The Hiflory of Book L 



CaJJia conferv'd while they are green have alfo the fame vertue. 

 But the pulp taken out of the ripe fruit operates looner and 

 more effectually. Many of the Inhabitants ufe it w ith good 

 fuccefsonce a moneth, a little before meals 5 and they have 

 found by experience that this gentle Medicine contributes 

 much to the continuance of their good conflitution. 



MEDICINAL NVJS. 



THe Medicinal Nuts, which are fo common in.aH the Iflands, 

 grow on a fmall Tree, which is for the moft part ufed to 

 partitions between the Gardens and Plantations. If it were 

 not hindred from growing, it would come up to the height of 

 an ordinary Fig-tree, which it fomwhat refemblcs in figure. 

 The wood of it is very tender and pithy, and it (hoots forth 

 feveral branches which fcamble confufedly about the trunk : 

 They are loaden with pretty long leaves, green and foft, round 

 below, and ending in three points. 



Out of the wood and leaves of this Tree there comes a mil- 

 ky juice, which ftains Linen : nay there is no pleafure in being 

 neer it when it rains, for the drops which fall from the leaves 

 have the fame effect as the juice : It bears feveral yellow flowers 

 confuting of five leaves , which when they are fully blown 

 look like fo many ftars. The flowers falling, there come in 

 the places of fome of them little Nuts, whichat firft are green, 

 then turn yellow, and atlaft black, and a little open, when 

 they are ripe. Within every Nut there are three or four ftones, 

 in fo many little cells, the find whereof is blackifti, in bignefe 

 and figure fcmwhat like a bean. The rind being taken away, 

 there is in every one of them a white kernel of an oily fubftance, 

 which is inclofed and divided in the midft. by a thin film or pel- 

 licle : Thefe kernels are of a tafte pleafant enough, not much 

 different from that of Small-Nuts : but if they be not mode- 

 rately eaten they will violently purge both upwards and down- 

 wards, efpecialJy if thefkin which enclofes them, and the pel- 

 licle dividing them in the midft be fwallow'd : To moderate 

 their quality, and that they may be taken with lefs danger, the 

 way is to cleanle them of thole fkins and pellicles, and put 

 them for a little while upon the coals, then being beaten, or 

 bruis'd, four or five of them may be taken in a little Wine, as 

 a vehicle or corrective. 



The boughs of this Tree being cut off and thruft into the 

 ground do eafily take root. The Portugnez, extract an oyl 

 out of the kernels, which is good enough for theufesofthe 

 Ritchin, and may alfo be ufeful in Medicine. 



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