IS5 



Amazement as well as joy, we perceived water drop- 

 ping from the end of every leaf ; after we had been 

 labouring four days through extreme heat, and were 

 almost expiring for thirst, we could not look upon 

 this, but as liquor sent from heaven, to relieve us in 

 our extremity. We catched it in our hands 9 aod drank 

 so plentifully, that we could scarce tell when to give 

 over." 



The Manchineel apple is most beautiful to the eye, 

 agreeable to the smell, and pleasant to the taste, 

 but the whole tree is so poisonous, that the wood of 

 it while green, if rubbed against the hand, will raise 

 blisters. 



The wood is good for tables, cabinets, and all other 

 curious work. But the virulent naiure of the sap, 

 calls for great caution in felling the tree, i was cut- 

 ting down one ef tnem, says Mr. Catesby, when some 

 of the milky juice spurting in my eyes, 1 was two 

 days totally blind, my eyes and face being much 

 swelled. For four and twenty hours, I felt a violent 

 pricking pain, which then gradually abated. 



Indeed it is reported, and generally believed of this 

 tree, that the wound of an arrow dipped in its juice is 

 mortal, that the rain which washes the leaves will raise 

 blisters on the skin ; and that even its shadow 

 is so noxious, that the bodies of those that sleep 

 under it swell. Yet a pregnant woman ate three 

 of the apples without any inconvenience ; and a 

 robust mau of about forty-live years of age, ate 

 more than two dozen without being disordered more 

 than twenty-four hours. About an hour after he 

 had eaten them, his belly swelled, and he com. 

 plained of a burning heat in his bowels. He could not 

 keep his body in an erect posture ; his lips were ulcer, 

 ated, and he was seized with cold sweats ; but he 

 was relieved from all these symptoms by a decoction 

 of the leaves of llicinus, the Avellana purgatrix, in 

 water, which being drank plentifully, produc 

 lent Yomitting and purging, for four hours, after this 



