ST. AUGUSTIN TO BAHAMA ISLANDS 309 



here. The top of the tree is eaten, as is also that 

 of the 



* Cabbage tree/ or common cabbage palm. The soft 

 stem of this palm is eaten by hogs. 



Of the first two I have seen neither blooms nor 

 fruit. Probably they are varieties yet indeterminate. 

 All of these grow by preference on the shore, making 

 here and there pleasant little forests; but palms reach 

 no great height here; at least one does not often find 

 them more than 12-15 feet high. 



To be counted among the indigenous edible fruits 

 are : the several varieties of the custard-apple, Annona 

 glabra, palnstris, triloba, and muticata L., the Jamaica 

 or ' Wild Cherries,' Malpighia glabra and wrens, which 

 bear pleasant, sourish berries, not unlike the cherry. 

 The Sapadilla, Achras Sapota L., a small, round, milky 

 fruit which, when well over-ripe is regarded by some 

 as an especial delicacy and is used for tarts. The 

 coco-plum, Chrysobalanus Icaco L. Saffrons, the 

 fruit of a shrub with oval leaves having a brownish 

 down beneath ; in shape like cornil-berries, of a long 

 hard kernel, purple-colored or blue, and of a sweetish 

 sleek taste. 



The ' Pidgeon-plums ' (Cerasus latiore folio, fructu 

 racemoso purpureo majore. Catesb. II, tab. 94) sup- 

 ply the wild pidgeons, and the dry yellowish fruit of 

 the ' Hog-plum tree ' (Spondias Mombin L.) serves as 

 food for the hogs. 



The poisonous mancinella, (Hippomane Mancinella 

 L.) occurs on Andros Island. The mangle-tree, 

 Rhizophora Mangle L., grows everywhere along the 

 shores. 



In the bush and the woods there are finally great 



