( 2 3 r ) 



many of its Members thought it a fac- 

 titious production, intended, by fonie 

 Surinam wag, to impofe on the Society ; 

 tho' it has been feme what imperfectly 

 defcribed, many years fince, by Pere 

 Labat, in his Voyages, &c. en Guinee 

 & a Cayenne ; who, if I miftake not, 

 recommends it for an ingredient in plai- 

 fters, and other dreffings ; and for this 

 purpofe I have fometimes known it ufed 

 by the Surgeons in this Colony, as afuc- 

 cedaneum to the yellow wax, but only 

 when that could not be procured, as 

 has fometimes happened. 



This wax is ufually formed by the In- 

 dians into round balls, weighing about 

 two pounds each ; and a ball of this 

 wax is often bought from the Indians, 

 near the fea, where it is in the greater!: 

 plenty, for a fifh-hook. The Indians 

 have a method of purifying the wax, 

 and rendering it of a lighter colour, by 



Q^jj. melt- 



