174 lawson's history 



In the same ground, commonly grows the pie- 

 mento, or allspice tree, whose berries differ in 

 shape from those in the West Indies, being taper 

 or conick, yet not inferior to any of that sort. 

 This tree grows much like the hurts, and is of the 

 same bigness. I have knov/n it transplanted to 

 the high land, where it thrives. 



Our dew berries are very good, but the black 

 berries are bitterish, and not so palatable, as in 

 England. 



The sugar tree ought' to have taken place before. 

 It is found in no other parts of Carolina or Amer- 

 ica, that I ever learned, but in places that are near 

 the mountains. It is most like one sort of maple 

 of any tree, and may be ranked amongst that 

 kind. This tree, which I am told, is of very te- 

 dious growth, is found very plentifully towards 

 the heads of some of our rivers. The Indians tap 

 it and make gourds to receive the liquor, which ope- 

 ration is done at distinct and proper times, when it 

 best yields its juice, of which, when the Indians have 

 gotten enough, they carry it home, and boil it to 

 a just consistency of sugar, which grains of itself, 

 and serves for the same uses, as other sugar does. 



The papau is not a large tree. I think I never 

 saw one a foot through; but has the broadest leaf 

 of any tree in the woods, and bears an apple about 

 the bigness of a hens egg, yellow, soft, and as 

 sweet as any thing can well be. They make rare 

 puddings of this fruit. The apple contains a large 

 stone. 



