88 
The Natural Hiftory’ of FAM AYGA. 
Rind or Caticula, which is thin and of a grey Colour, with fome white 
Spots here and there, and now and then fome fhallow Furrows in it, 
of avery biting and aromatick Tafte, fomething like Cloves, as is alfo 
the inward, which is thicker and not fo rough or furrow’d- The Leaves 
come out round the Ends ofthe Twigs, without any Order, ftanding 
on a quarter of an Inch long Footftalks, are two Inches and a half long 
and more than one broad, near the End, where broadeft, roundith, 
being narrow at the Beginning, and of a yellowifh green Colour, fhin- 
ing and fmooth, with one middle Rib. The Tops of the Twigs are 
branch’d out into Bunches of many pentapetalous, fcarlet or purple Flow- 
ers, made up of five Petala, to which follow fo many Berries being 
each of the Bignefs of a large Pea, roundifh, green, and containing 
within a mucilaginous, pale green, thin Pulp, tour black, large, fhining, 
Seeds or Acini, of an irregular protuberant Figure. 
All the Parts of this Tree are very Aromatick, hot and biting to the 
Tafte, which, if too. troublefome, is cured by fair Water. 
It grows in. the Low-land or Savanna Woods very frequently, and 
on each Side of the Road between Paffage-Fort and the ‘Town of Sr, 
ago dela Vega: \n Antegoa and the Caribes. 
- The Bark is ufed fora Spice in all our hot Plantations very much, and 
is cured by only cutting it off the Tree, and letting it dty in the Shade, It is 
commonly called Wizter’s- Bark from one Captain Wiater, tho’ it be not 
that ; for altho’ this be biting, good againft the Scurvy, and Aromatic 
as his, yet he gather’d his by the Streights of Magellan, and Sir Fohn 
Narborough brought fome, from thence, which was of a brownifh, not 
white Colour, of which I have given ah Account in one of the PAi/, T: ran. 
It yields per Veficam an aromatick ponderous Oil, finking to the Bottom 
of Water, like: Oil of Cloves, with which it is mix’d and fold for itin 
Europe. a 
Tris not only ufed for a Spice, but is given likewife phyfically, mix’d 
with prepared Steel, or in Lieu of Stomachics, but being very hot and 
fiery, “tis ufually complain’d of. 
If Rum be diftill’d from fome of this Bark, it communicates to it fome 
cood Qualities, and takes off its bad Scent or Empyreuma. — 
This is not the true Cortex Winteranus tho’ fold for it, but itis de- 
ferib’d by Clufims, under the Name of Cavella alba. 
The Tree whichReéd brought from Barbados was very like if not the fame 
with this, the only Difference was, that the Leaves tem’d more pointed, 
and the Flowers did not go out at the Top on long Footftalks, umbellatim, 
but out of the Sides of the Branches, on fhort Footftalks, which I reckon 
only Varieties. eee tee - . 
_.: The Author of the, firft Voyage to Virginia, ap. Hakl:'p, 246. feems to 
mean this Tree, and after p. 249. tells us that the Drink ufed there, was 
_Water with thjs fodden, in, it with Ginger, or fometimes Saffapbras. 
Gomara, cap. 143, Hist. Gen. tells us, that Goncalo Pifcarro went from 
Peru tothe Country of Carella, and that under the Equinoftial at Cumac, 
they found it, and I am apt to believe by its Defcription, that ’twas 
this Tree, it agreeing to it, only the Cup feems to be too large. Aug. Sarate. 
Lib. 4. ¢. 2. Pet, Ciefdyupe 1. cap. 40. Benz» Lib. 3. cap. 8. 
Its Bark is good for cold Difeafes, and to difcharge the Stomach of Slime 
and Phlegmij,Rochef.:'.° |...) ae ve 7 
Cipamon Trees were found. by Pedro de Orfua as they pafs’d down the 
‘River of Orellanayfuan deCaitylanos, Eleg. de Varon, illuitr. de Indias. Hafl. 
p. Ogi. : —— li ie ied ae 
It 
