of the Illhmus of America. 



red or inlayed Works $ for it is delicately 

 grain d. But there is danger in cutting it, 

 the very Sap being fo poifonous, as to 

 blifter the part which any of the Chips 

 ftrike upon as they fly off. A French-m&xi 

 of our Company lying under one of thefe 

 Trees, in one of the Samballoes, to refrefh 

 himfelf, the Rain-water trickling down 

 thence on his Head and Breaft, blifterd 

 him all over, as if he had been beftrewed 

 with C ant har ides. His Life was faved with 

 much difficulty 5 and even when cured, 

 there remained Scars, like thofe after the 

 Small-Pox. 



The Maho Tree, which grows here is a- 

 bout as big as an Afh. Another fort of 

 Mdho r which is more common is fmaller, 

 and grows in the moift fwampy Places, 

 by the fides of the Rivers, or near the 

 Sea. Its Bark is ragged like tatter d Can- 

 vafs ^ if you lay hold on a piece of it, 

 ■twill rip off in Strings to the top of the 

 Tree 5 the Strings are of a great length, 

 flender, and very ftrong. Ropes are made 

 of it for Cables, and Rigging for fmall 

 Veffels. The way the Indians order it is 

 thus : They ftrip off the Bark in great flakes ? 

 Out of them they draw greater or leffer 

 Strings at they pleafe, Thefe they beat 

 and clean, and twift into Threads and 

 Cords, by rolling them between the Palm 

 of the Hand, and the Knee or Thigh, as 

 F 4 *' v OUK 



