150 
The Natural Hiftery of JAMAICA. 
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ral Impreffions in them, irregularly figured and white, lying in a Suc- 
culent curioufly colour’d Purple, inodorous, not ungratefully {weet Pulp, 
dying Linen.of the fame Colour, as well as Mouth and ‘Hands, or what- 
ever it touches, and not only fo, but even the Excrements of the Belly, 
fo that feveral have thought themfelves to have had Veins broken within, 
them by feeing their Excrements fo ting’d. 
This fometimes fweats out a mucilaginous Gum like Gum-Arabic, 
given in the Srone, and called by the Spaniards Algwitira de la tierra 
as Ximenes tells us, which is Gum-Tragacanth of the Earth. 
It grows in the Iflands of Barbados, Nieves, St. Chriftopher’s, and 
Yamaica, where it is to be met with very plentifully in the Savanna’s 
and towards the Sea-fide. It grows Itkewife in European Gardens with 
Care, tho’ not fo large or prickly as in the Indies or newly come from 
thence, whence Parkznfon’stwo Names. Bodeus a Stape fays they come 
fometimes without Prickles in Holand. 
This Shrub at all Times of the Year, rainy and dry, is full of Blof 
foms, young and ripe Fruit. 
It is either propagated by the Seed or Leaf, by the latter it is 
planted two Ways, either the Leaves are half buried upright, at about 
a Foor’s Diftance in ftreight Furrows made on Purpofe; or, which is 
the more ordinary Way, the Leaves are drawn together and laid 
ftraight in a Row, flat on the Surface of the Ground, and feldom mifs 
to {trike Root and profper. 
The chief Ufe of this Plant is for Fences, the Prickles of it are fo 
fharp, as to fcare any living Creature from attempting to get over it, 
efpecially confidering that thofe Prickles (chiefly the downy and fmalt 
ones) are very hard to be got out of the Flefh if once lodg’d in it, 
wherefore it is ufually, inflamed andrankles if Care be not taken, and 
thence tis counted poyfonous to be prick’d with them. Horfes and all 
other Cattle are afraid.of coming nearithem, heace the Grafs near them 
is loft, they not daring to come to eat it. They {pread very much 
both by Seed and Leaf. In the Ifland of St: Chrifopher’s, when it was 
to be Lideg between the Englifh and French, it was order’d by’ the Con- 
fent of the two Nations, that there fhould be planted threé Rows of 
thefe Trees between the Bounds of the one, and thofe of the other, 
they thinking them the ftrongeft Fortification that could be thought of 
to hinderthe Attempts of one another in Cafe of a War. 
The Leaf of this Plant cleared of its Prickles and baked under the 
Embers, in a wet Paper or thin Leaf, is reckon’d better than any ma- 
turative Cataplafme for ripening Apoftemes, ec. it is likewife counted 
mollifying, anodine and thought to be the beit ActraGtive in draws 
ing our its Own Prickles, when they are lodg’d ia the Fleth. iSO 
The Fruit is very cooling, if eaten with the Seeds it is adftringent, 
and not unpleafant to the Tafte, but if more than one or two be 
eaten at a Time, they ftop up che Belly. They are much ‘coveted by 
Hunters when they ftand in Need of Water, to moiften their Mouths 
and quench their Thirfts, 
The Juice of the Fruit is made Ufe of as a Dye for Sweetmeats, 
ce, re a Syrup is made of it to cool and moiften in Fevers, if put 
into Julips. 
The clear Juice of the roafted Leaf is very deterfive and cleanfing 
to any ill-condicion’d Sore, efpecially if the roafted Leaf be apply’d in- 
ftead of a Plaiiter, ix curing proud Flefh, ee. 2\VO#FE, itd 
ae you. cut off one of the Tufts of Prickles and hold’ the fargeft 
by the Point beiore your Mouth, with a fudden Blaft ‘you may 
: fend 
