0/* North America. 1 23 



this kind of honey*. The violent impreffion which it makes 

 upon the ftomach and inteftincs often induces an early vomit- 

 ing or purging, which are boih favourable to the fpeedy re- 

 covery of the fufFerer. The feve'r which it excites is fre- 

 quently relieved, in a fliort time, by the profufe perfpiration, 

 and perhaps by the foaming at the mouth. I may add, that 

 AS the human conftitution relifls, to an afloniihing degree, 

 the efiecls of the narcotic and other poifonous vegetables that 

 are belt known to us, fo we need not wonder that it alfo 

 refifts the efi'efts of the deleterious honey which is procured 

 from fuch vegetables. 



It deierves to be mentioned, that the honey which is 

 formed by two different hives of bees in the fame tree, or at 

 a little diftance from each other, often polieffes the moft op- 

 pofite properties. Nay, the honey from the fame individual 

 comb is fometimes not lefs different in tafte, in colour, and 

 in its effefts. Thus, one flratum or portion of it may be 

 eaten without the lead inconvenience, whilfl. that which is 

 immediately adjacent to it fliall occafion the feveral effects 

 which I have jult enumerated. 



I have taken fome pains to learn what are the figns by 

 which the deleterious honey may, at iirft view, be dittin^ 

 gui(hcd from innocent honey. I am informed that there is 

 lio difficulty in the matter. 



The poiionous honey is faid by fome to be of a crimfon 

 colour; by others, it is faid to be of a reddifh-brown colour, 

 i:id ot a thicker confidence than common innocent honey. 



Thefe are the figns by which, I am told, the moll expe- 

 rienced hunters in the fouthern parts of North America are 

 enabled to diitinguifh pernicious from innocent honey. 



On a fuhjed iucli as this, I feel every difpofition to pay a 

 good deal of deference to the experience of an American 

 hunter. Even pliilofophcrs may obtain much ufeful in- 

 forinaiion from hunters, however wandering their life, how- 

 ever rude their manners. It is in the power of our hunters 

 to enrich natural hiflory with many important fails. But 

 we ought not, I prefume, to confide implicitly in every 

 thing they tell us. 



I have good reafons for doubting whether the figns which 

 I have menlioned will enable us, in every iiiilance, to deter- 

 mine whether honey be poifonous or innocent. 



The honey of the- bee, undoubtedly, fometimes partakes 

 «f the colour of the flowers from which it is gathered. The 

 bees gather honey from many Howers of a criml'on colour, 



' VV c fhall af'icrw.irds fee tliat not one of Xcnojjlion's men died from 

 the dtltter'ious honey which ihvy had eaten, in Lirjjc (luaiuities, on the 

 iiiJtrj of ilit tu.xint kd. 



and 



