QUALITIES OF LEGUMINOUS PLANTS. 177 



there, or anywhere else within the tropics ; 

 but tamarinds might, and other fruits and bal- 

 sams." 



" The fragrant resin called Lign-aloes is ob- 

 tained from a plant of this tribe," said his father ; 

 " and so are the balsam of Tolu, used in lozenges, 

 and the balsam of Peru, which gives a peculiar 

 fragrance to pastiles. The Tonga bean, also, is a 

 fragrant seed used by perfumers and makers of 

 snuff. I have thus told you a few of the uses of 

 leguminous plants ; but, notwithstanding their 

 value to us, many of them are injurious in their 

 properties : the seeds of the laburnum are poison- 

 ous, so is indigo, and the bark of several foreign 

 trees. In the plants we commonly use, or give 

 to our cattle, the hurtful qualities are almost en- 

 tirely absent ; but there are some, even of these, 

 which must not be used too freely, or they become 

 unwholesome. The next tribe also has this con- 

 trariety, of yielding agreeable fruits whilst its 

 general principle is poisonous ; far more so, in- 

 deed, than that of leguminous plants." 



" Is it a tribe that we know anything about ?" 

 asked Eobert. 



" Yes ; and which you enjoy as much as any 

 4. N 



