THE MANCHINEEL NOT POISON TO THE BIRDS. 77 



sant, and a little like the perfume of the lemon. 

 The traveller coming to the tree, weary and thirsty, 

 might be inclined to pluck the fruit, and to think 

 himself fortunate in obtaining such a supply of 

 food. But woe to him if he touches one of those 

 tempting apples ! He may not know it, but he 

 has met with the deadliest tree of the Tropics 

 the manchineel ! 



It was once thought that to sleep under the 

 shadow of the manchineel was fatal, but this is 

 not the case. Provided the traveller refrains from 

 eating the fruit, he is safe. 



Yet even the fruit is less deadly than the milky 

 juice that flows from the trunk when an incision 

 is made. If the juice is swallowed, it destroys life 

 with a rapidity that is frightful. If it does but 

 touch the skin, it causes swellings and irritation ; 

 even the vapour arising from it affects the eyes 

 and lips. 



In the forest are hosts of plants not less dan- 

 gerous. There is a kind of spurge, the milk of 

 which, if it get into the eyes, causes blindness. 

 It owes its name to this circumstance. 



