i6 



THE COAST OF 



leprofy, which Is common and contagious : nor is the itch lefs frequent 

 or communicative, and it is dangerous to attempt the cure, when it has 

 once gained ground ; In its firft llage they anoint with a kind of earth 

 called Maquimaqiii. The Culebrilla, or little fnake, is particular to this cli- 

 mate, which caufes a round iniiamed tumour, that often terminates in a 

 mortification. Spafms and convulfions are very common here, and frequently 

 prove mortal. The principal trees for fize are the caoba, or mahogany, cafhue, 

 the cedar, the Santa Maria, and the balfam tree. Of the firftare made the 

 canoes, and champagnes, ufed for fifhing, and for the coaft and river trade. 

 The reddlfh cedar Is preferable to the whitifli. The Maria and balfam 

 trees, belides the ufefulnefs of their timber, which, like the others, are com- 

 pact, fragrant, and finely grained, diftil thofe admirable balfams, maria oil, 

 and balfam of T^olUi fo caued from an adjacent village, where it is found in the 

 greatell: quantities. The manzanilla is remarkable for its poifonous fruit ; 

 the antidote is common oil : the wood is variegated like marble. It is 

 dangerous to lie under this tree, for even its droppings fwell the body, which 

 is only cured by repeated ointments and cooling draughts. The very beafls 

 themfelves avoid the tree by inftinft, and never approach it. The palm trees 

 are of four fpecies : the firft produce cocos or coco nuts ; the fecond dates ; 

 the third, cdW^d palma real, a very difagreeable fruit, lefs than the date ; and 

 the fourth, called corozo, a fruit larger than the date, of exquifite tafte, and 

 greatly ufed in making cooling and wholfome draughts. Palm wine is ex- 

 tracted from all the four, which ferments for five or fix days, and is then 

 applied to ufe: it is of a whitifh colour, very rich and racy, and is the fa- 

 vourite liquor of the Indians and negroes. The guiacum and ebony trees are 

 equally common here j being the moft firm and compact of all wood. The 

 fenfitive plant is found in great plenty. The bejuco with, or vine here 

 bears a fruit called habilla, or bean, very bitter, but one of the moft ef- 

 fedtual antidotes againft the bites of vipers and ferpents j perfons who fre- 

 quent the woods eat of this valuable habilla, and then are no way ap- 

 prehenfive from the bite, though ever fo venomous. There are feveral 

 tame animals here as the horfe, cow, and the hog, the flefli of the 



latter is faid to exceed the beft in Europe ; while that of the ioxxem^ is dry 



and 



