for this Purpofe is a Sea-Bladder; and they
are likewife fometimes drawn afhore in Nets. There is another Method
‘of taking the larger Sort, efepecially the Females, by watching their
coming afhore in the Night, upon the dry, fandy Bays, in the Months
of Sune, Fuly, Auguf, and September, in which laying Seafons, after
they have crawled above High-Water-Mark, they dig with their Fins
(which are ftrong, nervous, and flefhy) a Hole of about two Feet deep,
in the loofe Sand, in which the Female lays fometimes an hundred or
mire Eggs ; the outward Tegument of thefe is rather fkinny than fhelly,
its Shape is round, of about an Inch anda Quarter Diameter; the in-
fide of the Egg is yellow, and to the’ Tafte fomewhat gritty. After
thefe Eggs are thus depofited in the Sand, the Tortoife fills up the Hole
in fo nice a Manner, that it will be {carce perceivable that the Sand had
been difturb’d; and the Eggs, by the Heat of the Sun, will, in nine
Weeks, be hatched, and the young Tortoifes immediately crawl into th
Seas:

Before we conclude this Defcription, it will not be impertinent to ob-
ferve, that the Ancients knew the Value of the Tortoife-Flefh in Phy-
fick, as well as of its Shell for making the Lyre. The former appears
from JVicander, in his Poem call’d Alexipharma ; and Horace {peaking
of the Lyre made of the Tortoife-fhell, fays,

O teftudinis auree
Dulcem que frrepitum Pieri temperas
O mutis quoque pifcibus
Donatura cycni, fi libeat, fonum.

_ By the Word gi/cibus, it is evident, that the Lyre mentioned by Alo
vace was made with the Shell of the Sea-Tortoife, which maketh- Uf
of Fins to {wim with asa Fifh; whereas the Land-Tortoife (tho’ the
Shell of this hath been often us’d in Greece to the fame Purpofe) is
arm’d with Claws, and is at moft but barely an amphibious Animal ;
whereas the other, applied here by Horace, is almoft intirely an
Aquatic, ;

The

Book X. Hand of BARBADOS,
The StA-Horsk:.

ae T never faw this Animal “till it was hiivel’d ahd éry'd up,
I will not pretend to deferibe it ; any farther, than that. by its
Trunk it feems to be a Fith which fucks in ‘it Nourifhment:

Of Frist Warr Fisn.

Q* this Kind we have very few intirely peculiar to the freth Water ;
that is, which breed in it; the greateft Part being generally,
when very young, the Inhabitants of the Sea 3 when the great Current
of our Land-Floods breaks thro’ the Banks of our ftefh Water Peiids,
_ caufing by this Means a Communication for fome Time with the Sea,

feveral Sorts of young Fifh {wim from the falt into the frefh Water g
and from thefe Ponds they are caught, and carried into others feveral,

Miles up in the Country:
A CAFFUM:

T HIS is a large, fealy Fith, often weighing fifteen Pounds; ~
~* and meafuring about three Feet in length: ~The Head is {mall ifi
Proportion to the reft of the Body; the under Jaw is longer than the
upper ; its Eyes are large, incircled with a broad, golden Iris. Thé
Back is of a dark bhie, and the Sides and Belly of a fhining Silver-Co-
lour ; it hath one Fin upon the Back, two pot Bronchia, two under the
Belly, and one near the. Tail, which ends forked. . ‘This Fith is gene-
rally very poor whilft in the Sea, but foon gtows very fat in Land=
Ponds, where they are fed with the Guts of F owls, fmall Fifth, or up-
on Pond-Bugs, their moft natural Food in this Situation:

The Muiier.
, [ YHESE are of tivo Sorts, the Sea and the freth Water Mullet ;
- the former is of a light-grey upon the Backs and Sides ; the latter

of an iron-grey, and the Scales very rematkably divided in regular
Rows upon their Sides and Backs:

The Carmow-Mutter.
HIS differs from the former by the Greatnefs of its Bulk,

efpecially its Head, which is remarkably large and flat; thefe
often weigh above two Pounds, being very fat and delicious Eating.

Kkkk The

The Natural Fiiflory of he Book X.

The Mup-Fisn,

“FH E RE. aré three Sorts of Mud-Fifp ; the firft and {malleft fome-
what refembling Syve/ts in its Make ; the fecond is the Mangrove
Mud- Fifh ; this is thicker and larger, and hath often large Roes in it ;
the third and largeft is the Logger-Head-Mud-Fifh; this hath a large
Head and Eyes, the former fomewhat flattifh ; and are often a Foot long ;
every Species of thefe are juftly efteemed to be very delicate Eating.

The two firft Fins appear fof Bronchia, with two fmaller ina di-
rect Line under the Gullet; it hath likewife one continued membra-
naceous Fin from the Navel to near the Tail; with another oppo-
fite of equal Length upon the Back. The whole Fith is covered with
many fmall Scales, and ends with a round pointed ‘Tail.

The Star-Fisu.
“EHS is here likewife call’d the Five-Finger'd-Fifh, and but

very feldom taken.

The SHARK.

SHALL take my Leave of the Deep and its Inhabitants with a
[ Defcription, or rather curfory Obfervation, of the Shark, a Fith
well known both in the Northern and Southern Seas for its ravenous
Nature preying upon moft Animals that come’ in its Way. The
young Sharks, upon Sight of Danger, flip in through the Mouth of
of the Parent Shark, and, when the Danger is over, iffue forth to
their proper Element again.

Thefe Creatures are fometimes feen very numerous among the Ships
in Carlifle-Bay ; efpecially when there are many Veffels with Slaves
from Guinea ; For fome Hundreds of thefe poor Wretches being often
crouded together in one Bottom, a great many of them die. with va-
rious Difeafes ; and being thrown over-board, bring together fo great
a Multitude of thefe voracious Animals, that it is not fafe at fuch
Times for the fatigued Sailors to refreth themfelves by bathing in the
Bay. And here let me take Occafion to teftify my Efteem of thefe dar-
ing and profitable Adventurers of the Deep, by refcuing from Oblivion
a memorable Atchievement of a common Sailor in the DeftruGion of a
Shark: And when the Principle which prompted him to fo very un-
equal and hazardous a Combat, and the Intrepidity of the Aion it-
felf are confidered, abftractedly from the low and mean Circumftaneces
of the Perfon, it will perhaps appear to be as heroic an Inftance of
difinterefted Priendfhip and perfonal Bravery, as any recorded in
Hiftory.

