HISTORY OF METXICO. 45 



cenfe of Arabia : which diftils from a tree of moderate 

 fize that grows in mountains, the fruit of which is like 

 an acorn, containing the nut enveloped in a mucilage, 

 within which there is a fmall kernel, that is ufeful in 

 medicine. Not only thefe two trees but all the others 

 of this clafs, which we cannot here defcribe, are pecu- 

 liar to warm climates. 



The Caragna^ and the T ecamaca^ refms well known 

 in the apothecaries fliops of Europe, diftil from two 

 Mexican trees of rather large fize. The trunk of the 

 Caragna TyJ, is tawny, fmooth, fliining, and odorous ; 

 and its leaves though round not difTimilar to thofe of 

 the olive. The tree of the Tecamaca has large indent- 

 . ed leaves, and red, round, and fmall fruit, hanging 

 from the end of the branches. 



The Mizquitl or Mezquite, as the Spaniards call it, 

 is a fpecies of true Acacia ; and the gum which diflils 

 from it is the true gum arabic, as Hernandez and other 

 learned naturalifts teftify. The Mezquite is a thorny 

 flirub, whofe branches are moft irregularly difpofed ; 

 and its leaves fmall, thin, and pinnated. Its flowers 

 are like thofe of the birch tree. Its fruits are fweet, 

 eatable fliells, containing a feed, of which anciently the 

 barbarous Cicimecas made a pafle, which ferved them 

 for bread. Its wood is exceedingly hard and heavy. 

 Thefe trees are as common in Mexico as oaks in Europe, 

 particularly on hills in temperate countries ( %), 



Lac, 



(y) The Mexicans gave the Caragna tree, the name of TrahudilocaquahuitL 

 that is, tree of malignity, not Haheliloca, as De Bomare writes it; becaufe 

 they fuperftitioufly believed it to be feared by evil fpirits, and a powerful pre- 

 fervative againft forccry. The name Tecamaca is taken from the Tecomac 

 Ihiyac of the Mexicans. 



(z) There is in Michuacan a fpecies of Mezquite or Acacia, without the 

 leaft thorn, and with finer leaves ; but in every thing elfe like the other. 



