BOOK III. CHAP. VIII. 75X 



Mr. Robin/on, purfuing this hint, found three fpecies, differing only 

 from each other in the fize of the trees, dimenfions of their leaf, and 

 greater or lefs aroma of their bark and wood. 



They grow in great abundance on the rocky hills of the Southfide 

 coaft, and other parts more inland ; and are remarkably frequent in 

 Healthfhire, in St. Catharine. 



Their leaves and bark are impregnated with a fine, balfamic juice, 

 and, if the body was tapped at the proper feafon of the year (fuppofed 

 to be Auguft) might be found to tranfude a thick liquor refembling 

 that of the Gilead balfam, to which the tafte of this bark, and wood of 

 the fmaller branches, bears a very exadl relation. 



The leaves, infufed in boiling water, after the manner of tea, have 

 a very pleafant flavour, and odoriferous fcent, and may be drank with 

 milk and fugar, inflead of tea. 



This infufion is highly cephalick, ftrengthens the nerves, and is 

 particularly reftorative to weak eyes ; infomuch, that I knew a gen- 

 tleman, who, by the conflant ufe of it for fome weeks by way of break- 

 faft, was able to read a fmall print, and view objefts diftindly, with-^ 

 out the affiftance of fpeftacles, which he had been unable to do for 

 fome years before. 



The leaves, dried thoroughly in the fhade, might be very fecurely 

 packed, and exported, for further trial of their virtues, which, in Ja- 

 maica, did not fee m to be impaired by their drynefs, or length of 

 keeping. 



There is then the flrongeft reafon to believe, that the amyrls may, 

 by ineifion, produce a b:3h':uTi, not much inferior to the celebrated 

 balm of Gilead, or opohaljamum ; which, for better information of the 

 inquifitive -reader, 1 fliall here defcribe, from competent authority. It 

 is a liquid refin, of a very light ycllowifh colour, and a fragrant' 

 imell, not unlike that of citrons ; butthe tafte is acrid and aromatic. 

 It is pellucid, teiiaciou?, or glutinous, {licking to the fingers, and may 

 be drawn into long threads. It fcarcely ever becomes fluid or liquid, 

 by the Ircat of the fun, in the wefleily part of Afian Turkey, where 

 it is produced. 



lis virtues are faid to be thefe. It is one of the beft ftonlachicS'^ 

 known, if taken to three grains, to ftrengthen a weak ftomach. It \=, 



a capital 



