Ga p. VII. The Canbby-Iflands. 



SonubiiL-ta bfo: t ' V::: /p4x ■ i '^/fMm-^'ri; u -lifer.*; 



CHAP. VII. 



Of Trees fit for Buildings Joyuers-Worh^ 

 and Dying. 



"jo jI!«cJ hoc in'gfed s>dj ojq*.- «v/oi§ ! 5 .-. . ,|j *| 



WE' have hitherto given a*i account of thofe Trees 3 

 whofe Friifcs contribute to the fubfiftance, andre- 

 frefhment df t%e Inhabitants : we (hall now treat 

 of the moft confiderable : in order to the Building of Houfes, 

 and Furniftmrg of them by the 1 help of the Joyner. Which 

 done, we (hall fpeak of all thofe Other Trees of feveral co- 

 lours, whereof the Dyer may make ufe in his Profeffion. 



ACAjOV. ! 



T Here are-few of the Iflands but afford good Trees for the 

 Carpenters and Joyners-Work. Of thefe one of the 

 moft considerable Is the Acajou, which grows to that exceffive 

 height;, that the Caribbzans will of one trunk make thofe long 

 "Shallops called Pjrages, which are able to carry fifty men. It 

 *fhbot? i faftn ,1 many branches which grow very clofe together, 

 by reafori-of the abundance of leaves they are loaden with. 

 The (hade of this Tree is very delightful 5 nay fome affirm 

 that it contributes to their Health who repofe themlelves 

 under it. - 



There are two forts of Acajou, which differ only in the 

 height of the'trunk, and colour of the wood. The wood of 

 the moft efteem'd is red , light, of a good fcent, -and eafily 

 wrought. It hath been found by experience that it receives no 

 prejudice from the Worm } that it rots not in the water when 

 it hath been cut in feafon 5 and that the Chefts- and Cabinets 

 made of it communicate a good fcent too , and fecure the 

 Cloaths kept in them from Vermine, which either breed in, or 

 get into thofe made of other wood. Hence fome have ima- 

 gine) it to be a kind of Cedar : There are alfo made of it Shin- 

 gles for the covering of Houfes. Some Matters of Ships who 

 Trade to the Caribbies many times bring thence Planks of this 

 wood, which are of fuch length and breadth that there needs 

 but one to make a fair and large Table. 



The other kind of 4cajou \so£ the fame figure, as to the out- 

 fide, as that before defcribed 5 but it grows not up fo high, 

 and the bark and pith taken away, the wood is white : Newly 

 f el I'd it is very eafily wrought-, but left abroad in the air, it 

 grows fo hard that there can hardly be any ufe made oi: it. 

 The Inhabitants ufe it only for want of other, becaufeit is fub- 

 ftjft to worms, and putrifies in a fhort time. If an incilion be 



made 