About

Book X. [land of BARBADOS, sn

About the latter End of Queen Aune’s Wars, Captain Fohn Beams Com-
mander of the York Merchant, arrived at Barbados from England.
Having difembark’d the laft Part of his Loading, which was Coals, the
Sailors, who had been employ’d in that dirty Work, ventured into the
Sea. to wafh themfelves ; there they had not been long, before a Perfon
on Board ’fpyed a large Shark making towards them, and gave them
Notice of their Danger; upon which they fwam back and reach’d the
Boat, all but one; him the Monfter overtook almoft within Reach of.

the Oars, and griping him by the Small of the Back, his devouring.
Jaws foon cut afunder, and as foon fwallow’d the lower Part of his Ro-
dy ; the remaining Part was taken up and carried on Board, where his
Comrade was. His Friendfhip with the deceafed had been lone diftin-
guifhed by a reciprocal Difcharge of all fuch endearing Offices, as im=:
ply’'d an Union and Sympathy of Souls. When he faw the fever’d
Trunk of his Friend, it was with an Horror and Emotion too great for
Words to paint. During this affecting Scene, the infatiable Shar was
feen traverfing the bloody Surface in Search after the Remainder of his
Prey ; the reft of the Crew thought themfelves happy in being on
Board, he alone unhappy, that he was not within Reach of the Deftroy-
er. Fired at the Sight, and vowing that he would make the Devourer
difgorge, or be fwallowed himfelf into the fame Grave,— He plunges
into the Deep, arm’d with a large fharp-pointed Knife. The Shark no
fooner faw him, but he made furioufly towards him,—both equally eager,
the one of his Prey, the other of Revenge. The Moment the Shark
open’d his rapacious Jaws, his Adverfary dextroufly diving, and grafp-
ing him with his left Hand fomewhat below the upper Fins, fuccefsfully
employs his Knife in his right Hand, giving him repeating Stabs in the
Belly : the enraged Shark, after many unavailing Efforts, finding him-
felf overmatch’d in his own Element, endeavours to difengage himfelf,
fometimes plunging to the Bottom, then mad with Rain, rearing his un-
couth Form (now ftain’d with his own ftreaming Blood)above the foam-
ing Waves. The Crews of the furrounding Veffels faw the unequal
Combat, uncertain from which of the Combatants the Streams of Blood
iffued ; till at length, the Sark, much weaken’d by the Lofs of Blood,
made towards the Shore, and with him his Conqueror; who, flufh’d
with an Affurance of Victory, pufhes his Foe with redoubled Ardour,
and, by the Help of an ebbing Tide, dragging him on Shore, rips up his
Bowels ; and unites and buries the fever’d Carcafe of his Friend in one
hofpitable Grave.

The Story, I confefs, is of fo extraordinary a Nature, that I would
not have dared to give it my Reader, had I not been authorifed thereto
by the Teftimony of a very credible (1)Gentleman, who is ready to confirm
by Oath, the Truth of what is here related. This Action, intrepid as
it is, will unqueftionably fall under the Cenfure of thofe, who are acy

cuftomed

(3) Lieut. Col. Hillery Rowe, of St. Lucy's Parith, who was not far from the Place when this happened.

The Natural Hiffory, &e. Book XK:
cuftomed to judge by. the Rules, of moral or political Fitnefs; it not
being prudent in any Man to expofe himfelf to Danger; from which he
muft owe his Efcape’as much to Chance as Valour, nor confiftent with
the Value which ought to be fet on the great Gift of Life, to rifque it
upon fmall and inadequate Occafions ; the Exploit therefore had been
more truly heroic, had it been performed for the Prefervation of his
Friend’s Life, rather than the Recovery of his Body. But fuch Re-
fleGions are not the Sentiments of Sailors, a Clafs of Men to whom
Courage is a Virtue, however madly or unfeafonably exerted.

And yet if fuch an Action had been recorded of Scipio or Alexander
in the Defence of Lelkus or Hepheftion, whether it would not have
been celebrated by their Admirers, among the moft fhining and mag-
nanimous Atchievements of thofe renowned Heroes and Friends.

304

FoIo NV 1.8:

EXPLANATORY

OF ALE

Boranical and Technical Térms made ufe
of in the foregoing WOR K:

Wie SWE A Ot Sen ete

A

"A CINT, are {mall Grains growing in Bunches, after the man=
ner of Elder-tree- Berries in Zngland, and yellow Hercules
Berries in ‘this Mand) ego fog veer art
Apices or Summits, are thofe Bodies which contain the Farina fecun-
dans. They generally-hang’ upon flender Threads called Chives.
Aromatic Plants, are thofe whofe Leaves or Branches have an odori-
ferous Scent, as Rofemary, Lavender, &e.
B
DD Acciferous Trees, are thofe which beat Berries. A Berry isa
flethy Fruit inclofing feveral Seeds. -
Bulbous-rooted Plants, are of two Sorts, viz. .tunicated or coated’
Roots, which confift of feveral Coats involving each other, as the

Onion, Tulip, &c. The other fquammofe or fcaly, which confifts
of feveral Scales lying over each other, as the Lily, &c.

| Ol eae CG. | CAP!

Explanatory NOTE 5, eRe.

Cc,
a Apfiult, avait dry Hufk or Veffel of Plants, in which the Seeds

are contained.

Calyx, is the Flower-cup, or thofe green Leaves which cover and
embrace the Flower. Thefe in fome Plants afterward inclofe the
Seeds. Thofe Plants whofe Flowers have no Petals fo inclofed, are
termed apetalous. This is by fome called the Empalement of the
Flower.

- Cathkin or Iulus, is an Aggregate of Sumtnits, collected into a long Body
in form of a Rope. Thefe are the Male Flowers of Trees.

Chives, are thofe flender Bodies which furround the Ovarium in the
Centre of Flowers, and fupport the Summits.

Clavicle or Tendril (Capreolus) is a Part of a Stalk curling and laying
hold on any adjacent Body. As in the Vine, Briony, &c.

Clavicles, Clafpers, or Tendrils, are the young Shoots of creeping
{candent Plants ; it is by thefe that they take hold of the neighbour-
ing Trees or Rocks ; and fometimes, if thus fupported, they grow to
a greater Height : Of this kind are the Clafpers of the Grape, Vine,
and moft others of that Tribe.

Coagulation, is the condenfing or thickening the Juices of any Tree
or Plant, by the Heat of the Sun. “s

‘Coronated or umbilicated Fruits, are thofe which have their Calyx_or
Empalement of the Flower growing on their Top, as the Medlar,
Pear, Apple, &c.

Corrugated, or wrinkled, as the Leaves of Baum, Mint, &¥c.

Grenated, or notch’d Leaves, are thofe, whofe Edges are cut into fe-
veral obtufe Angles.
Corymbiferous Plants, are fuch as have a compound or difcous Flower ;

the Seeds having no Down fticking to them.

so
Entated Leaves, are fuch as have their Edges notch’d, fome-
what like the Teeth of a Saw.
Digitated or-finger’d Leaves, sare thofe which are. divided into feveral.

Parts, which are conneéted together at the Tail, fo asin fome
meafure to refemble a Hand, as inthe Cinquefoil, Lupine, &c.

3 oe

Chinated Pods, or Leaves, are thofe that are fet round a
Prickles, fuch as the Pods of Horfe-nickers in this Ifland, and
Holly-leaves in England.

F, Fiftular

Explanatory Nov = s, &e.

