BOOK III. CHAP. VIII. 747 



were tarred and well twifted, would be equal to thofe made from the beft 

 hemp. All the parts of this tree, efpeclally the flowers, abound with 

 a mucilage, emollient, and laxative. 



46. Smaller Mahoe Althaa frutefccm aquatica. 



This Is generally found in marfhy places, and on the banks of rivers. 

 It bears a fmall yellow flower. The bark is not fo flrong as that of 

 the former, but the Negroes ufc it to tie up their bundles of Scotch 

 grafs, and fometimes tvvifl: it into ropes. 



47. Mountain Mahoe. — Hibifcus arbor eus. 

 This tree grows to a confiderable fize, and is frequent in the woods. 

 It bears a large open yellow flower, not unlike thofe of the yellow 

 lily. It is generally reckoned an excellent timber tree. All the ten- 

 der parts of it are mucilaginous, and ufed upon occaiion for the fame 

 intention as the other medicines of this tribe. 



There is another fpecies, which bears a red flower. 



48. Bur-Bark. — Triumfetta. 

 This plant is frequent in the ifland, and rifes to the height of fix or 

 feven feet in a rich moifl: foil. The bark is tough and ftrong, and 

 ferves for ropes, and other conveniencies of the like kind. 



49. Prickly-Bark Tree. — Hibifcus arboreus, foliis fub-rotundo 



angulatis. 



This is rare in Jamaica. It is found in the woods of St. Anne. 

 The inward bark is very tough, and fit for ropes; but it is coarfer and 

 more fibrous than that of the mahoe. 



50. Laghetto, or Lace-Bark Tree. — Frutex foliis majoribus. 



It has a laurel-like leaf, and therefore called by Sloane arbor lauri- 

 foUa. It is common in the woods of Vere, Clarendon, and St. Eliza- 

 beth. The inner bark is of a fine texture, very tough, and divlfible 

 into a number of thin filamentous lamina, which, being foaked in water, 

 may be drawn out by the fingers into a reticulum, refembling fine lace 

 fo nearly as to be fcarce diftinguiflied from it. 



The ladies of the ifland are extremely dextrous in making caps, ruf- 

 fles, and compleat fuits of lace with it ; in order to bleach it, after being 



5 C 2 drawn 



