The Natural Hiffory of Jamaica. 147 
This Plant having a Narcotick intoxicating quality, was ufed in the Weft. 
Indies by their Priefts, to Dream and fee Vifions by, as appears by Lopez de 
Gomara, Roulox Baro, Monardes and Morifot, viz. 
The Priefts of Efpanola, called Bohitzs, who are Phyfitians likewife do eat 
of this bray’d or made {mall, or the {moak of it is taken into their Noftrils, 
when they are to give an{wers, by which they {ee many Vifions, being not 
themfelves. The fury being over they recount for the will of God what 
they have feen. When they Cure they thut themfelves up with the Sick, 
{urround him, fmoaking him with the fame, fuck out of his Shoulders what 
they fay was his Difeafe, fhowing a Stone or Bone they kept in. their 
Mouths, which Women keep as Relicks, thinking they facilitate Birth. 
Lopez, de Gomara. 
They cannot in Brafl Sacrifice without Tobacco, nor confult the Devil 
in their Affairs. The Prieft offers a great Pipe of Tobacco, and Blefles 
them with its Smoak. Reulox Baro, p.r25 and 238. 
In going to War and Weddings the Devil {moaks out of a Coco, andthe 
Prieft Incenfes the People. Morifot. 300. 
Priefts, and Jndian \nchanters, take the fume till drunk, and fall in an 
Extafie, giving an ambiguous an{wer, and thentell people of the fuccefs of 
their bufinefs. ox. 
The Oil or Juice dropt into the Ear is good againft DeafnefS, and is ufed 
outwardly again{t Burns. Ger. 
A Clyfter being ready to be given with a Bladder, the fmall end of 
a Tobacco-Pipe was put into the Bladder and tied (but fo that it mighr 
be drawn clofer after the Pipe is pulled out) that had Tobacco in the Bole, 
which only blowing the Smoak thereof into the Bladder, and fo given 
(as a Clyfter) hath given perfe& eafe. Park. This Cuftom is yet con- 
tinued of giving Tobacco {moak Clyfters, with fuccefs in Colicks. 
It was brought into France by one Nicotius, an Ambaflador, who got it 
at Lisbon of a Flandriquen, who came from Florida about 1560. ©. B, pin. 
The Seed lies long before it rifes from the ground, therefore it is fown in 
Autumn. 7. B.: 
The Syrup of the Juice, or infufion in Wine, is a good Afthmatick Re- 
medy. Park. Meit 4 | 
Four or five Ounces of the juice drank by one, a ftrong Man, in a 
Dropfie, purg’d him vehemently up and down, and then put him into a Sleep, 
after which he call’d for Meat, and was cur'd. Dod. 
If Tobacco be Bruifed and put on Wounds, it Cures them if fmall, if 
large they muft be wath’d with Wine and ftitch’d. This was taught our 
Men by the Zndians, and did us much fervice in conquering Provinces, 
They Burn Shells, and mix the Powder with this Leaf, holding a Pill between 
their Teeth and under Lip, {wallowing ever now and then the Spittle, ir 
hinders the fence of Hunger or Thirft for three or four days. The Green 
Leaf put on the Spleen, helps its Obftructions, or a Rag dipt in its juice. 
If-it be ufed likewife in rd or in Subftance chawed, it draws away the 
Flegm occafioning it. Fragof. | és 
i is heating sed gee cleanfing, tefolving, binding, and is'a Counter- 
Poyfon, from thence it is called Aferba Saxtaof the Portugueft. The frefh Leaves 
ant their Juieé, and Balfom, do nor only check ‘cancerous Ulcers, bur heal 
poyfonotis Bires.: The Water, or other ‘convenient Liquot, in which it hag - 
been infufed, kills: Lice; and cleanfésthe Head of many of its Skins Difcafes: 
The Afhes of it, when dry, kill Worms. Chaw’d it takes away Hunger 
and Wearinefs?, By its {picy: quality it ftrengthens the Stomach and Heart. 
It fometimes caufes vomiting, at other times Slecp, and draws away Flegm 
from the Brain, if f{moak’d or chaw’d, making fometimes thofe aes mi 
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