OF NORTH AMERICA. 67 



and by other botanifts by the name of azalea pontica. 

 Mr. Tournefort has Ukewife fhown, that the other plant 

 called by Pliny rhododendfos is his chamserhododen- 

 dros pontica maxima, folio laurocerafi, flore coeruleo 

 purpurefcente*. This is the rhododendron ponticuni 

 of Linnseus. It is confiderably allied to the azalea ponti- 

 ca. 



Xenophon has recorded the remarkable effects of fome 

 poifonous honey, in his celebrated work, called Memora- 

 bilia. 



When the army of the ten thoufand had arrived near 

 Trebifond, on the coaft of the Euxine or Black-Sea, an 

 accident befel the troops, which was a caufe of great con- 

 flernation. " As there were a great many bee-hives," 

 fay the illuftrious general and hiftorian, " the foldiers did 

 not fpare the honey. They were taken with a vomiting 

 and purging, attended with a delirium, fo that the leafl 

 affedted feemed like men drunk, and others like mad men, 

 or people on the point of death. The earth was ftrew- 

 ed with bodies, as after a battle ; not a perfon, however, 

 died, and the diforder ceafed the next day, about the 

 fame hour that it began. On the third and fourth days, 

 the foldiers rofe, but in the condition people are in after 

 taking a ftrong potion, f" 



The famefa£t is recorded by Diodorus Siculus. 



Mr. Tournefort thinks there is every probability that 

 this poifonous honey was fucked from the flowers of fome 

 fpecies of chamasrhododendros, or rhododendron. He 

 obferves that all the country about Trebifond is full of 

 the fpecies of this plant, and he remarks that Father Lam- 

 bert, Theatin miffionary, agrees that the honey which 



1 2 the 



* Inftitutior.es, &c. 



■\ Thefe are neatly the words of Mr. Toumefort's tranflation. 1 am 

 forry that I hare not the original ivork of Xenophon at hand. 



