NOVITA. 



423 



stead of this, has been instituted a property- 

 tax, which is much disliked, and yields but 

 very little, as some of the natives have no com- 

 punction in swearing to a falsehood, where their 

 interest is concerned. 



Gold sells here at two hundred dollars the 

 pound, the lay being twenty-one to twenty- 

 two quilates, which is almost the richest any 

 where procured. In Jamaica it is worth two 

 hundred and fifty dollars, which is a strong in- 

 ducement for smuggling. 



About Novita are procured many milks and 

 balsams, which may some day become valua- 

 ble in trade. Amongst others, the most con- 

 spicuous are Itche de Liria, used as glue; leche 

 de Caucho, for making writing-ink, and if put 

 (when just extracted from the tree) upon roanas, 

 boots, hats, &c. it makes them perfectly imper- 

 vious to water. I have no doubt that this milk 

 will some day be in great repute. 



Leche de sonde gives a species of butter 

 from which candles are made. 



Copal, a kind of gum, is procured here in 

 great quantities ; it is used in the churches 

 as frankincense, and when boiled with oil of 

 Canim6 makes an excellent varnish. 



