120 
The Natural Hiftory of JAMAICA. 
If this Wood be the Palo de ferro Arrows are headed with it which 
will pierce Iron, Laet. ; 
Baftoncilli di palma negri come pece ey duri come ofi. are by Fern. Col. f. 
204. Mention’d to grow in Carta, where we are told the Point of this 
Weapon is arm’d with a Fifh’s fharp Bone. certe offa o /pini acuti de 
pefce. which is the Bone on the Tail of the Szingray, or Paftinaca mari- 
rina, de{crib’d hereafter. 
Alberi li quali pajono palme, lifct & coptofi di {pint ne! tronco fi lunghi come 
quellt del porco {psnofo, obferved by Fern, Col. vit. f. 219. are thete Trees 
from which they make Wine by beating and expreffing the Juice with 
Water and Spices. ' 
‘Lhe Wood of this Tree is by fome thought to be a Sort of Ebony, 
and the Indians ufe it to head their Arrows with in Brajile, Prfo. but it 
cannot be fo, becaufe ’cis neither fo black nor fhining as the true Ebo- 
ny which comes from Calecat and other Parts of the Haft Indies. 
“The Top of this ‘Tree is not eatable, Ov. ‘ 
The Indians make of this their Warlike Inftruments, Lin/choe. 
The Wood is hard, finking in Water: of which, the Indians: make 
Clubs, Arrows, cc.it is a Sort of Ebony, Lery. Gom. 
Thefe are the Black Date-Trees of Oviedo in his Summary, ap. Eden. 
p. 206. They are alfo his High Date-Trees full of Thorns, whofe Wood 
finks in Water; the Indians make of it Pikes, Swords, Clubs, Spears, 
Javelins, Arrows and Veffels for Houfhold-{ftuff; the Chriftians make 
of it Lures, Gitterns, ec. giving a good Sound. 76. 210. the Indians 
make Javelins alfo of Xagaa Wood, anda clear. Water is had from it, 
with which wafhing their Legs it takes away Wearinefs, 2b. 
Thevet tells us, that at the Promontory of Cape Verd the Inhabitants 
who are Blacks, pierc’d a Palm-Tree, having no eatable Fruit, about 
two Foot from the Ground, and that thence iffued a Juice called Micuol, 
which was made ufe of by them in Lieu. of Wine, but whether this 
be it or not, I know nor; it was falted that it might keep as Verjuice, 
and was cooling forthe Inhabitants of. thofe warm Parts... The Egyp- 
tians. before. embalming their Dead ufed to wafh. their -Bodies: three 
or four Times with this-Liquor. zd. It is ufed in feveral Countries. of 
Exbiopia for Wine, éd. las a 
The Wood of this Tree is of the Colour of black Marble, many call it 
Ebony, but true Ebony is more fhining, this is prickly on all Sides: 
Ebony comes from Calecut and Erhiopia, and finks in Water; the Sava- 
ges make their Swords of it; Necklaces are alfo made of it and Arrows 
which pierce every Sort of Corfelet, Thever. WH eins 
‘The Indians'burn away the Prickles by a Fire,.made at the Tree’s 
Root, Rochef. a aon ahd 
Thefe Indians (of the River Maranzon) do make. Wine. of the. Fruit 
of Date-Trees, which Fruit is yellow. in Colour, ant, is'as gteat as a 
little Dove’s Egg, and being in Seafon. is good to be eatenyrand: of it 
proceedeth good Wine, which is preferved fora long Times, Martin 
Fernandez de Encifa Hakl, p. 3. p-699.., »- ae : 
Ifthis be the Momin or Joddie-Tree of Haghes,.p..57..he fays that the 
Wine-ifluing from it is good, for the Stone, but offends the Head. 
VIL. Palma: [pinofa minor, fruttu pruniformi. Gat. Sam. ?- 498% Raij. 
Hift. Vol. 3.. Dendr. p.3-, An Palma dattylifera aculeata minima; Plum. 
pl. Am. p. 3? Maccaw-Berries of Dampier. p. 20. — wares bos 
