Op. VIII. 7 be CaribbyJflands. 



miraculous induftry, by loading the fame Tree with fruits dif- 

 ferent in their form and bigncfs, though the produ&ions of the 

 famefubltance. 



Thefe fruits have this common, that they have all a hard 

 woody bark of fuch a thicknefsand folidicy, that Bottles, Ba- 

 tons, Cups, Diuhes, Platters, and feveral other Vefiels necel- 

 fery to Houfe-keeping may be made thereof : they are full of 

 a certain pulp, which being ripe becomes of a Violet-colour, 

 though before it had been white ; amidft this fubftance there 

 are certain fmall flat and hard grains, which are the feeds of 

 the Tree. Thofe of the Inhabitants who are mpft addicled to 

 Hunting, in cafe of neceffity, quench their thirft with this fruit, 

 and they fay it hath the tafte of burnt-wine, but is too aftrin- 

 genti The Indians polilh the bark, and give it Co delightful 

 an enamel with Roucou, Indico, and feveral other pleafant co- 

 lours, that the moft nice may eat and drink out of the veiTels 

 they make thereof: Nay fome are fo curious, as to think them 

 worthy a place among the Rarities of their Clofets. 



MA HOT. 



OF the Tree called Mahot there are two kinds, Mahot- 

 franc^nd Mahot-d'herbe : the former is the more fought 

 after, as being the ftronger : it grows not very big, in regard 

 the branches creep along the ground : the bark is very thick, 

 and eafily taken from the Tree : there are made of it long. 

 Laces or Points, which are ftronger then the Lines of fei^ 

 which are ufed in many places : they are commonly ufed to 

 make up Rolls of Tobacco , and to fatten things about the 

 Houfe : as for the latter Mahot , it is ufed where the former is 

 wanting^ but iteafily rots, and is not comparable to the other 

 as to ftlengrh. 



In a word, there are in thefe Klands feveral other Trees nor 

 known in Europe, whereof fome only delight the eye, fuch a* 

 are that which is called Mappou, and divers kinds of thorny 

 wood : others only fatisfie the fmeiling by their fweet /cents : 

 others have venemous qualities, as the Milkje-trte, as alio that 

 whole root reduced to powder and cad into rivers intbiiatcs 

 thefilh} the Mamet7ilier y which we fhall defer ibe in its proper 

 place, and an infinite number of others, the wood whereof in 

 white, foft, and of no ufe, and have yet gut no names among* 

 the foreign Inhabitants qf thofe parts. 



H 



CHA \\ 



