THE CHILI PINE. 



429 



with the Indians. In the vast forests, of a day's 

 journey in extent, that are formed by these trees, 

 in some districts the fruits lie in such plenty on 

 the ground, that but a small part of them can be 

 consumed. 



The wood of the Araucaria is white, and towards 

 the centre of the stem bright yellow. It yields to 

 none in hardness and solidity, and might prove 

 valuable for many uses if the places of growth of 

 the tree were more accessible. It has been used 

 by the Spaniards for ship -building; but it is much 

 too heavy for masts. If a branch be scratched, or 

 the scales of an unripe fruit be broken, a fra- 

 grant milky juice immediately exudes, that soon 

 changes to a yellowish resin, which is considered 

 by the ChiKans as possessing such medicinal vir- 

 tues, that it cures the most violent rheumatic 

 headaches when applied to the spot where the 

 pain is felt. 



The Araucaria was first introduced into England 

 by Menzies, who accompanied Vancouver in his 

 expedition to Chih in 1795. Living specimens 

 were given by him to Sir Joseph Banks, one of 

 which is still growing at Kew. It was at first 

 supposed to be delicate, and was protected from 

 frost during winter, but it suff*eredfrom this mode 

 of treatment, and having been deprived of its 

 lower branches, the character of the tree was 

 destroyed. One of the finest and handsomest trees 

 in England stands in the garden of R. Dawson, 

 Esq., Tottenham. It is twenty feet high; the 

 branches descend to the ground on all sides, and 

 the main stem is densely covered with leaves 

 down to the very roots. It was planted out at 

 the height of four inches in April, 1832. 



