180 A NATURALIST ON DESERT ISLANDS. 



of horrible spiny points, which, however, did not seem 

 to worry them in the least. 



It is rather strange that so observant a man as Dampier 

 has nothing to say about the cactus, either here or in other 

 islands, hke " Querisao " (Cura9ao), which he visited ; 

 for one would have supposed that they could not 

 fail to have made an impression both on the imagina- 

 tions and the flesh of these old-time sea-pirates; and, 

 incidentally, to have been the cause of many lurid expres- 

 sions on their part. Possibly the explanation is that there 

 were not nearly so many in Dampier's day as now ; for 

 we must remember that since those times, goats, donkeys 

 and cattle have been working their wicked will on almost 

 every form of vegetation within reach, except the cactus, 

 and a few plants like the lantana, the thorny acacias, log- 

 wood, and the tough leaved xerophytic plants in general, 

 which know how to protect themselves. Consequently 

 the cacti and these other trees and plants have been in 

 the position of the " favoured nations," and have flourished 

 superabundantly. Moreover, the spiny segmenfc^; of the 

 cacti, catching in the hairy coats of the goats, have been 

 carried and disseminated to every part of the island. 



Perhaps, on the other hand, the skin of these buccaneers 

 was as hardened and immune to pricks as their consciences, 

 and the cactus did not trouble them. It is all the more 

 curious as Dampier mentions the occurrence of lignum 

 vitae or the guaiacum tree (Guaiacum officinalis), for this 

 is by no means a conspicuous or noticeable tree, although 

 quite common on the island, and by the ordinary observer 

 would be passed by without attracting attention. 



Dampier, being a sailor first and then a naturalist, and 

 an acute observer, may have learnt to recognise it ; for 

 among the uses to which it is put is that of making ships' 

 blocks. It is also held in great esteem for making rulers, 

 bowls, the handles of carpenters' tools and for turnery ; 

 while the resin which it exudes is made use of in chronic 

 rheumatism and gouty affections. On Blanquilla it 

 grows in a rather stunted fashion, and together with a 



