HO- H--OrtTU8 ^AMAICENSrS. CAtAiix^f 



stale coiliales a ca.laverous, niiuseous, sn6 intoierablc Elcnch. I'f Ijappcrisnnt iincom- 

 nioiily, th.t there are live ftrtile st.imcns, ao-l in that case three of tliem are longer 

 than ihe ether two. T!)e i'uriu of the fruit Virt'ies on (liii'erent trees, l)eing splierical, 

 splieroi'dal, or shaped like a bottje ; it diH'ers also iu si?.e, from two, inciiej: lo a loot in 

 diameter. These, hyw ever, are only varieties. They are covered with a thin skin of 

 a greenish yelk)iv coloiy when ripe,,ancl under t'lis is a liard thin wood-y shell, inclosing^ 

 a pale yelio.viKh soft pulp, of a tart unsavoury flavour, surroundiag- a.great nuiuber of 

 iiat seens. 



Tiie wood of tl>is tree being very tough and flexile?, rrnders it, very fit for the 

 j)iirposes of coach iriukers,..as well as-for making sadiiles, mule and a.ss crooks, stools, , 

 chairs, an 1 other iurn.itare, as also shalis or handles ior ciu-penters tools. Tiig shell of 

 thp fruit, wuen cleared of its contents, is frequently large enough to contain a gallon, 

 and is used iis bottles, or made into cups and spoons, by the negroes. It is of so close 

 ^ texture, that it s'.ryes to boil water, and bears the tire as well as an earthen pot. It . 

 is frequegily converted into buLton njoulds,. The fruit being split, roasted, and applied 

 to an apostuiue speedily ripens.it. 



1 suppose the SpaniarJ,s gave the name to tiiis tree, its fruitbcing as big as a man's 

 head (which they cail.a/ffAa5A^,..bu.t rounder; it is so well known in most pi.rts of 

 America, that it needs no descri[)tioa. I have seen such difference of the fruit of these 

 trees as to contain from an ounce to a gallon. When thev are green, they are full of, 

 white juice, pulp, and seeds, which the cattle eat of in very dry times ; but which is. 

 said to give theu" Hesh an odd disagreeable taste, and also their luiik ; but I believe 

 that taste is from.a weed.called guiiiea-hen weed,. and not from the calabash. It is said 

 that the pulp,Jf eaten, will make a, cow casX her calf, or a mare her colt. It is certainly 

 knoivn [if not too well kiiown) to be a great forcer of the menstrua,. and of the birth and 

 after-birth ;. therefore ought to be very cautioush' given or taken. I once made a spirit 

 from this fruit, which was so nauseous as not to be taken alone. This is an useful tree- 

 for Indians and negroes to make necessary funiitui'e for their houses, as dishes, cups, 

 and spoons, of seAei'al shajjes, bigness, and fashion; I have seen them made, and- 

 jiely wrought and carved. Lai ham, p. 27. 



The juice of calabash, in the qilaptity of four ounces, is giv-en as a purge in all cases 

 where the putient has received a bruise about the trunk ; and a syrup of tne sani , with 

 the addition of liine-jui(:e,*a little nitre, and pai'agoric elixir, is by some highly ex- 

 tolieii in coughs and consumptions. Small caiabasiies r.jasted, and thepulp spread on 

 cloth, amke a good poultice for bruises and intlainmutions. IVright. 



As a purgative, the dose is a quarter of a pint of the expressed juice. The pulp of the 

 fruit made into syrup. Dr. M'Vicar Affleck relates some singular instances of its effi- 

 cacy in i)uniionary conqiiaints, that were attended with hectic fever.* Jacquin says, 

 E pulpu fructum sj/rupti/ii conjiciunt incvUt, sumtiii wcdicammis celehn/tifc, potissi' . 

 vncii in varus pcc/ons iiiorliis, ituj. contusion bus intcritis Jactpiin's Stirp. American. 

 Xhe syrup is made by tukiiig v oung caiabasiies about the size of an orange ; roast them, . 



then 



The, following is.one of ilie case, as related by Dr. Affleck : A spoonful was piven every morninp to a lady , 

 labouring unilcr ^i licctic li-vs-i . cmigh, and Icjss of appetite, ivliich contiuued three niciitli.s. .Mje recovered in about 

 four wteks, and liv d in ^ . li .lealtli many jears alter. She was given over by aa old lady, her luotkej, at'ict oiau/__ 

 wediewf.;. bad l^ecu usi-d tvitUoul clt'cct.." 



