The Natural Hiffory of Jamaica. 163 
“3 es ae 
with feveral Stamina in the middle, after which follow fo many red Ber- 
ries, as big as a larger Pea, containing in a Pulp of the fame colour, an 
a number of extremely {mall, brown Seed, almoft like chat of To- 
ACCO. 
It grows in fixteen Mile Walk-path, by the Rivers fide, and under the 
Sait of St. Fago de la Vega, on the Banks fide, onthe fame fide of the 
iver. 
XXXIV. Zingiber C.B. pin. Cat. p. 60. Ind. or. part. 6. p.83- Nieuhof 
p.83. Zinziber flore albo, a D. Steph. Swert. Sacaviro de “Flac. p.126. Baym 
Flor. fin, lit. V. Theven. p.6. Gingembre de Feynes p. 105. De Rochef. Tab. 
p. 60. Zingiber anguffiori folio, famina, utriufque Indie alumna, Plukenet. 
Alm. p. 307. Ginger. 
The Root of this is flat, as broad as ones Hand, having feveral round 
Apices or ends, on every fide of it, like the Cyme or Gemme of fome 
Plants, about the bignefs of ones little Finger, of half an Inchthicknefs, it is 
of a whitifh yellow colour, and has many fibrous Roots drawing its Nou- 
‘iment. From this rifes a Stalk about two Foot high, having feveral Leaves 
going alternatively from oppofite fides of the Stalk, each whereof is in co- 
Jour fike the gladiolus Leaves, though in their Confiftence and Veins they 
refémble thofe of the Cazna Indica, being not fo broad, and fomewhat 
longer. The Flowers fiand on a diftinét Stalk, without any Leaves, taking 
their rife from the Root as thofe of our Avwm. It is about a Foot high, 
jointed, there being at cach Joint a Membrane, of a yellowifh green colour, 
covering the Stalk to the next Joint. Atand near the top come the Flowers, 
a great many together, fet very clofe, and making a long {pherical Head, 
which is made up of a great many fingle Flowers, each whereof has one 
large broad membranous |_caf, of a yellowifh green colour, Concave above, 
and Convex below. IJnits hollow fide are the Rudiments of the Fruit, viz. 
around purplifh Knob, ftanding on a {mall Foort-Stalk, and being coronated 
by along Membrane of the fame colour. In sfome time the round Knob, 
{wells, and, 1 fuppofe, coms to a Berry as thefe others J take to be of the 
{ame Kind which are defcribed hereafter. 
The whole Plant {mells gratefully {weet, and pleafantly. 
—Teis planted in all parts.of this Ifland, but was brought firft from the 
Eai-Indies, it growing about Malabar in great plenty. 
Great quantities of it are preferved here while it is yet green, and before 
ic be grown full of Strings or Filaments. “Tis boiled in feveral waters, and 
made tender before it be preferv’d, as likewife ‘tis clear'd of its outward 
Skin. Ific be too old it leaves Strings or Filaments in the Mouth, which 
comes from its Age, and no lye, whereby it was cured, as Garcias and 
others fay. 
A.Limpid red cranfparent Oil, {wimming on water, is by fimple Diftillati- 
on got out of thefe Roots, agrecing in fmell and taft with Ginger, only 
moremild. At a year-old ’tis taken out of the Earth, fund for fourteen 
days, then {prinkled with Athes of Wood or Lime, and {0} is kept, other- 
wife at is liable to Corruption and Worms. “Tis fent dry’d, or preferv’d, 
evéry where. It does not like afandy, or not cultivated Soil, and when ’tis 
above fa year old ‘cis fill'd with woody Filaments. It lofes its Leaves in 
Fanwary and February. The chief vertue is in the Root, which, befides, 
taken in Vi@tuals, remedies Afthmas, Coughs, tough Flegm, Squeamifh- 
nefs, being helpful to the evil difpofed Stomach. Outwardly applied it 
Cures the Gout in the Feet and Hands. Beaten with water, and infufed 
into the Eyes, it Cures the Vertigo that comes from Stoppages in Women 
: after 
