444 



CITERA. 



de Vaca, and cut two large trees down ; from 

 them we procured three specimens of the 

 leaves, and likewise some of the fruit; and on 

 searching round about, discovered fine young 

 plants of this species, and many varieties of 

 other plants, chiefly curandoes, w^hich are un- 

 known in Europe. By noon we returned 

 home, with a quantity of plants, and some of 

 the milk of the cow-tree, which I cannot say I 

 think particularly agreeable. The trees here 

 are none of them very old, and, consequently, 

 do not yield a great quantity of milk. The 

 negroes of Escondie, on the shores of the Pa- 

 cific, drink it in large quantities, and grow 

 very fat upon it. I immediately turned to, and 

 planted all the shoots, &c., in boxes, intend- 

 ing to carry them to Jamaica, and forward 

 them thence to the Horticultural Society in 

 London, with some aracatcha and rascadera 

 roots which I had obtained. 1 did this so far 

 as my own endeavours were concerned ; but 

 owing to the negligence of the captain of the 

 vessel by whom they were sent, and the care- 

 lessness in not watering them whilst at the 

 custom-house in London, they all died ; which 

 I regretted extremely, as they would have 



