POISONOUS MANCHINEEL, 87 



narcotic and probably a poisonous fruit, very similar to the Sweet- 

 sop, which should be carefully avoided. It is said to be eaten by 

 alligators as it drops [into the water, and hence its name. The 

 wood, which is known as corkwood, is used for lining boxes, 

 stopping bottles, &c. From the Zamia, or " bulrush," so abundant 

 along the sea-shore and banks of rivers, a starch, similar to what 

 is known as wild sago starch in the West Indies, might be 

 made in considerable quantities. Among the forest-trees one 

 bearing acacia-like leaves, and rough, leathery moniliform pods, 

 probably a species of Piptadenia, is of interest on account of 

 the use to which the seeds are sometimes applied by the 

 Indians. After being roasted they 'are pounded and mixed 

 with powdered lime, and made into a kind of snuff which 

 is said to produce " a peculiar kind of intoxication, almost 

 amounting to frenzy." Reference has been made above to the 

 poisonous qualities of the alligator apple, but these are as nothing- 

 compared with those of the Manchineel or Manzanillo-tree, so 

 common in the West Indian Islands hence the town of 

 Manchioneal in Jamaica and in most parts of Central America. 

 In British Honduras the Manchineel (Hippomane Mandnella) 

 is confined to dry ridges near the sea-shore, and it is by no 

 means a common tree. " The virulent nature of the juice of 

 the Manchineel-tree has given rise, in the Western Hemisphere, 

 to nearly as wonderful stories as those associated with the upas 

 tree in the Eastern." Admitting that its virulent powers have 

 been exaggerated, there can be no doubt, however, that the juice 

 exuded by this member of the spurge worts (Eupliorbiacece) 

 possesses a considerable amount of acridity : and it is capable of 

 producing very painful if not deadly symptoms, if incautiously 

 brought into contact with cut surfaces, or taken into the system. 

 (See also Dr. Seeman's Narrative of the Voyage of H.M.S. 

 " Herald.") 



