Book VI. The Ilandof BARBADOS. 
their defcending Filaments produce new Trunks, and fo on fuccef- 
fively. : 
When thefe Filaments grow from Branches near to, and take Root 
withina fmall Diftance from the original Parent Tree, many of them by their 
quick Growth are joined fometimes partially, fometimes totally to it, and fo 
in time form one irregular enormous Trunk. 
Iam of Opinion, that if one of thefe Trees was carefully and properly 
cultivated by Art, and Cattle of all kind kept from browfing upon it; if 
the bearded Filaments were fuffered to infinuate themfelves, efpecially thofe 
from near the Extremities of its longeft lowermoft Branches, or were 
they guided to take Root in the Earth, one fingle Tree might be 
brought to make a confiderable Grove. Its Leaves are of a {mooth 
fhining Green, in length about five Inches, and above two broad, fmooth- 
edged, and fharp-pointed. The Flowers, as in others of the like Kind, are 
contained in the Embryo Figs; thefe latter ftand upon fhort Footftalks, and 
are about the Bignefs of {mall Cherries, the infide full of {mall 4cimi refem- 
bling eatable Figs; which are Food only for Birds, efpecially Pivets, which 
come in great Number to feed upon them when ripe. The tender Buds and 
Leaves of this Tree afford, when bruifed, a milky Juice very much refem- 
bling in Colour and Confiftence that which iffues from the Manchaneel 
Tree, but differing in its Quality, the former being, as it is faid, a fove- 
reign Remedy againft the Poifon of the latter. 
The moft remarkable of thefe Trees for Bignefs grows near Codring- 
ton College. This, about fix Feet from the Ground, divides into five 
Branches, each equal to a large Tree, fome of them girting round about 
eight Feet. The moft lofty of thefe Branches is by moderate Computation 
_ above forty Feet high. But as there is nothing that can be called great or 
little but by Comparifon; let us examine, as far as any credible Hiftory hath 
informed us, whether any Part of the World affords of this, or any other 
kind of Tree, a larger. What bid faireft for Superiority are the Cedars of 
Libanus, which they will always deferve in regard to the Goodnefs and 
Solidity of their Timber, but not in Bulk; for, according to the Reverend. 
Mr. Maundrel’s Account, the utmoft Extent of the Branches of the largeft 
Cedar upon Mount Libanus, from one Side of the Tree to the other, did not 
fpread above a hundred and eleven Feet; whereas the Branches of this 
teaches above an hundred and twenty-feven; the Circumference of the Body 
of the former was but twelve Yards, of this eighteen; therefore we may 
pronounce it to be the largeft Tree that hath been taken notice of in any 
well attefted Hiftory. The next to this in Bignefs in this Ifland, is in Sv. 
pene Church-Yard, which {preads a Shade (very near circular) of eighty- 
ve Feet in Diameter ; and its Height, by Computation, is at leaft feventy 
Feet, The great Mr. Milton was of Opinion, that this was the Tree with 
whofe Leaves our firft Parents made to themfelves Aprons: for in defcribe- 
ing their Fall he fays; 
Yy And 
tS 
