54 OS BECK'S VOYAGE. 



* f Indian, according to the befl authorities u ; 

 £i if he wants ro make a hedge round his fields,, 

 " he plants the Agave round them, becaufe its 

 " leaves are (tiff", and armed with innumerable 

 l( prickles. If he builds any thing, he makes 

 " his planks of Agave, which he can ufe in-: 

 * f Head of timber ; and he thatches his cot- 

 " tage with its leaves. The latter are of ftiil 

 " greater ufe to him ; as from the fame mate- 

 " rial he makes his paper, linen, cloaths, 

 " Aides, thread, difhes, plates, and other 

 " utenfils. The points of the leaves are as 

 " good as nails, fpears, or pins. If he choofes, 

 " he can make wine, honey, fugar, and vine- 

 " gar, from its juice. If he puts the thick 

 " leaves of it under-ground for fome time, 

 i( they tafte better than melons, or lemons 

 *' with fugar.". 



Cactus opuntia, whofe flem is thicker than 

 a man's arm, is likewife ufed to cover the 

 walls ; and befides this, feveral other plants, 

 fuch as hoily {Ilex aquifblium), called Hon in 

 French. 



u Nardus Antorius Recchus de re medica Nov. 

 jHifp. Lib. VIII. Cap. yii. Roma;, 1651. 



Amongst 



