126 | The Natural Hiflory of JAMAICA. 
pe 
have a great many winged Leaves, the Pinne whereof aneodd in Num- 
ber, fet one againft another to the middle Rib, with an odd one at the 
End, of a frefh green Colour, having one con{picuous Nerve in the Middle: 
About December thefe Leaves drop off, and about March appear the 
fmall Flowers, to which follows an oval Fruit on an Inch long Footftalk, 
as big as one’s Thumb, having fometimes Ridges on it, being fmooth, and 
of a yellow Colour; the Pulp is not thicker than a Crown Piece, yellow, 
of a {weetifh balfamic, or aromatic Tafte, inclofing a large Stone co- 
ver’d with fome Filaments or Threads which fpoil the Gums, accord+ 
ing to Oviedo. Itis not fo hard as other Stones, but fofcifh. 
The Fruit is ripe in Aaguff. 
A reddifh or dark brown mucilaginous Gum comes out of the wounded 
Tree. } 
They grow in the Woods of this Ifland, the beft Plumbs are brought 
down the River from the inland Parts, when ripe dropping into the 
Current, and fo fwim down; they are pick’d up to be eaten, and 
reckon’d wholefomer than the other Kind, having no Worms in 
them, | | 
They are planted in Hedges for Fences by the Slip, and grow very 
quickly, in Barbados and Famaica. | 
The Tops of this boil'd in Water is good to fhave the Beard: withal, 
and wath the Legs, being of a good Scent ; the Bark boil’d the fame Way, 
its Decoétion by wafhing the Legs with it is adftringent, and eafes the 
wearied ; the Indians fleep under it becaufe its Shadow is not hurtful. 
A Piece of the Root cut gives Drink, as the Water-With before de- 
{cribed, Ovied. Gom, 
Tis certainly a Sort of Mirabolan as Peter Martyr fays, tho’ neither 
Codro. nor any, other Phyfician did aliow it. 
The. Shade is wholefomer than that of any other Tree, keeping thofe 
under it from the Headach. A Piece of a Branch of the Root being 
cut yields Water to quench the Thirft,. as Water-With, Uv. cap, 2. 
Lib. 8. Js 
The Fruit fattens fwine, and is ufed in Ouicou op Mobty to. heighten its 
Gulto or Relifh, Rochef..- ESS cans 
The Fifhers who went,out of the Cave Cactbariaga in Hifpaniola, were 
by the Sun transform’d into, this Tree, Roman according to the Relation. 
of the Hi/panola Indians. 
The Bark bojl’d makes an excellent Bath for. the Legs; it has a whole-, 
fome Shadow, Oviedo Summary. 
Layfield ap, Purchas, tik. 4. p.1171. found. them in Porto Rico, where 
they are ufed to ftay Fluxes. eS IL iwo1g 
Great Store of yellow Plumbs which are good to eat, grow in one of 
the feyen Mlands near Guiana, Malla ap. Hakl. p, Ze PGgghoM JV XK 
1 mabe Dein is made of the prefi’d. Juice of wild Plumbs in.Bardados, 
402, p. 3 2- \ ao a Lda BAA radia. 
-Plumb-Trees of Smith's ObG, p.-§5:from whence is-made -good: Drink 
in Barbados. wo ‘\ | aan . ou 
Dr, Plakenet in. his Mantiffa,.p. 156. makes. this: Tree to. be the fame. 
withothe two following, how jultly any. one. may. fee who pleafes. tox. 
confider their Defcription and Figure with Attention. : 
XVI. Myrobalanus minor, folio fraxivi elas frutta urpureo, officulo magno 
hbrofer Cats Fav, py x82. Tabz2igi Fig. 3314, 5 Rath fi Kade gi Deindr. 
P. 43. Lega fiiuctu pxrpuncos Plansien.\ pt. Amp.44. “Faoascdes Efqueméling, - 
P: 34: Pranifersfarasicenlis fratkuirubral egius ante. mm atur it atems,: Folia. nom 
promett, Plakens Alm. p eb ee | - a re 
