e 
ewe 
The Natural Fliftory of JAMAICA. 
about with them. They often fall into Rivers over which they grow 
and if the Hifh eat them and are taken, they beget many ftrange 13 Ges (eg 
in Men feeding on them. Thomas H. Ortizius tafted one of thent, and faid 
chat it was fharpand fweet,it hurt:him a little,aDraughe of Oil is the Anti- 
dote. This Fruit kills Cats, Dogs or any quadruped which cats it. Pet: Martyr. 
it grows onall the Iflands on the Coatt of the Continent from Dragons 
Mouth to Nombre de Dios, which 1s 400 Leagues, they are moitt pernicious 
to People lying in their Shade, their whole Bodies fwell, their Eyes and 
Ryelids being moft extreamly fo, as if they had been burnt, if by. 
(hance any of the Dew touch the Flefh, it burns wherever it falls, as if 
it was Agua Fortes, and if ic touch the Eyes it cuts them to Pieces and 
corrupts them fo that they never can be remedied, but remain for ever blind.. 
The Wood gives a horrible ftinking Smoak, much worfe than that of 
Brimftone; the Indians poifon their Arrows with this Fruit, which are 
irremediable, and I do very much doubt if in. the World there is fuch a 
pernicious Plant, others being ufeful for Phyfick or Mechanics, but this 
for Nothing. Xz, | 
This Fruit dry’d feems to be the fructas Peregrinus, 2" defcribed and 
fiour’d by Clufiasin his Exoticks p. 45. the Stone alone clear’d of its fungous 
Matter his fructus Peregrinas 59 and perhaps 49. 
The Indians ule the Juice of this Tree to poifon their Arrows. Thevet: 
Benzo fays that the: Poifon for their Arrows was made of Roots, Herbs; 
Ants, Apples, and other filthy Juices thac old Women boil’d with Serpents’ 
venomous Juices till they brought it co the right Mixture, neither are there 
few who are kill’d withthe Vapour if anyBody be wounded with anArrow 
poifon’d by this when frefh, hedwells and dies fuddenly mad, but if noe 
frefh it is lefs trong. The beft Remedy is burning with a hot Iron. 
The Indians takeDeer by poifoning thePonds where they drink with this 
Fruit, with which and the Milk of the fameTree they anoint their Arrows. 
Lop. de Gom.:The Fruit if eaten breeds Wormsin the Body, corroding the 
Guts of Man or Beaft, fleeping under it makes the Head ach and Eyes 
{well. Fire and fale Water is the Remedy. The Indians have another Herb 
whofe Roots Juice remedies the Poifon of this Fruit,( 4% Canna Indica 
yadice alba Abexipharmaca Gat. pl. Fam. p. 122. Nat: Hift. Fam. p. 253.) The 
Arrows have on their Ends Rayes Tails anointed with the Juice of this 
Fruit, or other: Poifon made of many Things, which wounding kills. 
Id. cap..91. : f 2c 
in ieking the Compofition of this Fruit, Ants, Scorpions, céc.if the 
old Womén dye with its Steam, ’tis thought very good: Thevet. 
The Ulcers on which a Drop of the Milk falls, gangreen prefently, they 
do not corrupt as Apples, but turn lignous. ~The beft inward Remed 
is vomiting with Oil Olive, but there is no Remedy after an Hour. Thofe 
dead of it were found to have a large Place ina their Stomach as big as ones 
Hand, black and burnt. Terre. = 
The Apples falling in the Water, are perniciousto Fifh eating them. Laes. 
Maccaws feed on the Fruit tho’: cauftic to other’ Creatures. Dz 
T ertre. : 
With Manfaneel Apples, together with venomous Bats, Vipers, Adders 
and other Serpents, they make a Medley; and therewith anoint their 
poifon’d Arrows for Wars, which they keep in a Cane together, which 
Cane is of the Bignefs of a Man’s Arm: Thefe will hurt a Spaniard who 
covers himfelf and Horfe with two Inches thick quilted Canvafs: 
The Spaniards report that -it kills in twenty four Hours. Hawkins 
ap. Hakl. p. 3+ p» 3. pe $08. | 
Bp The 