F.
Tffular Flowers, are fuch as are. compounded of many long
hollow {mall Flowers like Pipes, all divided into many Jags at
the End. we rat MSOEEROD Ber ee
Falcated Pods, are thofe which bend in like an Hook or Semicircle.
Foliola, are thofe {mall Leaves which grow along the Mid-rib ‘of the
Leaf, in compound Leaves, _ ' Se ae rane

G

[N Laucous Leaves or Stalks, are of a whitifh-green Colour,
fomewhat of a bluifh Caft; fuch are the Leaves of the
French Sortel in England, and of the blue Edda in thefe Parts.
Galeated or hooded Flowers, are fuch, whofe upper Part refembles a
kind of Helmet or Hood, asin the Flower of Sage. ;
Granated, or that Fruit which is compos’d of many Grains or Ker-
nels, :

H.

r WErbaceous Leaves, até fuch long {mall Leaves as come neareft
in Shape and Colour to that of common Grafs ; fuch are the
Leaves of Reeds.

tL ‘
i oe), cate Catkins, being Bunches of {mall dufty Flowers grow-

ing ‘upon feveral Trees and Shrubs, fuch as Haffels and Walnuts.
Tndented Leaves, are fuch as are flightly indented on their Edges.

E; +

Abiated Flowets, ate- difform monopetalous Flowers, divided
ufually into two Lips, as in Sage and Rofemary. ;
Laciniated Leaves, are thofe which are naturally jagg’d or notch’d to
the Mid-rib by Vermin.
Ligule, or {mall Strings.

M, Mens

Explanatory Notes, &e.

M.

Embranaceous, when taken in a Botanical Senfe, is generally ap=
plied to the feveral thin Filaments, which diftinguifh fome
pattitional Cells from each other; as in the Pomegranate Fruit’
Monopetalous Flowers, are thofe which have but ore Leaf, or Petal;
which, tho’ it is feemingly cut into Four of Five fmall Petals, or
Flower-leaves, yet they are all one Piéce,
Muricated, prickly Leaves,

Ry TErvtus Leaves, are thofe which confift of many Ribs or Fibres.
LN Waciferous Trees, or Shrubs, are fuch which bear Nuts,

0.

O R 42, the Extremities of feveral: Kinds of Flowers.

P;
PY 4k, is a Stalk diffufed into feveral Pedicles, fuftaining the
Flowers of Fruits, as in Oats, &e.
apilionaceous Flowers, are thofe which refemble a Butterfly with the

. Wings extended, as in Peas and Beans in England, as well as in the
Pigeon-Pea~Tree Blofloms in this Ifland:

P appofe Seeds, are fuch as have a downy Subftance fitting on the Top

of each Seed, as the Dandelion, Scorzonera, &%.

Parafitical Shrubs or Plants, are thofe which detive their Nourith-
ment from other Plants; thus the Mifletoe from the Oak in Eng-
and, and from the Orange Tree here.

Pennated or Winged Leaves, -are fach ‘As are compounded. of many
{mall Leaves ‘or Lobes, placed along the middle Rib, either alter-

“nately, or by Pairs, When the middle -Rib is terminated by an odd
Lobe, it is faid to be unequally pennated; and equally pennated, when
it is not terminated by an odd Lobe. c intl 10. a \s

Petals, are the fine-colour’d Leaves of the Flowers, to diftinguifh them
from the Leaves of the Plant. :

| Pexlicles, ior the Foot-ftalks of any Leaf, Fruit, or Flower.

Pen-

Explaiatory Noves, Ce.

Pendulous Flowers, are thofe which hang downwards; fuch as the Aloe
Flower.

Piftil, is that Body whtich arifes in the Centre of Flowers, and gene-
rally fupports the Ovary.

Pinne. The Number of thefe are reckoned from the Number of the fe-
veral Pairs of winged Leaves upon a Branch.

Pomiferous Trees or Shrubs, are thofe which bear Apples, or fome
Fruit of the Apple-kind, fuch as Oranges and Lemons.

Pruniferous Trees, &c. are thofe which bear Plums.

R, 4

Eticulated Bark or Subftance, is that which is compofed of a
R ftrong, Net-like Stru@ure : Such is the moft fubftantial Part of
the Body of a Popais-tree. Gk 3 é
Rugofe. This isa Term chiefly made ufe of with regard to the Bark of

fuch Trees as are wrinkled, or furrowed.

S.

Q Ere, are thofe ftiff {mall Hairs which often cover the Leaves, of
the Stalks, of Plants; fuch as Nettles, and the Foot-ftalks of
Belly-achs.

Scandent Plants, are thofe whofe Stalks are too weak to fupport them

. upright ; therefore by their Clafpers or Tendrils they faften unto,

or climb up, the neighbouring Trees ; by which means they often

- grow to a great Height ; fuch is the Ivy ia England, and all man=:
ner of wild Wyths in this Ifland. wsdjo.

Serrated, or fawed Leaves, are fuch as have acute Notches in their
Edges, refembling the Teeth of a Saw.

Stellated Plants, are thofe whofe Leaves grow round the Stalks at cer-
tain Intervals in the Form of a Star with Beams; as Croffwort in
England, and Star-grafs in this Ifland.

Siliquofe. All Trees, Shrubs, and Plants which’ bear Pods, are of this

_ Kind. : j : ,

Spatha, is that Part of a Plant which inclofes the Flowers of the

. Palms, & ec. ;

Stamina (are the fame as Chives) are thofe fine Threads, Capillaments,
ot Haiis, growing out of the Bottom of the Flower, as from Tulips
in Exgland, and from the Flowers of the Flower-fence in this Ifland.
Thefe Stamina are generally tip’d with pices, or {mall Knobs, at
their Points. ;

Mmmm Sguammatin,

Explanatory Notes, @e.
Squammatim, in Scales. ‘
Stamineous Flowers, are thofe imperfe& ones which want the fine co-
loured Leaves called Peta/a, and confift only.of the Sy/us and Sta-
mina; fach as the Flowers of Ackatee.

aN

Hrum, ave thofe {mall fetaceous 7//, or ftiff Hairs, rifing and
forming an equal, even, plufhy Bed, in the broad Bottom of a
Flower, as in the Marygold and the Sunflower.

Tranfverfée Ribs, are thofe {maller Ribs or Veins, which crofs the middle

Spine, or Ribs which run from the Stalk to the Extremity of the
’ Leaf.

Tubular Shanks or Stalks, are thofe that are hollow like a Pipe; fuch
as Popais-fhanks in this Ifland, and the Stalks of Hemlock in Exg-
land.

Tetrapetalous Flowers, are thofe that confift but of four fingle-colour-
ed Leaves called Petals, fet round the Stylus to compofe the Flower.

Wa 4:

JErticillate Plants, ave fach as have their Flowers intermix’d: with
{mall Leaves, growing ina Kind of Whorles about the Joints of
the Stalk, as Peny-royal and Harehound in England; ‘and the
{mall white Sage in this Ifland. nee
Vulnerary. All Plants that have a healing Quality in their Juices, or
otherwife, are called Vulnerary Plants. °

U.

ee fignifies a Plant that bears many Flowers difcom-
pos'd, fomewhat like an Umbrella, growing upon many Foot-
ftalks, like Fennel Angelica, in England.

Umbel, is the Extremity of the Stalk and Branches divided into feve-
ral Pedicles, or Rays, beginning from the fame Point, and opening
in fuch a manner, as to form a kind of inverted Cone, as in a
Parfnep. When thefe Pedicles, which furround the Stalks, are again

divided

Explanatory Notes, @8e.

divided into others of the fame Form, upon which the Flowers are
difpofed, the farft are called Rays, and the fecond Pedicles,

W.

