IGO lawson's history 



The sweetgum ti^ee, so called because of tlie 

 fragrant gum it yields in the springtime upon in- 

 cision of the bark or wood. It cures the herpes 

 and inflamations, being applied to the morphew 

 and tetters. 'Tis an extraordinary balsam, and 

 of great v^lue to those who know how to use it. 

 'No wood has scarce a better grain ; whereof fine 

 tables, drawers,and other furniture might be made. 

 Some of it is curiously curled. It bears a round 

 bur, with a sort of prickle, which is the seed. 



Of the black gum, there grows with us two sorts, 

 both fit for cart naves. The one bears a black, 

 well tasted berry, which the Indians mix with 

 their pulse and soups, it giving them a pretty fla- 

 vor, and scarlet color. The bears crop these trees 

 for the berries, which they mightily covet, yet, 

 killed in that season, they eat very unsavory, 

 which ipiust be occasioned by this fruit, because at 

 other times, when they feed on mast, bears flesh 

 is a very well tasted food. The other gum bears 

 a berry in shape like the other, though bitter and 

 ill tasted. This tree, (the Indians report) is never 

 wounded by lightning. It has no certain grain, 

 and it is almost impossible to split or rive it. 



The white gum, bearing a sort of long bunched 

 flowers, is the most curled and knotted wood I ev- 

 er saw, which would make curious furniture in 

 case it was handled by a good workman. The 

 red sort of cedar is an evergreen of which Caroli- 

 na aftbrds plenty. That on the salts grows gene- 

 rally on tlio sand banks, and that in the freshes is 



