119 



^re large, alternate, and like those of the laurel; the 

 flowers are white, quadripetal, and very odoriferous, 

 the berries oval and of a changeable black and blue. 

 Like the cinnamon of Ceyion, this tree produces 

 two barks; the exterior of a greenish brow^n, the 

 other, when first taken from the tree, is of a dirty 

 white, but when dry becomes of the colour of the 

 true cinnamon, which it very much resembles in 

 taste, and in Feuille 's opinion might serve as a suc- 

 cedaneum for it.'^ I am of the same sentiment, 

 particularly if proper attention v/as paid to the cul- 

 tivation of it, which would probably tend to correct 

 that sharp taste which renders it unpleasant. The 

 natives employ the timber for buildmg, but make no 

 use of the bark. The Araucanians from time im- 

 memorial have regarded the boighe as a sacred tree ; 

 in their reHgious ceremonies they carry branches of 

 it in their hands, and when they conclude a peace 

 they present them in token of amity and alliance, as 

 the ancient nations of Europe did those of the olive. 



,The carob tree of Chili (ceratonia Chilensis) is 

 distinguished from that of Europe (siliqua Europea) 

 by its thorns, which are usually four inches long 

 and so hard that they are used by the country people 

 instead of nails. - Its pod resembles that of the Eu- 

 ropean carob. 



, The maqiii (cornus Ghilen^sis) does not usually 

 exceed ten or twelve feet in height, and the wood 

 is too brittle for use. The leaves are opposite, heart- 



* The biirk of the boighe may be applied to the same uses as 

 tlie cinnamon ; its smell is similar, and it acquires the same colour 

 when it is ^Yi^à^—Feuillé^ vol. iii. <: ííí'vUÍ L .. 