Inged Leaves, are thofe that are fet oppofite to one another
on the Branches; fuch are the Walnut-tree-leaves in Eng-

land, and the Leaves of the yellow Sauders, with a great many
others, in this Ifland.

N. B. I owe moff of the above Explanatory Notes to the accurate
Mr, Miller of Chelfea,

.
ne
| ‘
by any
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: :
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ee ti,
i a
ay
| ‘
.
4 :
> * eh ; é :
. s
ai :
f

: A:
: eat : Page
es Cleafee, or Sweet-Briar ——— 200
A African Negroes, their Cruelty to
their Captives in War 17
Agate Stamper, a Shell 285
Agnus Scythicus poe 235
Its Make, and its Pretenfi-
ons to animal Life examined and confuted 236
Air, its Clearnefs and Serenity (in Barba-

———

dos) accounted for .——— a 3
Aloe Plant —_— — 153
American Torch — 135
Animal Flower aoe 294
Anchovy Apple Tree —- ghee!
Angola. Vide Negroes :

Animals, what they are a 61

ew their Divine ArchiteGture, and Ufes ib.
Domeftic and laborious Animals much the

fame in Barbados as in England 62
Animalcules, aquatic, a Defcription of them 46
Anomalous Trees, Shrubs, and Plants 217
The red Ant o_o — 93
The ftinging Ant —. —_ ib,
The Horfe Ant — — 94
The Sugar Ant _ — oa ib.
The winged Ant waa — ib.
The Wood Ant — 98)
Antigua Balfam — —_> 222
—-— Rofe Tree —. —— 220
Arabian Jeffamin se —— 165
Arnotta —— _ 202
Arrow Root —— 2 OT
_Avigato Pear Tree —_ — 130

z B.

Acciferous Trees, Shrubs, and Plants 141

Ballahw, a Fifh 304
Balfam Tree — ees 157
Rock Balfam —— — 221
Banana Tree — —— 184
Barbados, its Extent ey I

— 2

——-— why fo called

E

The Serenity and Cleainefs of the Air ace

counted tor —— — 3
Difcovered by the Portuguefe; and inhabited

by the Englifh ~~ 4
Indians formerly refided here = — 5
Proved ~ oe 6
Its chief Towns a — ib.
The Charaéter of its prefent Inhabitants 9
Why more volatile and irafcible © —— ib,
Number of Negroes in the Ifland 14
The Nature of its Soil — 19
The Sea Bat — _ 304
Barbado’ Pink ~— — 168
Barbary fupplied with Water by Ponds and

Refervoirs — — 45
Wild Bafil —- ~ 24
A Fly Bat ay peau 84
A Cave Bat —_- = 68
A Moufe Bat — ST),
Batchelor’s Button —~ 172
Batchelor’s Pear coe =) -139
The Bay Berry Tree _ 145
The wild Bay Berry Tree — ib.
Bay Grape Tree ae caret 180
Beads, Strings of them wore by Negroes

round their Legs and Arms 16
Horfe Bean Vine -- 215
Bean Tree at omc 194
The black Bee - — = 80
Beef, a Shell Fifh 279
Beef Wood Tree ree 146:

Beetles, why wotfhipped by the Egyptians 18
The Belly Ach — -—

Berry Bufh — — 162
Black Berry Hunters ae 145
Black Wood —— : _ 180
Birch Gum Tree — 144
Birds of Paflage — — 75
Black Bird — 72
Bitumen, folid, found in Barbados 0

ib.

Liquid Bitumen ;
Black Colour of the Negroes, not owinz to the

Heat of the Sun ——= 14
Black Wood — came) 280
Bloodworth ees : f)

Lon¢

non

‘Tl MOVE +X.

Page
Bonnyvis — 216
Bonnivis Chink, an Infeet == 84
Box-wood Tree cee aes 159
Brain Stone — — 291 -
Brain Stone, large — ib.
Bread and Cheefe, a Plant _ 139
Bridge-Town, why fo called == 6
Briny Root — - 225
Broom Weed _ 171
Bug, a Water Infect = A7
Buily Berry Tree — 177
Bumbo Bufh co 164
Butterfly
Burgamot -— 127

Burial, Manner of it among the Negroes —— 15

Ce
Ce Tree moved by the Violence of
a Storm ———— 22
Cabbage Tree defcribed —— 107
Cabbage Tree, {mall — III

Cafu, how he fupplied himfelf with Water

when befieged in Alexandria 45
Caffum, a Fifth git
Indian Cale _—— SS) P21
Calabath, a Tree Seen. 116
Calabath, wild Son So 160
Sugar Cane —_—- 244
Dumb Cane 252
Trees, Shrubs, and Plants of the Capfule-

bearing Kind — Sot 167
Carbuncle 255
Carrion Fly _—— 80

Caffado Tree 150
The grey Cafket, a Shell —_— - 284
Cafket, the aaa Me a eepib,
Caffia Fiftuia 192
Cafhw ‘Tree — 135
Cat of Nine Tails a 305
Cats Blood 160
Catacombs found on the Side of Hackleton’s

Cliff 24
Caterpillar, a Plant- — 170
Wild Caterpillar —_- 163
Caves remarkable in Barbados 55
Cole’s Cave, a Defcription of it 56
The dry Cave, its Defcription — 57
The wet Cave, its Defcription — 58
Why the Heathen Priefts and Sybils made
~ choice of gloomy Caves 59
Cedar Tree : ee 15
Cherry Tree, red —— a THT
Cherry Tree, black — — 159
Clammy Cherry Tree _ 151
Chigery Bufh ven 160
Chigery Grape Tree — ue

Chigers, or Chiegoes a
Chimeras, the Occafion of their Belief + —— 36

Indian Chiffels difcovered in Barbados 7
Chriftmas Bufh ——- — 205
Wild Cinnamon Tree a ra BDHIS

Page

Circumcifion common to the Jews and Negroes
15

Citron Tree — 127
Hackleton’s Cliff, a Deleripcon Ce 23
Wild Clary _ oe 169
Climates, he conttitutional Difference of the In-
habitants of hot and cold Climates examined in

a new and phyfical Manner —_— 10
Wild Clove — 220
Cocoa Tree we el OG,
Cocoa Nut Tree — ee 103
Barren Cocoa Nut Tree — 107
Cochineal Shrub —— 135
Sea Cock Rock — ee 266
Land Cock Rock
Cockle, a Shell Fith -_ 281
Coffee Tree _ ea
Large Conch Shell ss 2S
Cow-Heel Conch — 277.
Small broad lip’d Conch —— ib,
Small Conch — _—_ ib.
Brown Conch es _— ib.
Brown black fpotted Conch _ 298
Small dark colour’dConch —_ ib.

