50 A VOYAGE TO Boox L 



danger and tortures, till relieved by repeated anoint- 

 ings and the uie of cooling draughts. The very béafts 

 themlelves, l^y their natural inííinét, are fo far from 

 eating its fruit, that they never approach the tree. 



The palm-trees, riling with their tufted heads above 

 the branches of the others, form a grand perfpective 

 on the mountains. Thefe, notwithftanding the differ- 

 ence is fcarce perceivable, are really of different kinds, 

 as is evident from the diveriity of their fruit. They 

 diflinguiih four principal Ipecies : the firñ produce 

 coco ; the fecond dates, of a very pleafant tafte ; the 

 third, called palma-real, vvhofe fruit, though of the 

 lame figure, but fomcthing lefs than the date, is not 

 at all palatable, but has a very difagreeable tafíe; and 

 the fourth, which they call corozo, has a fruit larger 

 than dates, of an exquifite taile, and proper for making 

 cooling and wholelomc draughts. The palmitos, or 

 branches of the palma-real, are agreeably tailed, and 

 fo large as frequenily to weigh from two to three ar- 

 robas *. The other fpecies alio produce them, but 

 neither in fuch plenty, nor fo-fucculent. Palm- wine 

 is alfo extracted from all the four; but that from the 

 palma-real and corozo is much the heft. The manner 

 of making it, is either by cutting down the palm-tree, 

 or boring a hole in the trunk, in which is placed a tap, 

 with a veiTel under it for receiving the liquor, which, 

 after five or fix days fermentation, becomes fit for 

 drinking. The colour of it is whitilh ; the tafte racy : 

 it bears a greater head than beer, and is of a very in- 

 ebriating quality. The natives, however, reckon it 

 cooling, and it is the favourite liquor of the Indians 

 and Negroes. The guaiacum and ebony trees are 

 equally common ; and their hardnefs almoit equal to 

 that of iron. Thefe Ipceies of wood are fometimcs 

 carried into Spain, where they are greatly eileemed, 

 but here they are difregarded from their great plenty. 



* The arroba is 25 pounds. 



^ , Among 



