Book VI. = land of BARBADOS, 
Sete or Briftles are tipped, is defigned to intangle and prevent Caterpil- 
lers, or other Vermin, from climbing up to deftroy the few Leaves, with 
which Nature hath fo fparingly fupplied this Plant. 
As for other Plants, which are not thus guarded, as their Leaves are 
generally very numerous, if fome of thefe are deftroyed by Worms, they 
foon, in fo warm a Climate, recover this Lofs, and the Plant renews its 
wonted Verdure © : 
Perhaps, likewife, this gluey Subftance may be of furtherUfe, if gathered 
by Butterflies, or other flying Infeéts (efpecially the former, which are often 
feen hovering about the Flowers), to glutinize their Bags or Webs, before 
they enter into their 4wrelia-ftate. 
The Seeds dropping from the ripe Berries are fo great a Specific againft 
Melancholy, that even Doves, that have ufed to feed on them, will not, 
when confined to a Cage, whoot, if deprived of thefe, and Bird-pepper. 
153 
It is faid, that Fifteen of the Berries, pulverized, and taken inwardly, — 
prove a good Purge. 
It grows in every Part of the Ifland, but moft luxuriant in a fandy 
loofe Soil. 
This is delineated in Plate XI. Fig. 1. 
The Paicxiy Hoop, or the WuirE THorn. 
HIS derives its Name from the Ufe that is fometimes made of it 
to hoop Vefiels. 
The main Stalk, when full-grown, is generally bigger than one’s Arm, 
dividing, near the Ground, into many prickly Branches. 
Thefe grow, efpecially if fupported by low Underwood, to fometimes 
near ‘Thirty Feet in Length. 
The Bark is of a whitifh;Grey. 
The {mall Side-branches, as well as: the Leaves, are fet on alternately. 
The latter are, near the Stalk, about Two Inches in Breadth, and Two 
Inches and an half in Length, ending in a long fharp Point. 
Their Edges are flightly fnipped, and the Colour of the Leaf of a faint 
Green, inclined to a Yellow. 
The middle Rib is ftrengthened, befides the tranfverfe ones, with Two, 
or fometimes more, longitudinal ftrong Veins, or Ribs. 
The Flowers are fucceeded by middle-fized Berries, red when ripe. 
Thefe are fometimes eaten by Men, but chiefly by Birds. 
The Avors Puant ; Lat. ALOE vulgaris. 
Te S very fucculent Plant hath one large Root, with a great many 
other {mall ftringy Roots growing from it. 
The Number of Leaves are generally about Twenty. 
Thefe, 
