33 HORTUS JAMAICEN-SIS. ayekix 



remove:! with clifTicultj-. In sHoli cases the decoction of the ketiifis of tliis fniiniresaiJ 

 to lie useful, as they appear to be of a very astringent qiKilit}'. Tlie leaves of this tree, 

 ill decoction, are rec)^or;cJ '.lalsainic, pectoral, and vulnerary; the decoction is ot a 

 KiftVoii cuiour, of a mucilaginous sutistance, and taste not unpleasant. Tkey are also, 

 with those of the iiead vine or wild liquorice, uiack into jjecLoral decoctions-; and the 

 buls are sidJ to be used with success in ptisans against tbe venereal (Usease. Au intu- 

 sioi) of them in v.ater, drank in tiie luorning fasting, is-srroiigly recommended ior dis- 

 lodging coagulated blood in -the stomach, produced by-ii fall, or a severe str.>ke on tiiut 

 important ciitr^U. Hogs, dogs, cats, horses, cattle, birds, -aiul many other aimnais, 

 tilt ihese pears greedily, -and they are generally made us of, during the season, for fat- 

 tening hogs, which gives tlieir flesh a verv agreeable flavour. 



Siihucu istlie liidiaii nuuie. The Sixiniartls, in South America, call it flo-uacrf/f,^ and 

 under that name It is described by Ulloa. However, in Peru and Mexico, it is better 

 known by the ajJijellation of //i7(/, or put/o. 



This tree and friiit are well knwvn in America; in the -kingdom of Peru they are 

 called pattus. 



Tlie fruit is cf a pear fashion, asbigmsthe English pound pears, and green when 

 ripe; but I have seen a sort ver}' round, with red streaks like a pear-mum. When 

 they have been gathered some days, they g-row soft, tmd are tit to eat with pepper and 

 salt ; some mix them with lemon-juice and sugar, others will boil them and eat with 

 salt beef They are very nonrishing, and are'lhonght to 'he great provocatives ; there- 

 fore the Spaniart-ls do not cave their wives should e;it mnch of them. This fruit is ripe 

 in June, and so continues till October. Thej' have a large stone ni tlte nhddle, wtho- 

 ped up in a'fine thin skin, of the shape of a heart ; and when that skin is taken off, it 

 is'-ver}- rough, and in wrifikled or little hard protuberances, of a reddish colour ; when 

 cut through, it is very v.hite ; but the -air soon turns it reddish. If you take one of 

 these pear-stone.% and write upon a white wall, the letters will turn as red as blood, 

 und never go o\it untii'the wall is vihite-wiished again, and then with difficulty ; also, 

 if you take a piece of white cloth and put round them, and with a j)in prick out any let- 

 ter or figure on the cloth, the figure will be of ajelluvvcolour, not to be -easily washed 

 mt.* Har/iavi, p. 10. 



There are two species of the fruit, the green and the red. The latter is preferred,, 

 having a firmer better tasted flesh tlian the other ; but I have observed that the good- 

 ness of both depends entirely upon the place of growth ; for the fruit produced in & 

 wild state is small, and often bitter ; the finest come from the red hills near Spanish 

 Town, the Liguanea mountains, and the inland parts. Long; p. 808. 



.yt't BENJAMtN CaMPHIRE ^ClNNAMON -'COGWOOD LaUREL TREES ^NUTMEG, AmE-^ 



RiCAN Sassafras. 



'No English Name. AYENIA. 



Cl. 20, OR. 4 Gi/nandria pentandria Nat. or. Colwnniftrie. 

 This name was given in honour of the Duke D'Ayen, a great promoter of the sci- 

 ence of botany, who had a noble garden at St. Germaine. GiN. 



It ja assettcd, that lliis stain will disappear, when the pears are in leaton the fulIiKJa" 



ia5j-e. 



