SOUTH CAROLINA 195 



There are many other uses for which this palm serves, 

 ropes, for instance, and nets made from the soft 

 threads of the leaves, and it is well-known that its top- 

 most point, green and conical, may be eaten, composed 

 as it is of soft undeveloped leaves ; hence the name 

 cabbage-tree. Raw this substance tastes a little bitter, 

 something like an almond ; boiled it is said to be like 

 a cabbage; but it is mostly put up in vinegar or used 

 as a salade. 



Nowhere are buzzards to be seen in such numbers 

 as in and about the City of Charleston. Since they 

 live only on carrion, no harm is done them ; they eat 

 up what sloth has not removed out of the way, and so 

 have a great part in maintaining cleanliness and keep- 

 ing off unwholesome vapors from dead beasts and 

 filth. Their sense of smell is keen, as also is their 

 sight; hence nothing goes unremarked of them, that 

 may serve as food, and one sees them everywhere in the 

 streets. There are those who believe that if a buzzard 

 lights upon a house in which an ill man lies, it is a 

 fatal sign for they imagine the bird has wind of the 

 corpse already. 



The martins (Hirando purpurea L. Cat. I, 51) ap- 

 peared here as early as the end of February whereas 

 in Pensylvania and York they seldom show themselves 

 before the beginning or the middle of April. The 

 people like to see them about their farms. In the 

 northern parts they set up little houses for them, before 

 the barns or on special poles elsewhere, in which they 

 nest; but here they are content to hang up a calabash 

 (bottle-gourd) on a tall pole, and in this the birds 

 take up residence, good protectors always against birds 

 of prey ; as soon as they catch sight of one, they be- 



