j^ M A L A Y A N I S L E S. 



more eaftern iflands : the plenty of rice fuperfedes the neceflity 

 of it in Sumatra. I mull not pafs over the knowlege that our 

 great traveller Sir 'John Mandeville * had of this valuable tree, 

 who found it in a great Tie he calls Pathen. 



<' In that lond," fays that flower of chivalry, " growen trees 

 *' that beren mele, whereof men maken gode bred and white, and 

 «' of o-ode favour; and itfemethe as it were of w^hete, but it is not 

 *' allynges of fuche favour. And zif zou like to here how the 

 *' mele comethe out of the trees, I flialle feye zou. Men heweu 

 " the trees with an hachet, alle aboute the fote of the tree, tillc 

 *' that the bark be parted in many parties ; and than comethe 

 *' out therof a thikke lykour, the whiche thei refceyven in vef- 

 *' felles, and dryen it at the hete of the foime ; and than thei 

 *' ban it to a mylle to grynde; and it becomethe fair mele and 

 « white." 

 StrangePlant I SHALL conclude this fubje6l with mentioning that on this 

 coaft, near 'tappanooly, Mr. Charles Miller t found the " ftrange 

 *' plant," as Purcbas% calls it, difcovered by Sir James Lancajler 

 on the ifland of Sombrero ^ who fpeaks of it as a tree which 

 flirunk into the ground as foon as it was touched. Wonderful 

 things were related of it by our old navigator. It is named, fays 

 Mr. Miller., by the Malayes, Lalan-laut^ or fea grafs. " It is found 

 *' in fandy bays or in fl:iallow water, where it appears like a 

 *' flender ftrait flick, but, when you attempt to touch it, im- 

 mediately withdraws itfelf into the fand. I could never oh- 

 *' ferve any tentacula ; a broken piece near a foot long, which 

 after many unfuccefsful attempts, I drew out, was perfedly 



• Travels, p. 228. j- Phil. Tranf. vol. Ixviii. p. 178. % Vol. i. p. 152. 



" ftrait 



li 



a 



