of North Carolina. 97 



Leaves set in the Ground, do in a short Time take Hoot 

 and produce otlier Leaves, that grow one above another, 'till 

 such time as they are pretty tall like a Tree, their Leaves 

 spreading out like Boughs, sometimes more or less according 

 to the difference of the Soil it grows in, adding one Leaf 

 above another, whereby it spreads over a gTcat piece of 

 Ground. These Leaves are long, broad, and thicker than a 

 Man's Hand, of a deep green colour, set full of long sharp 

 and slender Prickles. On the tops of these Leaves come 

 forth long Flowers, not unlike those of the Pomgranate-Tvee, 

 and of a yellow colour, after which is produced the Fruit, 

 like the common Fig, or small Pear, in shape. The outside 

 of this is Fruit of a greenish Colour, but within it is full of 

 red Pulp or Juice, staining the Hands of those that touch it 

 with a sanguine or bloody colour. The tops of these Figs 

 are invironed with certain scaly Leaves like a Crown, wherein 

 are contain'd small Grains that are the Seeds, which being 

 sown, bring forth Plants round bodied like the Trunk of 

 other Trees, with Leaves placed thereon like the former, 

 which being planted in the Ground, bring forth Trees of 

 Leaves also. The Fruit of this Plant is luscious and sweet, 

 and frequently eaten, but must be well cleansed from the 

 Prickles, otherwise wherever they enter, it's a hard matter 

 to get them out, and frequently leave Knobs in the Skin. 

 Upon this Plant gTow certain Excrescences, which in contin- 

 uance of time become Insects, which are the Coclienele, so 

 much valued, for dying the best and richest Scarlet Colours. 

 I have already made mention of it's changing the colour of 

 the L^rine like Blood, whereby many at first sight doubted of 

 their Recovery, imagining what they voided to be pure Blood, 

 being altogether Strangers to its Effects upon tlie Urine; 



7 N whereas 



