of the Ifthmus ^America. 325 



from Knot to Knot is hollow, and of a Capacity 

 ufually of a Gallon or more, and thefc are fervicea- 

 ble on many Occafions. The Leaves of this Shrub 

 are like Eldefn-leaves, in a Clufter at the Top of 

 each Cane, and thefe alfo grow thick together in 

 Copfes. 



Mangrove-Trtts grow out of the Water both in Mangrove, 

 Iflands and Main, rifing from feveral Roots like 

 Stilts entangled one among another. The Roots or 

 Stumps appear fome Feet above Water, rifing from 

 a pretty Depth alfo from under the Surface of it, 

 and at length they unite altogether, Arbour-wife, 

 into the Body of a lufty tall Tree, of a Foot or 

 two Diameter. There is fcarce any paffing along 

 where thefe Trees grow, the Roots of them are fo 

 blended together. The Bark of the Mangroves that 

 grows in Salt Water is of a red Colour, and is us'd 

 for tanning of Leather. I have fome Reafon to 

 think that the Tree from whence the Peruvian or 

 Jefuifs Bark is fetch is of the Mangrove kind ; for 

 when I was laft at Arte a in Peru J 1 law a Caravan 

 of about 20 Mules with this Bark juft come in, 

 and then unlading at a Store-houfe. One of our 

 Company, who ipake Spanijb^ ask'd a Spaniard who 

 guided the Drove, from whence he fetch'd that 

 Bark ; He anfwered from a great frefh Water Lake 

 behind a Mountain a great way within Land ; at 

 the fame Time pointing at a very high Ridge of 

 Hills we faw at a great Diftance from us and the 

 Sea. Being further examined as to the Tree it grew 

 on, he fo defcrib'd it, by th.ofc intangled Stilts, 

 and other Particulars, that our Interpreter faid to 

 him, fure it muft be a Mangrove-Trzt ! The Spaniard 

 anfwer'd, Yes, a freflh-water Mangrove : Yet he faid 

 it was a very fmall Tree, which the Mangrove is 

 not, unlefs this flhould be a Dwarf-kind of it. We 

 brought away with us feveral Bundles of this Bark, 

 and I found it to be the right Sort, by the frequent 



Y 3 ufe 



