744 J A M A 1 C A. 



43. Barb A DOES Cabbage Tree. — Palma caudtce aa mftum 



tiirgido. 



44. Jamaica Cabbage Tree, or Mountain Cabbage, — 



Pnlma caudice cequali. 



Thefe trees are In faft, 1 believe, the fame fpecics;; and the difference 

 between them in rcfpeft to their figure feems to be owing entirely to 

 the fituation in which they grow, whether in open ground, or in the 

 midft of woods. In the former cafe, nothing hinders them from af- 

 fuming that graceful form peculiar to their nature ; in the latter, being 

 inclofed on all fides with other lofty trees, they rife Iplndling, and often 

 crooked; and feem to be confined in their growth to a continual afcent, 

 preferving an uniformity of bulk in the fhaft from the root upwards, 

 until they have overtopped the whole wood. 



The Barbadoes cabbage, which is planted here for ornament, is one 

 ■ of the moil beautiful trees in the world. No limits feem to be fet either 

 to its age or afcent. Ligon mentions fome at the firfl fettlement of 

 Barbadoes, above 200 feet in height. And Ray Ipeaks of another of 

 270 feet, or thereabouts. One hundred feet is a very common height. 

 It is propagated from the feeds. The upper part of the trunk, from 

 whence the foliage fprings, relembles a well-turned, finely polifhed 

 balufter, of a lively green colour, gently fwelling from its pedeftal, and 

 diminifhing gradually to the top, where it expands into the branches, 

 elegantly arranged, and waving like plumes of oftrich feathers. From 

 the center of the fummit rifes the fpatha or flicalh, terminating in an 

 acute point. The trunk itfelf is not lefs graceful, being a flraight, 

 fmooth, flightly annulated column, large at the bafe, and tapering 

 from thence to the infertion of the balufter or cabbage. This tree is fo 

 much reverenced for its majeftic form, that It is not deftroyed like the 

 others for the fake of the cabbage. 



The Jamaica mountain cabbage is cut for this purpofe ; and the cab- 

 bage ftripped of its outer green coat appears perfciflly white, cylindrical, 

 and formed of feveral concentric lumince. The inner tuniclcs are fliced, 

 and either eaten raw, with onions, pepper, and vinegar, or boiled, and 

 ferved up with butter; in which way, it moft refembles the European 

 cabbage in rl-^vour; or converted into a pickle, in which ftate it is fent 

 to Great Britani. 



The 



