OF FOREST-TREES. 371 



What may we say, then, of innumerable other trees, fitted for the uses BOQK^ 

 nature has designed them, especially for timber, and all other fabrile em- 



advantages, no other so well satisfies the sight when laden with great and smaller clusters, 

 some ripe, others colouring ; some in the blossoms, others forwarder ; the grateful appear- 

 ance of her fruit is no less pleasant than her admirable fecundity : her tallness not inferior 

 to a high Cypress-tree, her trunk slender, without the help of boughs to climb by, her nuts 

 retired at the top, amongst her leaves and branches, makes her resemble a fond mother, 

 bringing her children about her, the better to preserve them, and cutting off all intercourse 

 tending to their destruction. All places produce not Cocoas of the same bigness, which 

 are great or small, according to the nature of the climate, and quality of the soil fitted for 

 the production of that fruit. The coast of Malabar being cool, and abounding with 

 rivers, (which spring in the mountains of Gate, to whose foot this coast extends,) 

 affords such large and fair Cocoas, that the lanhas (i. e.) young and imperfect nuts of 

 Cochin and those territories, are every one sufficient to quench the thirst of two persons. 

 After these, are cried up those of Ceylon, where the ground is very rank and luxuriant, 

 yet inferior to the soil of Malacca, and the places adjoining, where the Cocoas are the 

 greatest. Those of Arabia the Happy are fairer than any yet spoken of ; the goodness 

 of the soil, and nature of the climate, being proportionably advantageous, the name of 

 Happy proves it. Of all these places and sorts of fruit, I am an eye-witness. Two pecu- 

 liar virtues of these Cocoas, are not to be passed over in silence : the first, that when the 

 cluster begins to appear, being yet covered with the flower, gathered, pounded, boiled in 

 three pints of cow's milk, it is an infallible cure for the yellow jaundice; besides tlie 

 opinion had of this remedy, I speak by experience, having with it in a few days cured one 

 troubled with this disease. The second is, that in the opinion of the woman, (where 

 fancy most domineers,) the water of lanhas makes a wash for the face, which eminently 

 betters the complexion, either by creating it where nature bestowed it not, or advancing 

 it w here nature is deficient, or preserving it where it was naturally allowed. From what 

 hath been said, is evidently concluded, that if the Author of Nature created all trees for 

 the service of man, the Palm-tree of all those doth most industriously serve and advantage 

 liim, by so many ways, and so considerable productions ; and because that which bears 

 dates is of the true race of Palm-trees, something is to be said of that and her fruit. — 

 Those trees which bear dates, yield them not in India ; there only affording the sura 

 before mentioned, of which wine is made. Northward, those trees grow in the greatest 

 quantity; some have dates, which appear in fair clusters, but come not to maturity: the 

 reason' must be in the climate, which favours them not. In .\frica they attain the highest 

 perfection, dates being the natural fruit of that part of the world; those of Arabia, where 

 they grow in great quantities, are excellent, pleasant to the sight, in beautiful clusters, 

 (which beginning to ripen, appear in various colours, consisting of a faint vermillion, and 

 pale whiteness, called the date colour,) and more acceptable to the taste. Arabia pro- 

 duceth divers sorts, particularly the Happy ; (Petrea is not without them.) A baser sort 

 there is, which serves for common sustenance, given to horses for provender : others there 

 are of a more exquisite taste and value, amongst them those called muxanas, which are 

 the least, but naturally recompensed by an excellent flavour ; few of them exported out 



