736 JAMAICA. 



difference to the tafte, is, that they arc Icfs pungent than the E aft- 

 Indian nutmeg. It was a long time before the tree at The Retreat 

 bore fruit; at the time of its bearing it was about eighteen feet in 

 height. It has fmce been cultivated by many gentlemen in differ- 

 ent parts of the ifland, and may probably in a few years be adopted 

 into general ufe, as well as furnifii an article of export. I take it 

 to be the fame as that found in Guiana. When intended for expor- 

 tation, it might be advifeable to fend them in the dry pods entire, 

 or lay the kernels in lime-water for a little while, drying them 

 afterwards again in the fun, or a fhady place. 



32. Indigo-Berry. — Randia. 



The fhrub of this name is frequent in the low-lands, and chiefly 

 in the more barren clayey foils, rifes to the height of feven or eight 

 feet; the main ftem tough and hard: the branches fomewhat prickly 

 at the ends : the leaves of an oval or roundifh form, growing 

 in tufts. The berries are round, grow very numerous on the 

 fmaller branches, and contain a thick pulp, which ftains paper or 

 linen of a fine fixed blue colour, which ftands wafliing either with 

 foap or acids; but does not communicate fo fine a colour with heat. 

 If it was brought into cultivation for the fake of this property, an 

 excellent blue tint might be obtained from it for painting. 



33. Silk Cotton Tree. — Bombax. 

 The ftupendous fize of thele trees has attracted the notice of moft 

 travelers in the Weft- Indies. They have been known to rife to up- 

 wards of one hundred feet in height, tapering from the bafe, and are 

 frequently feen from fifty to eighty feet length of fliaft, meafured to 

 the firft infertion of the lower arms or branches, and from twelve 

 to fourteen feet circumference. The wood is light and porous, and 

 makes excellent canoes. In Columbus's firft voyage it is faid, there 

 was a canoe feen at Cuba made with one of thefe trees, large enough 

 to contain one hundred and fifty men. They are frequently known 

 to carry from fifteen to twenty hogfheads of fugar, of from twelve 

 to fixteen hundred weight ; the average of which is about twenty- 

 iive tons burthen. When fawn into boards, and thefe after- 

 wards well faturated with lime-water rubbed into the pores, 



the 



