SCHOPF AMERICAN TRAVELS. 



responsible for the error, in his work which he calls History of Caro- 

 lina, where so many subjects are included belon-^'in'a: to the Bahama 

 Islands, but not always referred to their place of ori^^in. and he has 

 thus given occasion for regardinop divers trees and plants as products 

 of Carolina, when they are not. This wood, as is known, is used for 

 dyeing. 



Lignum Vitae: under this name there is exported at times Giiai- 

 acum officinale, at times Giiaia^uin sanctnm L., however, the last is 

 greatly rarer than the first. The trees are not very high, and no 

 thicker than a man's arm or leg. Most of this wood sent from here is, 

 from its especial hardness, used in mechanical apparatus. A great 

 traffic in it is particularly furthered by its use on ships, where the 

 pullevs and blocks for the rigging are made solelv of this wood. Now 

 and then gum is gathered from the trunt-s. The medicinal use of 

 guaiaca wood is well known ; but in addition the inner bark is em- 

 ploved here as an emetick. Some of it is bruised or beaten in a mortar, 

 cold water is poured on, and the decoction let stand over-night. It has 

 a strong effect, and is a customarv household remedy in these parts. 

 The shrub in bloom is of much beauty. 



Logzvood or C^moeachv-wood (Haeinato.vvlon Campechianum L.) 

 is not originally indigenous here. But formerlv manv of the inhabit- 

 ants going into Honduras Bav to cut this wood there, thev brought 

 seeds back wath them and planted them here. This was done with 

 good result here and there, and it is considered how so useful an article 

 of trade mav be further spread. The export has not yet become an 

 important item. 



White Cinnamon, Eluthera-bark, CWild cinnamon), is produced 

 by the Winterania Canella L. Catesb. II, t. ^o. which crows in abun- 

 dance on several islands, but especially on Eluthera ; besides the quan- 

 tity that goes to Europe, many tons of this are sent to Curacao and 

 other Dutch colonies, where cinnamon-water, perhaps also cinnamon- 

 oil, is distilled from it. 



Cascarilla Bark, Crofon Cascarilla L. Catesb. 11, t. 46, is likewise 

 o'athered on sundrv of the islands. 



Under the name of Squills (also Sea-Onions) a larsre onion similar 

 to the Squilla. is collected on the sandv shore, dried, and sent to North 

 America. The appearance of these is the same, and it is said their 

 virtues are quite the same as those possessed by the ordinary scilla 

 maritima. At this time the plant was not in flower, and I could not 

 determine whether it is a species of the Scilla, or (more likely) a 

 Pancratium. 



[II, 483-494,] The greatest part of the plants here are everlasting 

 and evers-reen. Thus, if this group of islands is lacking in properly 

 arable soil, easy to work, the appearance of things is none the less 



35 



