452 KORTUS JAMAICENSIS. umb 



cii.Tineter, cor,tainin|r a ^wzt quaridty of juicr, wliich, in J;imaic;a, is prcftn-i-cd to lemoD 

 JKici" f)!' nuikir.g punch, and other joniestic pnrjioscs. The linci ot lliis, as uell as of 

 tl)fk;inon, is ola very odorous and aioinatic nature. They bulh bccom'e of a beautifuj 

 v<'!i()^\ colour vvhcn ripe. The root is hiUer. 



7 tie French l/uie tree, as it is called, is to be found in many parts of Jamaica ; it is 

 nf a larger growth tiian the other, anil sFioots more into the regular form of a tree, 

 vliUli, from its beautitui dark green leaves, smaller, more acuminate, and more slig-htlv 

 serrate, than those of the connron, has a very jiretty appearance^ especially when in 

 iiower or fruit, which it bears most abundantly. The flower is similar in every respect 

 to the other, but the fruit is larger, more beautiful, being tinged witli fine shades of 

 red, and contains a greater proportion of juice, of a milder and more agreeable nature. 

 It is also distniguislied from the others by the petioles of the leaves being round and 

 vvidiout wings, though in very large luxuriant leaves they are sometimes perceptible. 



The srcect Imle tree, another varietj-, puts on the appearance of a tree, and, as 

 Browne observes, bears a fiuit which, in size and form, seems to hold a mean between 

 the lime and the lemon. The juice is of an insipid sweetish taste, but the bark and 

 fibres of the root are bitter, like tliose of the common lime. 



If limes are intentled for exportation, the\ sliouki be gathered when a yellowish tinn-e 

 first begins to ajipear on some part (jf the rind, and will keep well, hung up in an airy 

 part of the shqi in nets ; or, where aquantit}- is sent, they may be packed up in dry corn 

 husks, and stowed in a cask which lias some air holes matle in it. If a nietliod could be 

 fallen upon of drying the ripe fruit in Jamaica, until the coat grew perfectly hard ani- 

 tougli, it would bear the voyage mucli better so preserved, and go in excellent condi- 

 tion tor use ; and this, I apprehend, may be done b exposing it, spread out on a plat- 

 ionn, to the hot sun, after the manner of pimento, for a week or two before it is packed 

 for expoitation. The nnconcocted juice of the green truit is geiterally injurious to 

 weak l)owels. 



This iruit, as well as the lemon, makes an excellent sweet meat, cleared of the pulp, 

 and prepared with the best clarified sj rup. 



The bark and fibres of the lime-tree root are excellent strengthening aperitives, and' 

 found frequently effectual in obstinate febrile cases, as well as in weaknesses and ob- 

 structions of the bowels. Barhain says the Indians use tiie root in venereal cases. A 

 decoction of them a good fomentation for sor^s. The leaves are generally used in dis- 

 cntient baths ; and the fruit in a variety of cases. The cruiie juice, mixed with salt of 

 wormwood, is given in the state of ebulhtion in fevers, and commonly used in the com- 

 position of saline draughts. The fruit is i-oasted, and the pulp applied to cleanse 

 ulcers. It answers all those intentions, where a livelier sub-acid than that of the lemon - 

 is required. 



The negroes take the J'oung fruit, soon after it is formed, or when it is about the 

 size of a small hazel nut, pare oflF the rind, which they beat into a fine pulp, antl with 

 a hair pencil, apply it carefully to the lids of sore eyes for a cure. It is supposed, this 

 rawness of the eye-!id, accompanied with a humour, is generally caused by wormr., 

 which lodge in it, and that this application destroys them. This hint is worth further 

 attention, since the animalcules, if they really lodge there, may be discoverable by 

 pro])er glasses ; and hence the knowledge obtained, whether the application would be 

 jropcr or otherwise. There are varieties of this fruit : The small round lime; tlie 

 nrge oval ; the bergamot ; the sweet lime. 



The qflicacy of lemon or lime juice in preventing, the sea-scuny, has been com- 



mendectr- 



1 