Small white Conch j see a
Horned Coney Fifh
Triangular Fith, otherwife calledie the Cony Fi

Coots es 71
Coot Weed — 212
Corals — — 289
Palmed Coral = — ib.
Hart’s-Horn Coral —— 290
Star Coral — ~ 2gt
Beamed Coral —— ib.
Tubular Coral — ‘ib.
White Coral —— —- ib
Indian Corn — 253
Guinea Corn — _ 254.
Corn Tree ——. 238
Cornua Ammonis a 279
Coromantees. Vide Negroes

Silk Cotton Tree == 190
Cotton Tree _ _ 1gt
Cotton Tree Bird = et 92
Cow Itch Vine 206

Cowow, 2-Drink made in Barbados ————- 34

Mole Cowry 285
Large Crab oe 262
Horfeman Crab ——_ 263
Club-Men, a Species of Crabs —. ib.
She Biter, a Crab ——- i+ ib.
Small white-Crab —_———— ib.
Scuttle Crab —_—— ib.
Sireager Crab — — 264
Large white Crab _— ib
Mulatto Crab —— 265
Black Crab a — ib,
Red Land Crab coos ib.
Soldier Crab —_— ~ ib
Horned Crab ao —_ 266
Crab Eye Vine — 198

Crab

I SNGQDVE OX.

ost Page
_ Crab Buth — o: 2155
Crab Tree —_ 203
Ath coloured Cricket — 90
Horfe Cricket — ib.

_ Field Cricket =~ 1S ib.
Cruftaceous Animals foo 261
Small wild Cucumber Vine _ 166
Wild Cucumber —_ 186
Cuckold’s Increafe, a Pea — 216
Cuckold Fly —_—— 83
Shivering Curlieu — 99
Crooked Bill Curlieu a ib.
Stone Curlieu _—— ib.
Cuftard Apple Tree — ib.
Cylinder Shell ° — 285

D.

Amafcen Tree od 179
Dancing of the Negroes — 16

Deluge, its Current between the Tropics ——~ 3
The Veftigia of it at Barbados soe 49
Why the Force of it was lefs between the Tropics,

than in northern Climates, proved — - 49
Dialthea, a Plant . 172
Dialthea, red _ 212

Difeafes peculiar to Barbadoes, and the neigh-_

bouring Iflands 31

- Acute Fevers ib.
.Peripneumonies and Pleurifies _ +. 32
. Peftilential Fevers — ib.
Dry Belly Ach 34
Cholics, yellow Jaundice, and es 35

Diarrheas and Roe ib.
Fluxes : : ib.
Leucophlegmatia, or Dropiy 36
Yellow Fever — 37
Small Pox —_—_— 39
Chicken Pox — —_ ib.
Leprofy —— Sra
Elephantiafis — 40
Guiney Worms — 41
‘Running Yaws —_— 42
“Wild Dolly, a Pea we 214
‘Dolphin Fifh, defcribed — 308
Dove Weed —— 163
Down Tree T= 214
‘Down Vine ib.
Drum of the Negroes deferibed 17
Wild Duck 77
Large Duck Weed ees 233
Duck Weed oe 222
Dunck Tree a 134
Dwarf Mangrove — 147
Dwrah a= 240
“Wild Dwrah oer 241

= E,-
Page
Peskine rings, in ufe among the Noga : :
Earth- Worms
Earthquakes in Barbados very feldom and sight

29
Eaftern Compofitions, why fublime — &)
Echinite petrified oo PbS
Eddas, an eatable Fruit —= 227
Gum Elemi Tree eae
Elder Buth ib.
Egypt, its Fertility owing to the Nile Bt

Egyptians worfhipped Beetles, and Crocodiles 4
Ethcol, why fo called

Exanguous Animals Ss a5,
Ezek, why fo called —
F.
AT Pork Tree SSeS 180
Sea Feather es 288

Mountain Fern — : 237

Fern-like Plant i t

The great Fertility of Barbed due :

The numerous Armies of the Children of Ifrael,
in the Holy Land, not incredible ib.

Fevers deified by the Romans, why In ela ¥Q
Fiddle Wood Tree 346
Fidler, a Fly — 82
Fig Tree, beating the eatable Fig 187
The bearded Fi ig “Tree =o 174
Fingrigo, or Savine Tree _ 197
Fire Fly — 82
Fire- burn Bufh —— 192
Fit Weed — 229
Five Sprig Tree — _ 217
Flying Infeéts — 80
Of flying Fifth, in general | ———— 302
The flying Fith _—_ 303
Fly Catcher oe — gt
Flower Fence oe 20
Forbidden Fruit wa 127
Sea Forty Leg — 299
Forty Leg, a : Worm — 259
Foreft Bark, a Tree — 224
Foffils —_—— ib.
Fofter’s Plant — _ 206
The Fuftic Tree — 178
Guiney Fowl : <7 70
Fruit ripe-in Barbados evety Month in the Year

73

G.

ALL Tree -~ —— 216
G The flying Gar Fifh _ 304
Gaulding, a Bird _ 70
Grey Gaulding a ib,
Gariick Pear Free —_—_—_— 134

Gir gor

Page
Ginger —. aa 233
Goats Rue Sones 219
Gold found in Barbados ere 54
Gold-finch 72

Gomorrah. Vide Sodom : hia
Goodnefs of God in affording Remedies for Dif.

eafes 31
Goofeberry Buth — 162
Small Gourd __ 138
Large Gourd —~ Apr dei:
Sweet Gourd — ——— Ie
Graminous Plants — 238
Granadilla Vine — 187
Grapple Wood — 217
Of Graffes —_—— 258
Dog Grafs ———— ee 241
Dutch Grafs === Serre eat)
Ginger Grafs SS SSS 241
Flag Grafs a _ 240
Red Flag Grafs, or Pluth Grafs 241
Nut Grafs Sa ib.
Pluth Grafs —_ = 239
Silk Grafs a —— 224
Pond Grafs — —_ 239
Knotted Sea Grafs —_—— 254
Wild Pepper Grafs — 162
Rice Grafs . — ct 239
Pale yellow Sea Grafs as 254,

. Star Grafs —— e235
Scotch Grafs — _ — 240
Ground Afs _ — _— 92
Savannah Grafs ea) a 239
Wild French Guava —- 202
French Guava —_ ib.
Guava Tree — ~ 132
Guiney Worms —— 41
Guiney-Man, a Fifh _ 304

* Gully, what _ _ 56
Gully Root = _ 205
Gumma Bufh _ — 164
Gum Elemi _ a 224

H.

Adramaut, why fo called — 2
Ffag’s Horfe, or John Cook’s Horfe —67
Hair, the curling of it in Negroes, not Owing to

the Heat of the Sun —_ 14
Hard-Back, a Fly _ _ 82
Indian Hatchets os —- 9
Hlatzamarveth, why fo called — 2
Heat of Barbados cooled by conftant Breezes 23
Wild Hemp = — 167
Moor Hen. See Coot
Hen Turd, a Shrub — 108
Yellow Hercules ~_ — 146
“White Hercules — he. BAe
Fills, a long Chain of them ferviceable to inter.
_ cept the Clouds and Vapours 20, 21
Hog Slip re ao 171
‘Ally Thorn _ _ 194

Honey Wood as oa 159

Jeffamin Infe&

: i
Jewith Cuftoms, many of them in ufe among the

—

Page
Hop Shrub a = 168
Honey Tree = ba 159
Hop Weed — =a) 169
Horfe Bean Vine coe 215
- Sea Horfe, a Fith — Sa SEE
Haw Nicker a — 195
Humming Bird a = 74
Hurricanes — — 25
ip
ACK in a Box — i119
Jack, a Fith = 307
Jallop Vine, or 4 0? Clock Flower — 203
Jamaica Plum —_ 179
Arabian Jeflamin oo 165
Jeflamin Tree = 189
Jeffamin Vine — ib.

