292 SYLVA FL0R1FERA. 



rises to the height of ten or twelve feet, the 

 flowers are produced in close whorls at the 

 joints of the branches, near the footstalks of 

 the leaves ; they are of a white colour, and 

 the fruit is a red berry, similar to the common 

 holly. The tea, made by an infusion of these 

 leaves, is almost the only physic used by the 

 natives of some parts of the New World. 



At a certain time of the year these people 

 come in droves, from a distance of some hun- 

 dred miles, to the coast, for the leaves of this 

 tree ; when they make a fire on the ground, 

 over which they place a vessel of water, and 

 throw into it a large quantity of these leaves. 

 They then seat themselves round the fire, 

 and take large draughts of the infusion until 

 it operates as an emetic. In this manner 

 they continue to physic themselves for two or 

 three days; and when their stomachs are 

 sufficiently cleansed, every one takes a bundle 

 of the branches with him to his habitation. 



