Cap. VI. Vbe Caribby-Iflands. 



tons., which afterwards falling, their places are fupply'd by 

 certain round fruits , about the bignefs of a fmall Hens egge. 

 They are faften'd together as it were in one clufter , and 

 that thefe flowers and fruits might be fecured againft the in- 

 juries of the weather, they are cover'd above by a thick bark, 

 which on the outfide is hard and of a greyifti colour, but with- 

 in of a kind of Vermilion-guilt, clofing upwards like a Pyra- 

 mid* This precious fan is nothing elfe but the cafe which kept 

 in the flowers before they were fully blown, and being opened 

 below fpreads it felf into a hollow figure in the rnidft, and 

 pointed at the extremities, the better to cover both the flowers 

 and the fruit. 



LATAH 1ER. 



THe third kind of ?alm is called the Latanier : This grows 

 up to a confiderable height, but not very big. In ftead 

 of branches, it hath only long leaves,round above,and fpread at 

 the extremity like a ran.They are fattened to certain great ftalks 

 which come out of certain filaments that encompafs the top of 

 the trunk,like a thick piece of Canvafs,red and very clear.Thefe 

 leaves ty'd up in little bundles ferve to cover the Cazes, and 

 of the rind which is railed from above the tails or ftalks, may be 

 madeSives, Balkets, and feveral other little curiofities, which 

 the Indians account thebeft of their Houftiold-ftufF. Of the 

 wood of this Tree, as alfo of that of the franc-falm^ they 

 make Bows, the Clubs they ufe in fighting, in ftead of Swords, 

 Azagayes, a kind of little (harp Launces, which they dart at 

 their enemies with the hand, and they fharpen therewith the 

 points of their Arrows, which by that means are as piercing as 

 if they were of Steel. 



CO COS. 



THe fourth kind of Palm, and the moft excellent of all is 

 that which is called Cocos, that famous fruit of which 

 Hiftorians tell fuch miracles. But it is to be obferv'd that the 

 Cocosot the Weji-Indies grow not neer to the height of thofe 

 in the Eafi-In dies , the trunk commonly not exceeding twenty 

 or twenty five foot is height, of a bignefs proportionable there- 

 to. It is better furntth'd with branches and leaves then the 

 Franc-Falm. The Iflands of Monaco, and Routam^ at the Gulf 

 of Hondures, are famous for their abounding with thefe Trees, 

 The Illand of S. Bartholomew of the Caribbies have alfo of them, 

 and thence they were brought to S.chrijtophers. 



The fruit grows upon the very trunk, at the (hooting forth 

 of the branches. It hath the form of a Nut, but is without 

 comparifon much bigger 5 for one of them fometimes weighs 



about 



