( ^9G ) 



bark, contrary to what we fee in the trees of this country, the bark 

 of which receives its increafe from tlie wood. 



I alfo cut tliis wood from Cura^oa tranfverfely, and examining it 

 by the microfcope, I found it to agree in all refpedls with that repre- 

 fented in Jig. 2, with this difference onl3^ that where this wood was 

 harder than the former, there the capillaments werefmaller, and alfo 

 exceedingly tough. 



But as the veficles in the former wood, v/hich are reprefented 

 at fig. 4, EFGIi, were in this latter much harder, and alfo 

 fmaller than the former, I cut fome of them b}' a ftraight fe^ion, and 

 caulbd a very fmall particle of them, when magnified, to be drawn 

 from the microfcope, which is to be feen in Jig. 5, at 3LM2, 

 Thefe veficles, I perceived were of a more firm and folid texture, 

 than thofe in the other piece of wood, and they had in their centers 

 a black fpot, which was a fign that they had had a cavity in them : 

 fome of thefe veficles 1 cut in fuch thin flices that they appeared 

 trail {'parent. 



While I was bi'fied in this part of my invcfligation, I happened to 

 cut one of the afcending veflbls, which mjig. 2, is denoted by T, but 

 which here is fliewn between I K 3 2 N. And, though the fmaller 

 veHels furrounding it, could not, by reafon of their nVmutenefs, be 

 otherwife exprefled, than by ftraight lines, yet this larger velTcl 

 plainly appeared to be formed of a kind of annular parts, running 

 round each other in a fort of fpiral form. And, though I had ob- 

 lerved this formation of the veflels in many otlier forts of wood, yet 

 I could not till now, venture to fay, that thel'e veflels were formed in 

 that manner, becaufe I had hitherto loft my time and labour in en- 

 deavouring to dilfedl tliem accurately. But now in tliis objedt, 

 where the veffel fpread or o])ened itfelf a little, at tlie place marked 

 N, I plainly law the fpiral formation, ^^ hich difcovcry gave mc grea|; 

 ploafurc. 



