1 vO H O R T US - J A I\I A I C E N SIS. c ajhkw 



The tree annually transmlcs in large qnantities, vi?. often to ten or f-clre pounds 

 weigiit of a line, semi-transparent gum, similar to giirn arable, and ncii; ,\t all infenor 

 to it in virtue and quality, except that it contains a slight astringency, which perhaps 

 renders it, in many res|;ects, more valuable ; tor wiiieh reason it is often used as a 

 .i'tt't'rfae(07i in the Jamaica s!io|)s, and might answer equally well in Great Britain, if 

 tncourageuient was given to collect and remit it.* 



'1 he liiicl-' oil of the nut, or shell, tinges linen of a rusty iron colour, which can 

 hardly be got out ; and if any wood be svcearoci -with it, it preserves it from decay. If 

 a i^)roper method could therefore be fallen upon, for exti-acting this oil from th.e .shell, 

 vvhich at present is gencnilly thrown away as useless, it would doubtless be applicaiile 

 to various good purposes ; for no worm would attack the wood uho&e pores are filled 

 with it. It would certainly be an excellent preservative to hou^e-timbers, if not to ships 

 bottoms, mixed, with, other compositions ; though, for the latter operation, perhaps it 

 might be difficult to obtain, it ni plenty suiiicienf, or ct a price t.iat would mak;- it an- 

 swer to the experiment. But, where a less quantity might be wanted, there is great 

 probability of obtaining it; as the tree is so easily propagated, grows in ahiiOst any soil, 

 ' bears luxuriantly, and lives to a very great age. 



From the body of the tree Ls procured, by tapping or incisian, a ratlkv juice, which 

 etains lingji of a deep black, and cannot be got out again : but whether this has the 

 ^ame pi:op*rty withtiiat of the East Indian anaairdiam, has not yet been fully experi- 

 inenteci i^for the inspissated juice of tliat tree is the best sort of Jac which is -.used for 

 staining black in China and Japan. 



Dr Grew mentions the juice beings lised for staining of cottons ; \\\t it is doubtful 

 which of the sjiecies he means ; though Sir Hans Sloaue supposes it to be of the aca- 

 jou pr cashew, here mentioned. However, it may be very well worth the trial. A few 

 of the.tre.es may be tapped in the bleedmg season, the jivice collected in earthen pots, 

 kept ia a place free from dust, or the pots covered v\dth a linen cloth, to prevent dust 

 from mixing with it j and, wiien of a proper consistence, experiments may be made to 

 see if it has the same property with the Japan inc, which, if it has, it may prove a va- 

 tudbie coiUHKjdity. It may be propei', for greater certainty, to varjr die experiment; 

 to expose some of the juice in shallow w-ooden receiver^:, covered with a -single linea 

 cioth, to the heat of the sun, and reduce it to a consistence in the sanis manner as the 

 aloes ; or inspissate it in iron pots over a fire, by gentle evaporation. If either way 

 should succeed, a new and impoi'tant article would be gained to the commerce of the 

 island. Long, p. 725. 



The oil between the rinds, if heklto a caudle, emits bright, salient, particles. This 

 oil is used as a cosmetic to remove freckles and sun-burning, biit the pain suffered 

 jnalces its use not very frequent. (jrri?/;iifej\ 



Expressed juice of the fruit, in red wine saugaree, good in female weakne.ssesj. - 

 Cure also for the dropsy. The Portuguese turn their dirt eating negroes out in the 

 ca.shew season, and force them to live ou the fruit. Labat, torn. 2, p. 233. Dancer^s 

 -Jledicai Aisiitant. 



C.VSSADA. 



* In co'nsequence of a premium offered aoni3 ye3rsagf>,fcy the soripty for the improvement 'of ar's, 5. c. a quantify of 

 the gum 'vas sent lo Enj^laiid, to bs trttid as a fubititute t^^ t>^-'^' Senega, in dyi'^g silks, but it wan ru;t li-und to answer 

 -ill tlicse ofii^ht colouv3, because u contained asniall.aiiantity of buckish sedjmer.tor ro->in which slai. eJ them, but 

 in ibose ot'a black coinur it-atiiivvered'as wej,) an {juni Senega, and sa far it opens a miirket f-.T (!*is gum. It hag the 

 iipptarance uf the clearest giuii arnbic, and b-:3 been founJ of ^--ai u^t in pasting pa>iers toge*U^j it, nevecetacklfti' 



; wili 'AU> iaect eaiu* It would therefore b& vory useful ^or the purposc:i uf au Ueibarium. 



