have started on a different principle and gives a descriptive list o 

 quadrupeds, birds, amphibious animals, fishes, "vermes mol 



appears to be the first attempt to enumerate the vegetable product: 

 of the island. The plants are arranged alphabetically according 

 to the Linnaean names " with very little variation," and some o 

 them are sketched with more detail than others and generall) 

 their medicinal and other uses are included. Several of the items 



us that " the ladies in the West India Islands make use of it tc 

 extract the freckles from their faces. They sometimes spread il 

 all over their hands, neck, and face ; and, in a few days, the skir 

 peels off in great flakes, after which the complexion appears foi 



ever ; besides the pain of this operation is excruciating." Thai 

 the feminine uses of certain plants appealed to her is evident, foi 

 she again tells us in regard to the fruit of the prickly pear, that 

 it is full of a sweet crimson juice, and that "the West India 

 ladies employ it not only as a dye for their ribbons and gauzes, 

 but also as one for their cheeks." She mentions the great quan- 

 tities of coffee grown in the island, adding that " its flavour is, 

 however, far inferior to that of the Turkey coffee " ; and she says 

 that the juice of the nut of " cvoton laceiferum " " makes a dark 

 stain on linen, that will never erase ; but, if washed, will corrode 

 into holes." She tells us also of the manchineel tree and its 

 poisonous qualities, and of the " Maniock plant," its deadly 

 poisonous qualities and the method by which the negroes pre- 

 pare it for food. The mangoes are also investigated, as well as 

 -the banana tree, and the leaves of the latter are noted as being 

 " made use of to stuff the mattresses of beds, and answer that 

 purpose extremely well." 



Several species of palms are enumerated, as well as the uses 

 to which their branches and fruit are put, and she says that the 

 fruit of the pomegranate "is the pleasantest and most grateful 

 imaginable." At the end of her list we are informed that "The 



