BOOK III. CHAP. VIII. 705 



bloflbm, as well as at other times; the fricHiion of the leaves and fmaller 

 branches, even in a very gentle breeze, diffufing a moft fragrant and 

 exhilarating fcent through the circumambient atmofphere; they are ef- 

 teemed, therefore, the moft wholfome places of refidtnce. The berries 

 have a refemblance infmelland tafte to cloves, juniper-berries, cinna- 

 mon, and pepper, or rather a peculiar mixture, fomewhat akin to 

 them all ; whence their name of all-Jpice. It is defervedly efleeuied 

 the moft temperate, mild, and innocent, of all the common fpices, and 

 fit to come into more general ufe, inftead of the Eaftcrn commodities 

 of this kind, which it far furpaffes, by promoting digeftion, attenuating 

 tough humours, moderately warming and fortifying the ftomach, ex- 

 pelling wind, and doing other friendly offices to the bowels. 



Diftilled with water per vejicam, it yields a very fragrant chemical 

 oil, which finks to the bottom of the water like oil of cloves. 



A decoftion of the leaves, ufed by way of fomentation, has relieved 

 in rheumatic aches and pains in the bones. One of the principal ad- 

 vantages arifing from a pimento plantation is, that the crop lafting 

 only from two to three months, the Negroes may be profitably em- 

 ployed in any other branch during the remainder of the year. 



The yielding per acre is computed about one thoufand pounds 

 weight, clear profit about 18/. 15^. 



8. Wild Cinnamon. — Canella alba^ or Bajlard Cortex •w'lnteranus. 



This tree is very common in all the lower woods and rocky hills of 

 the ifland, growing without any care, and propagated chiefly by the 

 birds. For the berries, like thofe of the pimento and other aromatic 

 plants, grow foft and pulpy when ripe, and lofe all that pungency that 

 is peculiar to them in their immature ftate ; they arc therefore greedily 

 devoured by the wild pigeons, and other feathered Inhabitants of the 

 woods, who difperfe the feeds in different places with their muting. 

 The bark, which is the canella alba of the fhops, confifts of two parts, 

 the outer and inner ; the outward bark is as thin as a milled fliilllng, 

 of a whitifh a(h, or grey colour, with light fpots here and there inter- 

 dperfed upon it, and feveral (hallow furrows of a darker colour run- 

 ning varioufly through it, and making it rough ; the inward bark is 

 much thicker than cinnamon, and twice as thick as the outer coat, 

 fmooth, and of a lighter complexion, of a much more biting aromatic 



Vol. III. 4 X tafte, 