6

Negroes —— 15, 16
Ignorance of Religion among Negroes 18
Indian Root —_—— 36
Ink Vine wae 160
Ink Fifth = —_ 305
Job’s Tears — 254.
Jordan, the Plain of Jordan, its Situation, and

Fruitfulnefg ae 52
Tron Vine — — 160
Iron Wood cma 142
Tron Vine a — 214
Junétion Vine — 199

K.
I Nocker, an Infe& 82
Es
Acker, a Bird — 93
Lady Bird —. 87
Lady Bird fpotted — ib.

ild Lavender —_ — 220
Sea-fide Laurel —— 233
Leathercoat Tree _ 151
Sea Leach —— 258
Naked Sea Leach b,

sos as i .
Le Clerc’s Opinion, that the Deftru@ion of So-
dom and Gomorrah was not fupernatural, con-

futed sr
St. Helena Lemon = 128
Spanith Lemon — ib.

Water Lemon

Wild Water Lemon Vine,

Leprofy in Barbados
Lignum Rorum
Baftard Lignum Vite
Lignum Vite

Red Lilly

—
c

a 184
or Love in a Mift ib,

cay 39
158

— 142

= ib.
288

Wild

Le NS Der BX.

Page
Will Lilly _ _ 229,
‘White Lilly — 228
Lime Tree _ 129,
Limpet _ 281
Ribbed Limpet _ ib.
Green Lizard — | 65
Spotted Lizard _ 64
Dominico Lobfter —_— 262
Baftard Locuft _ 149
Locuft Tree a) 102
Loblolly Tree: ri 143
Log-wood Tree _ a 169
Loggerhead Weed — 230
Longevity of fie of the Inhabitants of Barbados
25
Thicern —_ on os 202
Lobfter _ — 262
Red Lobfter — es ib.
Green Lobfter <k ib.
Bongrace Lobfter ——— ib.
M.
Ackaw Tree -— 4
A Mad Cow cured = ib.
Maidenhead, a Plant _ 148
Maiden Hair _ —_ 237
Rope Mangrove _ 199
Garden Mangrove = i 193
Red Mangrove = _ 194
Dwarf Mangrove — 147
Mango Tree _ 177
Mancheneel Tree _— = 122
Its Apples, and Effect of their Poifon 123
Mammee Tree = 133
Manny Seed —_—_— 212
Marcafite —- 55
Mafon Fly —_—— 83
Maftick Tree SES 149
Mattick Fly — _ 81
Mary-gold — 171
May-pole — = 223
Mufk Melon = _ 136
Water Melon <= ib.
Merry- wing, a Fly = 87
Milk Weed = 163
‘Mineral Waters in Barbados 40
Mifletoe —_— 156
Narrow leav’d Mifletoe ee ib.
Moabite, alias Mangrove Bead Tree 193
Mobby, a Drink in Barbados om 34
Mole Cowry, a Shell 285
Monkey Apple Tree 129
Monkies -_ 66
Monkey Vine —- —— 168
Montabba — 147
Mopuffes, Birds _ oe 78
Thick plufhy Sea Mofs —_ 256.
Purple Sea Mofs _— 255
Great filky Sea Mofs _ 256
Mud Fifh =— — _ Bie
Maulattoes — = T4

; ; Pape
Mullet Fith —_ Bit
Carmow Mullet ib.
Munjack, or folid Bitumen —_ 59.
Murex Shell — ™~ 269
—— Differently called ney
Mutfk Mellon Vine —_— 136
Mufick Shell — 278 -
Why fo called ‘
Mufketto Fly. ee ae By
Mutketto Bufh — _ 169,
Mufk Bufh, or wild Ockroe 207
Muffel — ~ 281

N.

HE original Names of Places expreflive of
their Situation, Nature, or Quality—14
Negroes, their Number, their Nature —— 2

Negroe Oil Buth 116
Nemnem, a Tree ~
Nettles — oa 220
Night-fhade a —s 211
Black Nicker Tree a 118
Horfe Nicker as 195
Ground Nut ce ee
Phyfick Nut — LIS,
French Phyfick Nut — 116,
Nuciferous Trees, &c. — 101
O.
ED Oaker — 50.
Obeah Negroes —y 15
Spanifh Oak — — 196
Ockroe
Papaw Ockroe _— 199
Olive Tree 177
Wild Olive Tree ib.
Old Wife, a Fith ~ _ 307
Old Man, a Fifth — ib
Orange Tree, four — eee
China Orange Tree _ 126)
Guiney Orange Tree =9—— _ ib,
Golden Orange Tree — ib,
Rock Oyfter — 28%
P.
| eae Oil Tree ~ 1xr
Papaw Tree, Male a 181
vapaw Tree, Female -_ ib.
Parakite - = 73
Parafitical Plants _ — 235
Wild Parfley ~ —_ 212
Birds of Paffage | _ 75
Their Sagacity in knowing t the ftated Seafons of -
Migration ib.
The Time of their Appearance ic in Bees ib.
Patience, a Plant 219
Pea Vine ~ 198
Oooo Smallekt

LON PDEA

Page
Smalleft wild Pea Vine _ 215
Eatable wild Pea er 216
Pengwin — 232
Wild Penny-Royal = 170
Pepper : a
Picardy in France, why lefs verdant than Eng-
land oS ai
Pigeon Wood —_— 157
Wild Pigeon —— _ 76
Pigeon Pea Shrub a 192
Pimploes om 185
Barbados Pink —— —— 168
Pine Apple SS 230
Button Pine (Sn 231
Surinam
Wild Pine SS 231
Small barren wild Pine —_ ib.
Plate Fith ee 286
Plantain Tree — — i182
Plaintain wild —_—- — 184
Plantain Shrub 168
The whiftling Plover
Sandy Breaft Plover
Ring-necked Plover
Gully Plum Tree =a 178
White Plum Tree —— 179
Jamaica Plum Tree — ib.
Poifon Tree — 144
Pomiferous Trees, Shrubs and Plants 121
Pomegranate _ as 130
Pomegranate, fmall = ne ib.
Pond Fly — — _ — 8&4
Pops 161
Potatoes —— —— 228
Potato Bufh — —— 92
Wild Potato Vine — . 198
Prickly Pear Vine _— 186
Prickle yellow Wood — 167
Pruniferous Trees, Shrubs, and Plants
Pumkins — — 137
Pumple Rofe Tree 126
Punches. -— — 282
Purflaine — — 165
Wild Purflaine —_— = 243
Pye Cruft, a Tree — 147
R.
Abbit Weed — 172
‘A Racoons ; 66
Rainy Seafon in Barbados _ 45
Rats — = — 66
Rattle Bufh — — —_ — 212
Ratta Pepper —_ ae — 211
Red Wood Tree — _ 143
Reed —_ ee 252
Reptiles and Infe&ts — 88
Refervoirs very ufeful in Barbados 45
Rights and Ceremonies of Negroes 15
Rivers, the chief in Barbados — 44
French‘Rofe Tree — —- 218

