226 HEMP. NUTMEG. 



grows naturally in Arabia, Persia, and Syria, from 

 whence the nuts are brought to Europe. I will 

 show you some of them after dinner : they contain 

 a kernel of a pale greenish colour, with a pleasant 

 flavour. The Mas'tich-tree is another species of 

 Pista'cia, the Lentis'cus : it affords the resinous 

 substance called Mas'tich, which is much used for 

 making varnish, and sometimes employed in me- 

 dicine. 



Hemp, which you have often heard of, is ob- 

 tained from a plant that is cultivated in many 

 parts of England, particularly in Lincolnshire and 

 Suffolk, but is a native of India; the botanical 

 name is Can'nabis sati'va, Dioecia Pentandria. 



EDWARD. 

 Is it not hemp, that ropes are made of? 



MOTHER. 



It is ; and sail-cloth also ; and the seeds yield 

 a great quantity of oil. The whole plant, when 

 fresh, has a disagreeable smell ; and the water, in 

 which the stalks are soaked, for the purpose of se- 

 parating the tough rind or outer coating, becomes 

 poisonous. 



The Nutmeg-tree, Myris'tica moscha'ta, is very 

 beautiful, and grows abundantly in the East Indies. 

 The leaves have a very fragrant smellj as well as 

 the fruit, which is about the size of a nectarine, and 

 consists of three coats : the first a fleshy pulp ; 



