726 JAMAICA. 



good foils, rpi-eads to the fize of an Englifh walnut-tree, which it 

 much lefembles in the fliape and fiiiell of the leaves ; and they are 

 equally efficacious, in decodion, for cleanfing and healing old 

 ulcers. The fruit, or apple, has an agreeable, fubacid flavour, 

 with fome degree of reftringency. The juice, exprefled from it, 

 ,and fermented, yields a pleafant wine ; and, diftillcd, a fpirit is 

 .drawn from it far exceeding arrack, or rum, which makes an ad- 

 i-nirable punch, and powerfully proinotes urine. Some planters 

 xoaft the ripe fruit at a fire ; and flice one or two into a bowl of 

 punch, to give it a pleafant flavour. The reftringency of the juice 

 ;has recommended it as a very fignal remedy in dropfical habits ; in- 

 fomuch that many Negroes, labouring under this diforder, on 

 ;being fuft'ered to eat plentifully of the fruit, and of the roafted 

 kernels, have foon recovered. The nut fprings from one end of 

 ■the apple : the outer Ihell is of an afli colour, and very fmooth ; 

 under this is another, which covers the kernel ; between this is a 

 vifcid, inflammable oil, of a reddifli colour, extremely acrid, 

 bitter, and cauftic, which has been ufed with great fuccefs in 

 mating off ring- worms, cancerous ulcers, and corns ; but it ought 

 to be applied with caution. The kernel, when frefh gathered, has 

 a mofl delicious tafte, and abounds with a fweet milky juice. It 

 is likewife an ingredient in puddings, and other agreeable prepa- 

 rations. When fomewhat older, or after being kept for fome time, 

 it is generally roafted ; and in this flate it is not fo proper for coftive 

 habits. Ground with cacao, it makes an excellent chocolate. 



Thefe nuts are often fent as prefents to Great-Britain; but, after 

 keeping too long, the kernel becomes fhriveled, and lofes its flavour 

 and bed qualities. 



The tree annually tranfudes in large quantities, viz. from five 

 often to ten or twelve pounds weight of a fine, femi-tran(parent 

 gum, fimilar to gum-arabic, and not at all inferior to it in virtue 

 and quality, except that it contains a flight aflringency, which per- 

 haps renders it, in many refpeds, more valuable; for which reafon, 

 it is often ufed as a fuccedaneum in the Jamaica fliops, and might 

 .anfwer equally well in Great-Britain, if encouragement was given 

 to colled and remit it. 



The 



