BOOK III. C H A P. VIII. 8 1 1 



acule at one end, and of a brown, nuTet colour ; when pickled, it 

 exaftly refembles the Eaji India Mango, and by feme conjcdured to be 

 the iame, or at leafl: to have the nearefl affinity to it. The fruit is 

 ripe in Auguft. 



J 72. Red Mangrove — Rhizophera, Br. 211. Ma?igle phifoHay 



SIo. Cat. 155. 



This tree is generally obferved on the borders of the fea, In the 

 fmaller creeks, and on the banks of the maritime rivers. The roots 

 throw out a multitude of fibres, arched, and fixing themfelves in the 

 mud, or groiuid, intermingled in different directions, which not only 

 icrve as props to the parent tree, but form by degrees an extenfive 

 range of bafket-work, fpreading acrofs rivers, or along the fhore, and 

 proteding its bank againft the furge of the ocean. 



The Jamaica oyflers adhere clofely to thefe fibres, after they have 

 penetrated below the furfice of the water, and cannot be got off, with- 

 out cutting fome of the bark with them, which firft gave rife to the 

 fabulous account of their growing upon trees in this part of America. 



The wood Is very tough and hard, bears water well, and is much 

 ufed for knees and ribs in long-boats, wherries, and other fmall-craft ; 

 for which the angular form of the limbs moft naturally adapts it. 



The bark is mofl excellent for tanning leather ; it performs this ope- 

 ration more perfectly in fix weeks than the oak bark will do in ten ; 

 and the leather tanned with it is the mofl durable and firm of any 

 for foles. 



The decoiSion of it is a very powerful reflringent. Barham mentions 

 his having a fon affllAed with the confluent fmall-pox to fuch a viru- 

 lent degree, that the callous part of his feet feparated, and came off in- 

 tlrely, leaving them raw, and fo tender, that he was unable to £et them 

 upon the ground; upon which the Dodlor fent for fome of the tan-vat, 

 or liquor of this bark, from a tanner's ; and, adding a little alum, 

 made a ftrong deco611on, in which he bathed his fon's feet everv day ; 

 and, in about a week's time, rendered them fo firm, that he was able to 

 walk about, without any inconvenience. 



I have often wondered, confidering the powerful efFeds of thefe 

 reftringent barks upon animal fubftances, and that by numberlefs 



5 L 2 experl- 



