74 



A True and ExaB Hifiory 



Iron mod. 



Lignum 

 vita. 



Locttfi- 



Baftard 

 Lociift, 



Pdmeto 

 lefs. 



i is a ftrongand lafting timberj good for buildings and for all iifes with- 

 I in doors. 



j Iron wood is called To , for the extream hardnefi^ and with that 

 i hardnefs it has fuch a heavineis, as they leldomufeit in buildings be- 

 \ fides, the workmen complain that it breaks all their tools. Tis good 

 I for any ufe without doors, for neither Sun nor rain can any wayes mol- 

 j lifie it. 'Tis much uled for Coggs to the Rollers, 

 \ Lignum vit£ they ufe now and then for the (ame purpofe, when the 

 other is away 3 but having no bowling in that Countrey, little is ufed : 

 They fend it commonly for Ez/gluf/d^ where we employ it to feveral 

 ufes 5 as, for making Bowles, Cabinets, Tables, and Tablemen. 



The Locuft is a tree, not unfitly to be refembled to a Tufcan Pillar , 

 I plain, maffie, and rurall, like a welUimb'd labourer 5 for, the burden 

 1 it bears being heavy and ponderous , ought to have a body propor- 

 I tionably built, to bearfo great a weight. That rare Architedl:, /> Vrr//- 

 ivius^ taking a pattern from Trees, to make his moft exaft Pillars, re- 

 ! jeds the wreathed, vincd, and figured Columns 5 and that Colnmna 

 lAtticurges^ mentioned by himfelf, to have been a Iquared Pillar i and 

 ' thofe that are fwell'd in the middle, asiffickof a Tympany or Drop- 

 . fie, andchufes rather the ftraighteft , mofl: exaft, and belt fiz'd , to 

 \ bear the burthen that lyes on them. So, looking on thefe trees , and 

 \ finding them fo exactly to anfwer in proportion to the Tuican Pillars , 

 j I could not but make the refemblance the other way: For, Pillars can- 

 [ not be more like Trees, than thefe Trees are like Tuican Pillars , as 

 I he defcribes them. I have feen a Locuft ("and not one, but many) that 

 ihath been four foot diameter in the body, near the root, and for fifty 

 jfoothighhasleffenedfo proportionably, as if it had taken pattern by 

 ! the ancient Remainders, which Philander was fo precife in mealuring , 

 j which is a third part of the whole fiiaft upward , and is accounted as 

 i the moft graceful diminution. The head to this body is lb proportio- 

 inable, as you cannot (ay, 'tis too heavy or too light 5 the branches 

 j large, the fprigs, leaves, and nuts fo thick, as to ftop all eye-fight from 

 I paffing through, and fo even at top , as vou would think you might 

 1 walk upon it, and not fink in. The nuts are for the moft part three 

 j inches and a half long, and about two inches broad , and fomewhat 

 \ more than an inch thick 3 the Qiell fomewhat thicker than a half crown 

 I piece, of a ruflTet Urobre, or hair colour ; the leaves bigger than thofe 

 \ that grow upon the Aftiin England : I fhall not mention the timber, 

 I having given it in my Buildings. The Kernels are three or four in every 

 tnut, and between thofe, a kind of light pulp}' fobftance, fuch as isin a 

 I Hazle-nut, before the kernel be grown to the full bignefs : In times of 

 ! great famine there, the poor people have eaten them for fiiftenance : 

 \ But of all taftes, I do not like them. 



j Another Locuft there is, which they call the baftard-Locuft. This 

 ; looks fair, but will not laft. 



There is a tree called the Falmeto^gvovj'mg near the Sea-coaft, which 

 ^^^1 beingalandy light ground, does not afford that fubftance of mould , 

 ' to make a large tree 5 nor fhall you find in that low part of the Ifland , 

 any confiderable trees fit for building, which is amain want and hin- 

 derance to them that would build there 5 for , there is no means to 



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