The Hijlory of Book 1. 



nothing to be feen. The top of it is adorned with feveral fair 

 branches chanell'd, and fmooth, which have on each fide an in- 

 finite number ofleaves 3 green,long,narrow and very thin,which 

 add much to its beauty. The tendereft of thefe branches s 

 which are not yet fully blown, ftartup directly from the mid- 

 dle of the Tree, while the others which bend downwards all 

 about make it as 'twere a rich and beautiful crown. 



This Tree diftburthens it (elf every month of fomeone of its 

 branches, as alfo of a bark which is loomed from below, which 

 is four or five foot long, about two broad, and of the thick- 

 nefs of tannd leather. The Inhabitants of the Iflands call this 

 bark Taehe, and theyufek for the coveriagof their Ritchins, 

 and other places belonging to their habitations, as they make 

 ufe of the leaves neatly ty'd together in little fheaves to cover 

 their houfes. 



We have purpofely ranked the Palms among the Fruit-trees 

 of thefe Iflands, in regard all of them, the Latanier only excep- 

 ted, contribute fomewhat to the nourifhment of men. For if 

 the Prickly-Palm before defcribed, afford Wine, this bears on 

 the top of its trunk, and as it were in its heart, a whitifh mar- 

 row or pith, very tender and lavory, tafting like a fmall Nut, 

 if eaten raw, and being boiled, and feafoned with the thin and 

 white leaves which encompafs it, and are as it were fo much 

 linen about it, it may be numbred among the moft delicious 

 d ifhes of the Caribbies. The French call that marrowy fub- 

 ftance, and the leaves enclofing it, Chou de Palmifie, Palm-Cab- 

 bage, for they put it into the Pot inftead of Cabbage, and 

 other Herbs. 



Cleave the trunk of this Tree in two, and take away, as may 

 eafily be done, a certain filiamental and foft matter, which 

 lyes within, the remaining wood, which is by that means made 

 hollow, and a good inch thick, makes excellent long gutters, 

 which will laft a great while. They are ufed alfo to cover 

 with one piece only the roof of the Cazes 0 and to convey wa- 

 ter to any place. Turners and Joyners make of this wood, 

 which is almoft black and eafily polifti'd , feveral excellent 

 pieces which are naturally marbled. 



Pliny writes of Trees fo prodigioufly high, tbat an arrow 

 could not be fhot over them : and the Author of the General 

 Hijicry of the Indies fpeaks of a Tree lb high that a man could 

 not caft a (tone over it. But though the Palm we now de- 

 fcribemuch exceeds all the other Trees of the Caribbies^ yet 

 dare we not affirm it to be of fuch an extraordinary height, 

 fince that from the foot of the Tree there may be eafily ob- 

 ferv'd a fair branch, which rifing out of the top of the trunk, 

 is always turn'd towards the Sun-rifing. It is renew'd every 

 year, and when it is come out of its cafe, it is enamell'd with 

 an infinite number of little yellow flowers, like golden but- 

 tons, 



