168 iawson's history 



many other nses. The nut is smaller than those 

 from Portugal, but sweeter. 



This is no tree but called the oak vine, by reason 

 It bears a sort of bur as the oak does, and gene- 

 rally runs up those trees. It is so porous that you 

 suck liquors through a length of two feet. 



Prickly ash grows up like a pole, of which the 

 Indians and English make poles to set their canoes 

 along in shoal water. It is very light, and full of 

 thorns or prickles, bearing berries in large clus- 

 ters of a purple color, not much unlike the Alder. 

 The root of this tree is cathartic and emetic, used 

 in cachexies. 



The poison vine is so called because it colors 

 the hands of those who handle it. What the ef- 

 fects of it may be, I cannot relate, neither do I 

 believe that any has made an experiment thereof. 

 The juice of this will stain linen never to wash 

 out. It marks a blackish blue color, which is 

 done only by breaking a bit of the vine off, and 

 writing what you please therewith. I have thought 

 that the East India natives set their colors by 

 some such means, into their finest calicoes. It 

 runs up any tree it meets withal, and clasps round 

 about it. The leaves are like hemlock, and fall 

 oif in winter. 



Of canes and reeds we have many sorts. The 

 hollow reed or cane, such as angling rods are made 

 of and weavers use, we have great plenty of, 

 though none to the northward of James river in 

 Virginia. They always grow in branches and low 



