82 TRINIDAD. 



and centipedes. They are generally given in some spirit ; but, 

 under pressure of necessity, they may be bruised, and the simple 

 juice taken — as in the case of the Guaco and Manaco — the resi- 

 duum being applied to the wound ; or the seeds can be masti- 

 cated and swallowed, as is practised with the Musk-ochro and 

 Secua. There are, in addition to those already mentioned, many 

 other plants successfully employed in like circumstances ; even 

 Lime-juice, both internally and externally, is highly beneficial. 



The juice of the root of Yuquilla is an excellent remedy for 

 the cure of chronic ophthalmia ; but .when used in the acute 

 stage, increases the inflammation : it is the Bignonia ophthalmica 

 of Dr. Chisholm. Carapa-oil used in friction is an infallible 

 cure for ticks. 



The indigenous trees and plants hitherto enumerated, and of 

 which I now close the catalogue, are those which are ordinarily 

 used in building, in mill, wheel, and cabinet works, as also for 

 medicinal and other purposes. Some of them are met with 

 almost everywhere, and in great abundance ; others, as I have 

 already stated, are scarce, and thrive only in certain localities. 

 The Mora and Mangrove, as also the Timite, Carat, and Sword- 

 grass are perhaps the only indigenous plants which grow grega- 

 riously : the Cedar thrives in the best lands, whether level or 

 mountainous ; the Guatacare and Carapa in damp clay soils; the 

 Cyp and Laurier-cyp in the mountain districts. 



Durability is the main characteristic of nearly all our timber- 

 woods : a few only are light and soft, the generality solid and 

 heavy; the hardest of all is the Poui, as also the heaviest. 

 These qualities of extreme solidity and weight are, to a certain 

 extent, a defect ; because they exact a larger amount of labour 

 to render the timbers marketable, or even render them unfit for 

 indiscriminate use in ordinary buildings, and for certain purposes 

 in many constructions, such as the lighter roof-work. 



Generally speaking, popular opinion and practice do not dis- 

 tinguish or prescribe any fitness or unfitness of seasons for the 

 felling of timber-trees : this I pronounce to be a very serious 

 error. In Europe and other temperate climates, trees are felled 

 in autumn, when the sap is deficient or dormant. It cannot be 

 said that such a season really prevails in tropical regions : there 

 is, however, a period during which vegetative life in general may 

 be said to be at a minimum, particularly in certain trees : the 



