117 



The theige (salix Clnlensis) differs from the Eu- 

 ropean willow in its leaves, which are entire, slen- 

 der, and of a yellowish green. This tree yields an- 

 nually a great quantity of manna; the country 

 people also make use of the bark, which they believe 

 possesses a highly febrifugal quality. 



Of the molle there are two kinds, the common 

 (schinus mollis) w^hich is usually found in the 

 marshes, and another called huigan (schinus huigan). 

 The last grows naturally in any soil, and its leaves 

 are very small. The inhabitants prepare from the 

 berries of these trees a kind of red wine of an 

 agreeable flavour but very heating.* 



The Peruvian taper, called in Chili quisco^ is of 

 two kinds, the common (cactus Peruvianus) and 

 that of Coquimbo (cactus Coquimbanus) the thorns 

 of which are eight inches long, and are used by the 

 women for knitting-needles. 



, The ^onj&owc/fo (datura arbórea) is a tree much 

 esteemed for its beauty and the fragrance of ita 

 flowers, which diffuse an ambery odour to a great? 

 distance. t The trunk grows to the height of twelve 



* The Indians prepare a beverage from the molle as pleasant 

 and as strong as Vv'ine, if not more so, and make use of the solution 

 of the gum as a purgative medicine. The sap, procured by making 

 an incision in the bark, is said to be a cure for films, and a liquor 

 obtained from the pith of the young shoots excellent for clearing 

 and streftgthening the eyes. The fishermen of Concón and Val- 

 paraiso boil the bark, which produces a dye of the colour of burnt 

 coftee, with which they stain their nets.— i'Vczzcr'* Voyage^ vol. i. 



t We have no tree in Europe that equals in beauty the floripon- 

 dio. When in blossom it far exceeds in fragrance any of 6ur trees, 

 and one of them is sufficient tt) perfuras st whole garden.—- i^é-zaV/í?', 

 Vol. ii. 



