I8S 



The seed has many long and fine threads, (hat it may 

 be carried every where by the wind, and that by these r 

 when driven through the boughs, it may be held fast, 

 and stick to the arms or trunks of trees. As soon 

 as itsprouts, although it be on the under part of a 

 bough, its leaves and stalk rise perpendicular, because 

 if it had any other position, the cistern made of hollow 

 leaves, could not hold water. In scarcity of water 

 this reservoir is not only necessary and sufficient for 

 the plant itself, but likewise useful to men, birds, and 

 insects. Hither they then come in troops^ and seldom 

 go away without refreshment. 



These leaves will hold a pint and a half, or a quart 

 of rain water. When we find these pines, says Cap. 

 tain Dam pier, we stick our knives into the leaves, 

 just above the root ; and that lets out the water, 

 which we catch in our hats, to our great relief. 



The same providential design is answered by the 

 Water- withy of Jamaica. This, which is a kind of 

 vine, grows on dry hills in the woods, where no 

 water is to be found, its trunk, if cut into pieces, 

 two or three yards long, and held by either end to 

 the mouth, affords a limpid, innocent and refreshing 

 sap, as clear as water : and that in so great abun- 

 dance, as gives new life to the weary acd thirsty tra- 

 veller. 



An admirable instance of the same good providence 

 we have in the Fountain-tree, which grows on Ilierro 

 one of the Canary islands, in the rocky cliff which 

 surrounds the island is a narrow gutter, which begins 

 at the sea, and continues to the summit of the cliff, 

 where it falls into a valley, which is bounded by the 

 steep front of a rock. On the top of this grows a tree, 

 which has continued many years. Its leavesconstantly 

 distil as much water as is sufficient for the drink of 

 every living creature on the island. It stands by it- 

 self a league and a &alf from the sea,and no one knows 

 of what species it is. Its trunk is about nine feet 