Page
Rock Bufh mes = = 219
_ Roek Balfam — = 221
Rod: Wood — = 144.
Large black Sea Rod — a 287
Leffer Sea Rod — — ib.
Incruftated Sea Rod — 288
S:
EA Egg ae = 279
Sea-fide Sage = — 155
Black Sage = — 159
White Sage
Samphire — _ _ 220
Sand Box Tree _— _—. 114
Sappadilla Tree —_ — 132°
Scallop Shell 283
Scorpion of the Lizard Kind
Scuttle Fith — * 305
Surinam Scorpion
Sea Scorpion 256
Wild Senna, or, the wild Caffia Fiftula —- 204.
Senfible Plant — 198
Shooting Sea Ege -—— 280
Shaddock Tree — —— 124
Shaddock Tree, the leffer eee
Wild Shaddock Tree —. ib.
Shark, a Fith ——— 312
Shells, and Shell Fith — 267
Siliquofe Trees, Shrubs, and Plants. —— 18r
Silver leav’d Plant —— 222
Wild Slip 172:
Snakes —. — 88
Snake Wood —_ = 223
Snail — — 257
Soap Berry Bufh —— ——— S140}
Soap Fith — — 306
Sober’s Plant — wom as
Sodom and Gomorrah, their Deftruétion mira-
culous — — 53
Nature of the Soil in Barbados 19
Soldier Buth —_— —= 161
Sour Sop Tree —_— Saeed NOT
South Sea Rofe Oe 218
Sorrel — —_—_— = 204
Wood Sorrel ‘ —_— ——203
* White Spanifh Ath — I9E
Spanifh Afh _—— at 189
Spanith Needle — — 214
Sparrow —* aa 74
Sparrow, the leffer EES ‘ai,
Houfe Spider
Black Spider
Field Spider ooo as gt
Spirit Weed — = 156
Spire Shell Stee — 284
Springs, the chief in Barbados od 43°
Squafhes — —— 137
Star Fifh — — B12
Stature of the Negroes — 14.
Stopper’

iN aD

Page

Stopper Berry Tree ee 176

Storm, a remarkable one -—— 137

Defcription of a Storm in Job defended 28

Sea Sucker _—— — 259

Sugar Apple Tree ce -— 129

Superftition of Negroes — 16

Sweet- Heart — eee 213
Sweet Wood Tre —- — --—15

T.

ALE, often found mix’d in the Soil of

4 Barbados 55

Tammattas —— _—_— 148

Tammarind Tree — —— 4189

Wild Tammarind 21
Green. Tar in Barbados; and how gathered 50
Its medicinal Qualities — ib.
Teal, a wild Bird = 77
Texts, many in the Old Teftament, not under-
ftood, thro’ the Ignorance of the Land of Pa-

——-

leftine — — —— 46
Thiftle, or Rabbit Weed — — 172
Black Thorn - = 222
Holy Thorn — == ae ey
White Thora = _ 135
Thermopyle, its Greens defcribed — 24
Thruth, two Species of them in Barbados pie.
Vides ni Barbados — — + “Txe)
‘Top Shell — _— — 286
Toad Fifh =o oo 302
‘Tobacco — =o 171
Tortoife — ao 308
Chief Towns 5940)
Indian Towns eae in Baibatos 7
American Torch — 134
Trade Winds — _ 3
Triangular Buccinum _ 285
Triangular Fith _ ser. 305.
Triton’s Trumpets — = 9 283
Red Trubba — — — 148
Tubee Rofe ee 172
Wild Tulip —_—. 229
Hen Turd — 155
Turky Weed — 219
Turk’s Head —_— —— 226
Turtle Dove —_— 7°
Large Turtle Dove —_— ib.
Two Penny Chick — 71

V.
Ervaine _ — 149
Sea-fide Vine — 243
Silver Vine — ib.
Hog Vine — ib.
Wild Vine —— — 242

Rete

WwW.

Ater i in Barbados (various)

The fpecific Gravity of it compared

with fome remarkable Spaws ib.

A Table of the fpecific Weight of 15 cubical

Inches of this Water compared 48
Well, what in Scripture =a 45
Welle; in Barbados 44
The Water in Mr. Osborne’s Ww. ell proved to ex-

cel all other ib.
The Water of SRUne: and Wels purer than Ri-

ver Water 45
Weeds
Narrow leav’d Sea Weed — 252
Pond Weed — 171
Black fringed Sea Weed ~ 252

Fringe Sea Weed

White narrow leav’d Sea Weed —— ib,
Long brown Sea Weed — 253
White broad leav’d Sea Weed —— ib

Pale green Sea Weed _— ib.
Brown Jeav’d Sea Weed ss ib.
White Sea Weed sas ib.
New-England Sea Weed — 254

Ruffet narrow leav’d Sea Weed —_ ib.
Feather Sea Weed

Sea Jew’s-Ears —
Orange Colour Sea Weed

—- ib.

——— ib.

Black branching Sea Weed — ib.
Pennated Sea Weed 255
Green broad leav’d Sea Weed 8 ——- ib.
Red leav’d Sea Weed — ib.
Grape Sea Weed — — 256
Wilk Shell —_— — 282
Blue and White —— ib.
White Wood Tree © — — 192
French Willow — —133
Red Willow — ee 196
White Willow —_— — — ib.
Black Willow oe — — ib
Dog’s Willow, or Rat’s Bane — 201
‘Wyths and Vines ee 242
Poifon Wyth —— — 166
Black Bafket Wyth — — _ 242
Cow Gut Wyth See — ib
Honey Wyth — —_—_— ib.
Pudding Wyth oe — — ib.
Poifon Wyth wee ne 244
Ne
AMS, an eatable Root — 226
Prickly Yams aes 227
Wild Yams — — ib.
Yellow Bird ~ ae 75
Wild Yam Vine _ — 242

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To the Account of the MuReEx, ending in Page 275. add,

HE feveral Authors who have treated of the Shell-fith which

produces the Purple, have, in defcribing’ it, promifcuoufly
made ufe of the Words Conchylium, Purpura, Murex, and Ofrum:
All thefe are here convertible Terms, or figuratively applied to ex-
prefs either the Shell or Shell-fifh, the Tin@ture it emits, or the
Purple or Crimfon itfelf. The Greeks call’d all Shells Gonchs; and
that which afforded the Purple was, by way of Eminence, called
the Conch. From hence Plautus calls purple Tapeftry conchyliata ta-
petia. Fuvenal and Martial have follow’d the Greeks in calling this
the Conch.

Horum ego non fugiam conchylia: aay
Juven: Il. 81.

