BOOK III. CHAP. VIII. ^y^ 



{. ,,, r — Elutherlum. Browne, p. "360. 



Alligator-Wood; , .m • r- -h/r r l 



,, ,,7 I — Lauro Mjhmst Ligno Mo churn 



or Musk-Wood. | ^^^^^^^ j^^^ ^^^^ ^p_ ^^^^ ^ 



This tree is frequent in the midland woods, and grows to a con- 

 fiderable fize. All parts of it, but efpecially the bark, fmell flrongly 

 of mulk [«], and may be ufed inftead of that perfume for many 

 purpofes. A fmall piece of the bark put into a pipe of tobacco and 

 fmoaked, will fcent a room immediately. As the wood grows old 

 and dry, it lofes this odor, but the bark continues to retain it. The 

 wood is full of a bitter, refinous fubftance, which renders it unfit 

 for rum-puncheons, being obferved to communicate both its fmell 

 and tafte to all fpirituous liquors. But it is often cut for Jlaves and 

 heading for fugar hogfheads, when there happens a fcarcity of other 

 lumber. Some old Negroe- women are extremely fond of per- 

 fuming their perfons with the powdered bark, till they fmell like 

 civet-cats. 



There is no doubt but the refinous parts of this tree contain a 

 volatile odoriferous oil, and that this as well as the refin itfelf, which, 

 is foluble in fpirits, might be converted to many ufeful, and pro- 

 bably medical purpofes. 



3 1 . America n Nutmeg. — Arbor mofcbata vel myrijlica Americana.. 



This tree was firft planted at Mr. Beckford's plantation,. caJledi 

 The Retreat, in Clarendon ; the feeds, from which it was produced,, 

 were probably brought from the South American continent.. It 

 bears a confiderable number of large round pods refembling the 

 cahballi, hanging from the branches by a long pedicle. The pods 

 are from four to five inches diameter, and contain a multitude of 

 nuts or kernels, of about one inch in length, and one third of an 

 inch in thicknefs, all packed clofe in a very Angular regularity, fo 

 that after difplacing them, it is impofllble to reftore them to the 

 fame order and compadnefs as before. Thefe kernels, when tho- 

 roughly dried, are of a light, reddifli, brown colour, impregnated 

 with an aromatic oil refembling that of the Eaftern nutmeg, from 

 which they differ fo little in flavour and quality, that they may be 

 ufed for fimilar purpofes in food or medicine ; the only perceptible 

 [a] Refembling that of die «%<?/£>)•— whence its name.. 



diiFerfiJice; 



