344 VEGETABLE SUBSTA.NCES, 



they killed merely for their hides, were another valu- 

 able article of commerce to these hardy adventurers. 

 Many of these men made considerable sums of 

 money ; and Dampier remarks, generally, that those 

 who had the advantage of some education were care- 

 ful to improve their time, industrious and frugal J 

 but that those who did not possess this advantage 

 " would extravagantly squander away their time 

 and money in drinking and making bluster." 



As these settlements continued to be regarded 

 with an hostile eye by the Spaniards, the introduc- 

 tion of the logwood-tree into Jamaica was attempted 

 in 1715. Seeds were procured from Campeachy 

 for this purpose, and the growth of the plants was 

 found to be so rapid, that in three years they attained 

 to the height of ten feet. In a comparatively short 

 period this tree flourished abundantly in the island, 

 large plantations were formed for the purpose of 

 cutting, and the tree has so multiplied that in the 

 course of years it has become completely naturalized 

 in Jamaica. The wood of Campeachy is, however, 

 prized beyond that of Jamaica. The success at- 

 tendant on its cultivation in that island, did not, 

 therefore, by any means cause a cessation of the 

 demand for Campeachy wood, and accordingly the 

 cutters still continued to contend with the Spaniards 

 for the right of cutting down these trees. 



In the treaty of Utrecht, in 1713, the com- 

 mercial relations of the two countries in America 

 were not again neglected, and at length the privilege 

 of cutting logwood was confirmed to the English in 

 plain and express terms, so that it was supposed the 

 question was set at rest for ever. It, however, still 

 continued to be a subject of constant dispute between 

 the parties, arid, in 1717, the Marquis de Monteleone, 

 then Spanish ambassador extraordinary at the court 

 of St. James, delivered a memorial to the British 

 government against the settlements in the isle of 



