788 JAMAICA. 



the other inland mountauious parts. The large marrow-fat pea, 

 which came from Cuba, is the moft m efteem, and anfwers well in 

 raoft parts of the ifiand. 



132. Coral, or RED-BEAN-TREE. — Erythrina arborea, fpinofa et 



non fpinofa, &c. 



This grows in many parts of the ifiand. It is propagated by the 

 flips or cuttings, or by the feed ; it bloflbms in three years from the 

 feed, and has young pods about the middle of February j and by 

 the latter end of March the feed is full grown, and of a beautiful red 

 colour. The prickly fpecies make good fences. They rife to the 

 height of fixteen or eighteen feet. They were probably both intro- 

 duced by the Spaniards formerly, to be planted among their cacao 

 walks, where they lay moft expofcd to the weather, to break the 

 impetuofity of the wind ; and hence their common appellation of 

 madre de cacao, or mother of cacao. 



A feed of the bean-tree, being planted by a gentleman in his garden, 

 for experiment-fake, it was found, in two years nine months, to 

 have grown to the height of feven feet, meafured from the bafe or 

 root to the branches. The quicknefs of its afcent, and fturdinefs, 

 prove it admirably well adapted to be the protedor of the young tender 

 cacao plants. 



133. PiNDALS, or GROUND-NUTS— -^r^<:-6Af. 



The plant, which produces thefe nuts, was firft brought from 

 Africa. 



They refemble a filbert in colour, fhape, and fize. They are found 

 m the earth, environed with a thin cifta, which contains two or three 

 kernels, and feveral of thefe bags are feen adhering to the roots of one 

 plant. When ripe, and fit to dig, the covering, in which they are 

 contained, appears dry, like a withered leaf ; this being taken off, the 

 kernels, or nuts, are immediately difclofed to view, reddifh on their 

 outfide, and very white within. They have fomewhat of the almond 

 flavour, but more of the chefnut j fome think them equal to the pif- 

 tachia. They are nourifhing, and often given as food to Negroes on 

 voyages from Guincy, where they pafs under the name oi giibagiibs. 



They 



