VOL. XLI.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 333 



low-green. Those that seed, have a fistulous stalk about the thickness of 

 dill, a white umbelliferous plant ; the seeds are much like angelica-seed, but 

 from the fragrancy of the root, and its being peculiarly bearded, he styles it 

 a iibanotis. It stops the flux, and cures it surprizingly. Again, it often 

 loosens and purges the bodies of those that are bound, and have the 

 gripes, especially if it proceeds from cold ; and it prevents many unhappy dis- 

 tempers. He has known it give I'l or 15 stools, whereas it will not move a 

 child in health. He thinks it the most sovereign remedy the world ever knew 

 in the griping of the guts, and admirable against vapours. It is sudorific, and 

 very aromatic, and will not be concealed ; for wherever it is mixed, it will have 

 the predominant scent. It is mostly caUed by those who know it in Virginia, by 

 the name of angelica. 



There is another root of the species of hyacinths ; the leaves are grass-like, 

 but smooth and stiff, of a willow-green colour, and spread like a star on the 

 ground ; from the middle shoots a tall long rush-like stem, without leaves, near 

 2 feet high ; on one side grow little white bell-flowers, one above another. 

 The root is black outwardly, but brown within. It is bitter, and probably it has 

 much the same virtues as little centaury. Some call it ague-grass, others ague- 

 root, others star-grass. There are several others whose virtues are by no means 

 despicable ; such as the chrysanthamum platani foliis, whose root is very useful 

 in old pains, the sciatica and gout. It is a large herb, grows bet^veen 5 and 6 

 feet tall. There are likewise many others, which bear some analogy to the 

 European plants, such as Solomon's seal, wood-sage, much better than the 

 English ; which the Indians use much for infusions, and which they take as 

 we do diet-drink. Little- centaury, red, white, and yellow, &c. However, 

 he could never find above 12 or 14 plants, natives of that country, that agreed 

 perfectly with any of our European plants, but what had some notable differences, 

 if they were not rather to be reckoned a distinct genus. 



13. There go traditions of their having an art to poison their darts ; but 

 Mr. C. could never find any solid grounds for that report. He has observed, 

 that in those countries, on an ill habit of body, the least scratch is dangerous ; 

 and that, for all the care that can be taken to prevent it, it often turns into a 

 very desperate ulcerous sore. And as persons engaged in long marches are 

 liable to many accidents, which mjy contribute to an ill state of health, when 

 a slight wound in battle has then proved mortal ; this he apprehends to have 

 been the cause, why the physician has rather chosen to attribute the death of his 

 patient to the poison of the dart, than the want of skill in himself. 



14. As to their morals, they are simple and credulous, rather honest than 