Ebria Sidonie cum fint de fanguine conchae.
Mart:

‘There are two Sorts of Shells that are fo term’d: The moft ge-
nerally fo called, is that defcribed and delineated by Rondeletius
and others ; this is ftudded with feveral long Prickles, fome of them
chanell’d, and open on one Side. Thro’ thefe Fiffures. it is faid that
the Tongue of the Murex darts into the other leffer Shell-fith, which
thefe Prickles had before perforated, and thus feed upon them. The
other is of the Buccinum Kind we have already defcribed and deli-
heated.

The learned Fabius Columna; as well as many antient Authors fay,
that this is the peculiar Charaéteriftic of the true Zyrian Purple, and
that the other Coach, or Murex, emits a Liquid which dyes a fine Vio-
let Colour. ‘That there were two Sorts of what is commonly called
the Purple, is evident from a Paflage in Pliny ( 1), where a Perfon
is reprefented faying, Me juvene violacea purpura vigebat, cujus
libra (2) denariis centum venibat; nec multo poft rubra Tarentina.

By

(1) Lib. 9. Cap. 29. : : ;

(2) Denarius was a Roman Peny, very near the Weight of thé Attic Drachm; ih our Mo-
ney of the Value of Eight-pence Halfpeny Farthing ; feven of them being made out of an
Ounce Troy Weight in the Time of Tiberius. And we read of no higher Value either before
or after that Fime ; which alfo continued Jegal Weight in the Time of Ve/pafan. After this
they weigh’d lefs ; eight of them being made out of an Ounce; which reduced them to Seven-
pence Halfpeny: of our Money. For whereas their Libra before contained but eighty-four, it
how contained ninety-fix of them. In the lower Empire they fcarce weigh’d half fo much in
pure Silver, Tho? this was the Price of this Kind of Purple : Yet the to-much valuable Tyrian
Scarlet was often fold for One thoufand Reman Denarii a Pound ; fo that it was tsa times 35
dear as the common Purple.

ADDENDA.

By the Help of this Diftin@tion between thefe twa Colours, we fhall
be able to throw Light upon feveral Paffages in the Claflic Authors,
otherwife obfcure; among thefe that of Horace :

---- Te bis Afro
Murice tine )
V eftiunt lane. ;
Lib. II. Od. 16.

The dis tinéfe hath been generally underftood by Critics of Cloth
double-dy’d in the fame Materials, to give it a deeper Dye; but may
not we be of Opinion, that this fo much valued Zyrian Purple receiy’d
firft the Tin@ture of the Violet Colour mentioned as above? This being
afterwards dyed in the deep Zyrian Red, the fecond Dying added a
Rednefs to it, which could not have been done by being double-dyed
in the Violet Colour.

That there was one Kind of the Purple of the Antients of a deep Red, |
like Blood, is evident from that beautiful Allufion of Hlomer :

Tov de
Eaabe wropquciog Suvaros x’ moro xperein.
BPs Eeaig 1

From the above-mentioned Mixture of the Violet Colour, and the
deep. Zyrian Red, arofe the moft beautiful, and fo valuable flaming
Purple, varying in Degrees, as the Violet, or the Zyrian Red, prevail’d.

Thefe two Colours feem to be hinted at by Catullus, who, {peaking of
the Marriage of Peleus and Thetis, fays,

Tinka tegit rofeo conchylis purpura fuco.

And that the latter of thefe was more valuable, appears from its far
greater Price, as well as from its being more frequently defcrib’d as the
moft diftinguifhing Mark of Royalty.” Thus /; irgil,

| -Et princeps Tyrio vefhem pretexuit oftro.
And Claudian, {peaking of the Marriage of Fonorius, fays,

Amplexu caleat purpura regio
Et veftes Tyrio fanguine Sulsidas :
Alter virgineus nobilitet cruor, Lib.'5. Ve 114.

_ Many likewife are the Inftances in Claflic Authors, to prove that
it is the peculiar Property of the Zyrian Murex to dye red, or of a
‘crimfon Colour.

Ovid

: ADDENDA.
‘Ovid fays, : es ae |
Nee quae de Tyrio murice lana rubet.
And Virgil, | |
Lyrioque ardebat murice lena. ; 3 nL. ape
The fame Author elfewhere ae pa Purple of Oe i |
Ut gemma bibat, et Sarrano dormiat oftro. Bae

__ From hence Milton takes occafion to defcribe the Drefs of the -Arch~
angel defcending to the Earth. ; °

eee O'er his lucid Arms
A military Veft of Purple flow d,
Livelier than Melibean, or the Grain
Of Sarra, worn by Kings and Heroes old.

Tarentum feems to be one of thofe Places for preparing the Purple
Dye, efpecially, as Pény obferves, in the Time of Auguffus ; and the
Ruins of the Buildings, as well as Heaps of broken Shells, remain’d
there for feveral Ages after. As thefe Shells producing the Purple
were found in the Mediterranean, this will perhaps help us to under-
ftand the Force of that Line of Virgil,

In mare purpureusm violentior influit amnis.
; Georg. IV. v. 373.
Virgil \ikewife alludes to this, when he fays,
ad ‘ Lumenque jiventa
bs , 5) 4 “ we ‘ 3
Purpureum, & letos oculis affidrat honores. ~~

The fame Poet, defcribing the Funeral of Palas, gives us to under=
ftand that this Colour was of great Efteem :
Tune geminas veftes aurogue oftroque rigentes
Extulit Aineas : quas illi leta laborum
Ipfa Juis quondam manibus Sidonia Dido
Fecerat, & tenui telas difcreverat auro. Zin, XI. 72.

In

+ Sar was the Name of a Phenician Citys afterwards called Tyre,

ADDENDA.

In After-ages it became the diftinguithing Mark of Royalty, and
made no fmall Part of the Treafures of the Eaftern Monarchs. For
when Alexander the Great had defeated Darius, and taken the City of
Sufa, he found among other Spoils to the Value of five thoufand Talents
of Hermonic Purple, that had been laid up in Store for near two hun-
dred Years. In Procefs of ‘Time it became (as we have faid) the Mark of
Grandeur and Dignity : Hence to put on the Purple, was to affume the
Government : And fometimes of Pride ; thus the rich Man is reprefented
in Scripture to be cloathed in fine Linen, and Purple. And as the Ro-
mans had a Law forbidding all private Perfons the Ufe of purple Gar-’
ments, fo likewife none but Emperors, or fupreme Magiftrates, were
allow’d the Ufe of Purple, inftead of Ink: Hence many of the Royal
Grants and Laws were fign’d with Purple; and Pamphilus, Abpelles’s
Mafter, made ufe of this Liquid in painting or enamelling upon Ivory,

‘ which was done by heating the Ivory to a great Degree, and then
pouring into the engraved Lines this liquid Purple. Hence that Epi-

gram of Martial,
Encauftes Phaeton tabula tibi pittus in hac eff.
Quid tibi vis, Dipyron qui Phaetonta facis ?

This Colour was fo admir’d by the Antients, that the Poets
added the Epithet Purple to every thing that was rare, bright, or va~
luable. Hence, by a furprifing poetic Licence, Horace, {peaking of a

Swan, fays that he was _

Purpureis ales oloribus.

P4 GE 195, Line 18, add, The Flowers are fucceeded by Snuff-
coloured Pods, thefe are deeply channell’d, contain feveral
thin fhelled Nuts,