The Natural Hiftory of the Book VII, 
covered with {mall red fharp-pointed Berries, each guarded at the Stalk 
with a fine fharp Prickle, and at the Top with two fomewhat lefs, 
The Pen-cwyn; Lat. Karatas. 
HE Word Pen-gwyn is evidently a Celtic Word, compounded of Pen an 
Head, and Gwyn white; but how this Fruit came originally to have 
a Celtic Name, is foreign to my prefent Purpofe to inquire into. ‘The Out 
fide of this Plant is compofed of fome Scores of hard ftiff green Leaves 
growing to about nine Feet high, and two Inches in Breadth, having their 
Sides or Edges guarded, at every Inch and an half Diftance,with fharp-hooked 
Prickles. Thefe Leaves turn very fcoopingly inward on the upper Side, by 
which means they fave and convey the Dew, and the Rain, that fall upon 
them, to the Roots. They grow likewife almoft impenetrably thick near 
the Earth, furrounding and guarding a circular Corona, or Bottom, of about 
a Foot Diameter. From this grows a Clufter of Fruits, each of about 
four Inches long, and one in Breadth, both Ends being fharp-pointed, and 
the Middle of a quadrangular Form; by which means they are fo clofely 
joined, that they cannot well, until very ripe, be taken afunder. The 
outward Covering of this Fruitis a {mooth whitifh yellow gramineous Hufk; 
this covers and peels off from a white pulpy Subftance, wherein are in- 
numerable {mall flattifh black Seeds. This, being the eatable Part, hath fome 
fmall ‘Refemblance, in its Flavour, of the Pine; and is looked upon to be 
cooling and wholfome. If any of thefe, when near ripe, are gnawed by Rats 
or other Vermin, the wounded Part will emit Drops of the moft tranf{pa- 
rent Gum. This Coagulation fhews, that its Juices are much impregnated 
with volatile Oil. Dr. Zowne very juftly recommends the Ule of this 
Fruit in Fevers, provided it be ufed very moderately ; for by its grate- 
ful and aétive Sharpnefs it is capable of penetrating through the moft — 
tough and tenacious Scurf, by that means uncovering the Orifices of 
the Salival Duéts, and enabling the Glands of the Mouth and Throat to 
difcharge the Contents, which could not be done before the Impediment 
was removed. 
The Grounp-Nut; Lat. Arachidna. 
fe ays differs very little from that called in England by the fame 
Name, The Nut, which is the Root of the Grafs, lies three Inches 
deep in the Earth. This is no bigger than a black Cherry covered over 
with a ruffet Skin, or tender Bark, the Infide being as folid as the Kernel 
of a Hafel-nut, and well-tafted. 
