115 



jellow, and like those of the jessamin, and the berries 

 oval and of a purple colour. The wood is very brit- 

 tle, but is preferred to any other by the Indians 

 for the purpose of producing fire by friction accor- 

 ding to their custom. This is done by turning 

 rapidly between their hands a small stick of this 

 wood in a hole made in another piece of the same 

 kind. 



Among the shrubs used for medicinal purposes 

 is also the cassia sena, which is in no v/ay different 

 from that of the Levant. It grows in abundance 

 near the source of the river Maypo. Sage is like- 

 wise found in many places, particularly in the low 

 grounds near the sea. 



Sect. VIII. Trees,~The forests of Chili offer a 

 great variety of trees, the most of which never lose 

 their foliage. Those kinds that are known amount 

 to ninety-seven, and of these only thirteen shed 

 their leaves. Among the former are many that are 

 remarkable for their fragrance,* and are well de- 



* The woods are full of aromatic shrubs ; such as several kinds 

 of myrtle, a species of laurel whose leaves are of the smell of saf- 

 fron, but more pleasant ; the boldu, the leaves of which have the 

 odour of incense, and the bark a biting taste something like that 

 of cinnamon ; it is a different tree, hov/ever, from that called the 

 cinnamon, which produces a bark similar to that of the East In- 

 dies. The leaves of the boldu are like those of the greater laurel, 

 but rather larger. There is also aiaother tree called jieumo^ a. de- 

 <:oction of the bark of which is very beneficial in the dropsy. The 

 fruit is red and resembles an olive, and the wood is very proper 

 for ship-building ; but the best tree for this purpose is a species of 

 evergreen oak, very hard and durable, whose bark is a cork equal 

 to that of the cork tree. On the shores of the river Bio-bio are 

 ^reat quantities of cjedav suitable fçr buildicg, and excellent for 



