ISLAND OF CEYLON. 221 



feign refided along with her mate in this illand : They there- 

 fore call it Adam'?> apple. It lies under the repute of beino- of 

 a moft poifonous quality ; but that notion is efFedlually exploded 

 by Rumphius. It is even taken, in form of an infufion, inter- 

 nally. The kernel may be noxious when eaten to excefs, 

 and even fatal, which may be the cafe with the beft things. In 

 Malabar it is called Odallam. Rheede^ i. p. 71, afferts, that it is a 

 common poifon,and that a very fmall portion proves immediately 

 fatal. The wood is of no value: if wounded, it plentifully exudes 

 a milky liquor. The kernel is fometimes preffed for the oil, with 

 which candles are made ; but they emit a moft rank fmcll. 



Oleander is common to this country, and the hotter parts of Nevium. 

 Spain. 



The Bromelia Ananas^ Rumph. Amboin. v. tab. 81, grows Bromelia. 

 wild in many of the hidian ifles ; fuch as Celebes, Amboina, and 

 even the Philippine ifles * : It was not, therefore, introduced 

 from America. It is common to both worlds, and was originally 

 brought from the Brafils into Spain. It is now frequent in 

 Europe ; bvit cultivated with greateft fuccefs in England. The 

 natives of Macajfar call it Pangram. The name Nanas, and 

 Naja, which is ufed in fome places, is caught from the Bra- 

 filian Nana, which was changed by the Portiiguefe into Ananas, 

 and conferred on the plant, which they found alfo in India. This 

 is the moft delicious fruit of the country, and long fince cultivat- 

 ed with great attention, by transferring it into the richeft foils. 



Ceylon glows with numbers of the moft fplendid or odori- Pancratid.vz. 

 ferous flowers. The Pancratium Zeylaniciim, Com. Hort. i. 

 tab. 38, is a beautiful white flower, with a charming fcent. 



* Rumph. V. p. 12^. 



Aftaticunty 



