BOOK III. CHAP. VIII. 783 



hogs put up to fatten ; and give their flefh and fat a moft exquifitc 

 flavour and firmnefs. 



The leaves are dried, and made into mats, and fluffing for ma- 

 trnffes, pads, &c. The frefli leaves are fuperior to melilot for 

 drefling blifters, and generally in ufe for this purpofc. Upon 

 thrufting a knife into the body of one of thefe trees, there iffues 

 out a large quantity of a limpid water, of a reftringent quality, 

 which has been given, with the greateft fuccefs, to perfons fubjedi 

 to a (pitting of blood, and in other fluxes. 



118. Banana. — Mufa, fru^u brevlori oblongo. 



The fruit is generally ufed when ripe ; it refembles the plantane, 

 but has rather a fofter, mellower tafte, and more proper for tarts 

 and fritters. The leaves of this tree are fuppofed to have furnifhed 

 our firft parents with the modefty- pieces, or aprons, mentioned in 

 fcripture. A very excellent drink is made from the juice of the 

 ripe fruit fermented, moft: refembling the beft South Ham cyder. 

 A marmalade is likewife made with it, efteemed an excellent 

 pectoral, good for coughs and hoarfenefs, lenifying the fharpnefs 

 of the catarrhal humours, cooling, and reircfhing. 



The Spaniards conceit, that, on cutting this fruit athwart, there 

 appears the form of a crofs in the middle, and, out of the fuper- 

 ftitious reverence they bear to this figure, they never cut, but 

 break it. 



The fruit of thefe two fpecies may be regarded among the 

 greatefl bleflings beftowed upon the inhabitants of this climate. 

 Tiiree dozen plantanes are allowed fufficient to ferve one man for 

 a week, in lieu of other bread, and will fupport him much better. 



The green leaves of both fpecies are an excellent fodder for 

 horfes ; and, as their juice is fomewhat reftringent, preferve them 

 from fcowering too much after grazing on four or falt-marfh grafs. 



The banana fruit, ripe, has been noted for its efficacy in cor- 

 recting thofe fharp humours which generate, or accompany, the 

 fluxes, to which Europeans are often fubjecl en their firfl: coming 

 into the Weft-Indies. It is fomewhat furprinng, that captains of 

 fhips in this trade do not lay in a quantity of the roafted-fruit of 

 thefe trees, or plants, for their fea-ftore, efpecially as it might be 



kept 



