162 lawson's history 



incision they yield a sweet smelling grain, thougli 

 not in great quantities ; and the nuts which these 

 trees bear plentifully, yield a most odoriferous 

 balsam, that infallibly cures all new and green 

 wounds which the inhabitants are well acquainted 

 withal. Of these great trees the pereaugus and 

 canes are scooped and made, which sort of ves- 

 sels are chiefly to pass over the rivers, creeks, and 

 bays, and to transport goods and lumber from one 

 river to another. Some are so large as to carry 

 thirty barrels, though of one entire piece of tim- 

 ber. Others that are split down the bottom and 

 a piece added thereto, will carry eighty or an hun- 

 dred. Several have gone out of our inlets on the 

 ocean to Virginia, laden with pork and other pro- 

 duce of the country. Of these trees curious boats 

 for pleasure may be made, and other necessary 

 craft. Some years ago a foolish man in Albemarl 

 and his son had got one of these canoes decked. 

 She held, as I take it, sixteen barrels. He brought 

 her to the collectors to be cleared for Barbados, 

 but the of&cer took him for a man that had lost 

 his senses, and argued the danger and impossibil- 

 ty of performing such a voyage in a hollow tree, 

 but the fellow would hearken to no advice of that 

 kind, till the gentleman told him if he did not 

 value his own life, he valued his reputation and 

 honesty, and so flatly refused clearing him ; upon 

 which the canoe was sold, and, I think, remains in 

 being still. This wood is very lasting, and free 

 from the rot. A canoe of it will outlast four boats, 



