BOTANY AND NOMENCLATURE. 59 



Dr. Morris mentions that in Trinidad also the trees were visited 

 by a blast " sometime during the last century." He interprets 

 the word " blast" as a " blow or hurricane," but the word in 

 East Anglian brogue has another meaning. " Blast", is there 

 synonymous with "blight," and this is confirmed by Walker's 

 Dictionary as follows ; (to blast — to strike with some sudden 

 plague). Either interpretation would however fully account for 

 the destruction of plantations, especially when taken in conjunc- 

 tion with the high rate of duties which was imposed on the 

 article in England at about the same time. Whatever the cause, 

 the cultivation of Cacao in Jamaica received a wonderful check, 

 for in 1671 Long states there were as many as si$ty-five walks 

 in bearing; while in 188-2 it was only grown in isolated 

 instances until the value of the product was brought into notice 

 by Dr. Morris when resident there as Director of Public Gardens 

 and Plantations, when the cultivation largely increased. The 

 introduction to Jamaica was probably effected by the Spaniards 

 as the English only came into possession of that island in 1655, 

 or sixteen years previous to the date mentioned. One species is 

 mentioned by a writer (Martius) as having been found in 

 Jamaica ( Theobroiiia sylvestris) but accuracy of this would appear 

 to need confirmation. 



It is generally admitted that Theobroma Cacao is to be 

 considered native of the Northern territories of South America ; 

 and the finding of plants in Virgin Forest in Trinidad, is 

 strong evidence that u, is a native of the Island, as well as the 

 Mainland. 



Spon's Encyclopaedia gives Theobroma angustifolia, T, 

 Mcolor, T. guyanensis, T. microcarpa, T. ovalifolia, T. speciosa, 

 T. sylvestris as producing commercial cacao, but we cannot learn 

 upon what authority. 



When travelling in Central America in 1886, I found 

 Theobroma bicolor, Humboldt and Bonbland, indigenous in the 

 provence of Veragua, United States of Columbia. It was 

 known as "iTiger cacao," so named from the rank smell of the 

 seeds. It is not ih. general use by the inhabitants, though it is 

 said to be used in some manner by the Indians. It has also the 

 name of " Indian chocolate" and " Wariba," the latter being the 

 Indian name, and appears to suggest some connection with the 

 " Wari" or wild hog, probably a peccary (Dicotyles) which is 

 known to emit from a gland on the back a strong-smelling 

 fluid. 



From information gathered when in Nicaragua, and from 

 observations made on tries introduced by the author to Trinidad, 



