204 THE TROPICAL WORLD. 



and children, find full employment in picking the berries from 

 them. The produce is then exposed to the sun for about a week, 

 when the berries lose their green hue and become of a reddish 

 brown. When perfectly dry, they are in a fit state for exporta- 

 tion. In favourable seasons, which, however, seldom occur 

 above once in five years, the pimento crop is enormous, a single 

 tree having been known to yield one hundredweight of the 

 dried spice. From its combining the flavour and properties of 

 many of the oriental aromatics, pimento has derived its popular 

 name of allspice, and, from its being cheaper than black pepper, 

 its consumption is very great. 



