BOOK Iir. CHAP. VIII. 823 



190. Soap-tree, or Soap-berry. — Sapindtis. 

 This tree is common in the South-fide hills. It very much re- 

 fembles the common Euglifli afli in fize, colour of the bark, and 

 (hapeof the leaf; but much diftering in fruit, vvliich is a black, 

 round berry, contained in a (kin appearing like a piece of dried 

 bladder, and very tough. It does not adhere to the berry, but is 

 feparated by a fmall interval, Thefe Ikins, foaked in water, and 

 rubbed with the hands, form a lather, and fcour any fubflance like 

 foap. They are frequently ufed inftead of it ; and a few of them 

 will cleanfe more than fixty times their weight of common foap. 

 But they are obferved to corrode and hurt linen ; and therefore, 

 iinlelstliey could be blended with a fuitable corrective, they are not 

 fo proper for this ufe as the curatoe juice. It is faid, that the aflies 

 of this tree will fpoll a great quantity of pot-a(h, and make it unfit 

 for ufe. This, if true, is a very extraordinary circumftance, and 

 difficult to be accounted for. The feeds of the fruit are round, 

 black, and have a fine polifli. They are frequently converted into 

 buttons and beads by the Spaniards ; and formerly ferved the like 

 purpofcs in England. The feed-capfules, leaves, and bark, 

 pounded and fteeped in ponds, or the deep holes of rivers, are ob- 

 ferved to intoxicate and kill the fifh. The medicinal virtues, if 

 the tree or its parts poflefs any, are not as yet difcovered. 



191. Surinam Poison. — Cytifus minor villofus. 



This plant was introduced from the South-American continent, 

 and is cultivated here for the fake of its qualities. The leaves and 

 branches, being pounded and thrown into a pond, or into a river 

 (where the current is very gentle), are fiirred about, and take al- 

 moft immediate efreit. AH tb.e filh are prefently intoxicared, and 

 rife to the lurface ; where they float with the belly upwards, as if 

 they were dead, andareeafily taken. The larger ones foon re- 

 cover from their trance ; but great part of the fmaller fry perifii on . 

 thefe occafions. It feems therefore to be a very pernicious mode of 

 fiihery; and, indeed, is not much prailifed, except in the holes 

 of the mountain rivers, which abound with excellent mullets, but 

 arc fo deep, that the tifn cannot well be caught by any other means. 



192. Dog- 



