240 



ISLAND OF CEYLON. 



both fpecies, and quantities of feeds, all of which were de- 

 ftroyed by a violent ftorm he met with, no farther off his port 

 than the coaft of Flanders *» 



Coix. Lacryma, Rmnpb. Amboin. v. tab. 75, refembles very much a 



fugar cane. The Butch have found out its excellency in chicken 

 broth : io it is introduced to all the good tables of Amboina. 



Hermandia. Sonnerat, ii. tab. 85. The Indians call it Arbor Regia, as 



always certain plants are found under its fliade or protection : 

 it is alfo full of ants, which bite with great fliarpnefs : it bears 

 a fmall cluftered berry. This tree is ufeful in medicine, yet is 

 fai<l to contain a fatal poifon. It has its bane and antidote, and 

 is reported to be peculiarly efEcacious againft the poifon of the 

 Macajfar arrows. 1 am reminded by this double quality (often 

 incident in Indian plants) of the good Friar's fpeech in Romes 

 and Ju/iei :. — 



Within the infant rind of this imall flower 



Poifon hath refidence, and medicine power j 



For this being fmelt with that part, cheers each part i. 



Being tafted, flays all fenfes with the heart. 



Phylanthus. Niruri, vi. tab. 17, is a fmall plant, called both Herba Metro- 



risy and Amoris. When the Indians fend a branch of it to any 

 friend, it iignifies they are opprefled with grief; when it bears, 

 the other name, it is for its being ufed as a philtre by the fair,. 

 to conciliate the afFe<5Uons of their lovers. 



MoRus, Indica^ vii. tab. 5, is a fpecies of mulberry-tree,, with black: 



fruit, as large as a walnut. The Chinefe^ who vifit Amboina, fay 

 it is the tree which nouriflies the filk- worms. 



Thunberg's Travels, iv. p. 282. 



BalangbaSy 



