BOOK III. CHAP. VIII. 729 



contraflions of the fincws. The folution in fpirits has been thought 

 not inferior to gujacuni in venereal cafes, given in a dofe of half 

 a fpoonfiil in wine, and fweating after it. A decoftion of the leaves 

 expels flatulencies, and gives eafe in colicky pains, by gently open- 

 ing the bowels; and the inward bark is an excellent vermifuge in 

 fubftance or decodtion. The wild bees are fond of building their 

 nefts in thefe trees ; fo that if we agree with the Dutch in opinion, 

 that St. John the Baptill: fed upon the fruit of them, we have no 

 difficulty in fuppofing that he found the locufl and wild honey, 

 mentioned in fcripture, on the fame tree. 



26. Tamarind. Tamar'mdus. 



This tree is exceedingly common in Jamaica, grows to a vaft 

 bulk, and thrives well in the favannah lands, but befl: in deep rich 

 brick mould. 



The fruit or pods are gathered in June, July, and Auguft, attain- 

 ing fooner to maturity in fome parts than in others. The ufual 

 method of preparing the fruit for exportation is as follows. The 

 pods are gathered when full ripe, which is known by their fragility, 

 or eafy breaking on a fmall prelTure between the finger and thumb. 

 The fruit taken out of the pod, and cleared from the fl:!elly frag- 

 ments, is placed in layers in a cafk, and the boiling fyrup from the 

 tache or firfl: copper in the boiling-houfe, juft before it begins to 

 granulate, is poured in, till the cafk is filled ; the fyrup pervades 

 every part quite to the bottom, and when cool, the cafk is headed 

 for fale. The more elegant method is, with fugar well clarified 

 with eggs, till a clear tranfparent fyrup is formed, which gives the 

 fruit a much pleafanter flavour. 



The Eaft-India tamarind differs not from that of the Weft-Indies, 

 but the pulp of the fruit is preferved without fugar, and exported to 

 Europe in this form, which is better adapted for an ingredient in 

 medicinal compofitions. 



The duty payable in Great-Britain upon the fugar-preferved ta- 

 marind is fo high, that it cannot anfwer as a remittance; but if 

 fent as a drug, that is, the pulp carefully feparated from the feeds, put 

 in jars, and well covered from the air by a covering of oiled paper, 

 and waxed cloth, it might be a profitable article of remittance. The 



Vol. Ill, 5 A duty 



