Book IV. Yland of BARBADOS. tdé9 
As there are many Thoufand Leaves upon one Tree, every Branch 
bearing many Scores upon it, and every Leaf being fet at a fimall and 
equal Diftance from one another, the Beauty of fuch a regular lofty Group 
of waving Foliage, fufceptible of Motion by the moft gentle Gale of Wind, 
is not to be defcribed. 
The middle Rib, in each Leaf, is ftrong and prominent, fupporting it 
on the under Side, the upper appearing {fmooth and fhining. The pithy 
Part of the Leaf being {craped off, the infide Texture appears to be fo 
many longitudinal thread-like Filaments. 
Thefe, being {pun in the fame manner as they do Hemp, or Flax, are 
ufed in making Cordage of every Kind, as well as Fifhing-nets, which 
are efteemed ftronger than thofe ufually made from any other Material of 
the like Nature. 
_ Itis obferved, that the lowermoft Branch, for the Time being, drops 
monthly from the Tree, carrying with it an exfoliated circular Lamen of 
the green Part of the Tree, from the Setting on of the Branches to the 
Afh-colour Part, which is about Five Fect in Length, and, in Breadth, the 
Circumference of the Tree at that Part, This, and the Branch to which 
it is always fixed, fall together. 
When the Lofs of this-lower Leaf happens, then the green conic Spire, 
which iffues from among the Centre of the uppermoft Branches, and rifes 
fuperior to all, partially burfts, and thrufts from its Side a young Branch, 
which continues the uppermoft, till another of the lowermoft Branches 
drop off : Then the Spire, the common Parent of all the Branches, fends 
forth again another Branch, {uperior in Situation to the lat: So that the 
annual Lofs of the Branches below is providentially fupplied in this 
manner by thofe above.. 
The green-coloured Part of the Tree, already mentioned, differs from 
the Afh-coloured Part no lefs in Subftance than Colour : The former, ins 
ftead of being extremely hard on the Outfide, and pithy within, is com- 
pofed of fo many Coats, or fepatate Lamine, of a tough bark-like Sub- 
ftance of near a Quarter of an Inch thick, and fo very clofely wrapped 
together, that they jointly compofe and conftitute that green Part of the. 
wlitces 
As the lowermoft, as well as each other higher Branch, when they fuc+ 
ceflively grow to be old, is joined by the broad Socket of its Foot-ftalk 
to this outward Coat, Lamen, or F olding, it is obfervable, that fome time 
before the lowermoft Branch is intirely withered, this green circular Coat, 
which to the Eye appeared fome Days before to be a folid Part of the 
Tree, flits open lengthwife, from the Setting on of the Branches to the Ath- 
coloured Part beneath, being about Five Feet in Length, and the Circum- 
ference of the Tree in Breadth; and, peeling off, it falls with the falling 
Branch to which it is joined by many {trong Cartilages, leaving the next 
fuccceding Coat, to appear for a time as a conftituent Part of the Tree, 
till a fucceeding withered Branch carries this off likewife. 
Having 
