•XXV. 



EXPEDITION TO SURINAM. 235 



vered with fliarp-pointed follicles, growing lefs as they ap- chap. 

 proach the fummit. This tree has numerous thick leaves 

 diverging at its bafe, like the pine-apple plant, which are 

 very long, broad pointed, and dentulated with ftrong 

 prickles. On the top grows a clufter of yellow flowers, 

 whofe pedicles contain the feed of future aloes, and which 

 never fail to come to perfection in the fpace of two months.' 



In the fkirts of the furrounding woods I faw alfo the 

 vanillas^ or banilia, which is a fhrub that climbs up along 

 the trunks of other trees, adhering to the baik like ne- 

 bees or ivy, by the help of its tendrils : th€ leaves are 

 prodigiouily thick, and dark green, the fruit confifting 

 of a triangular pod fix or eight inches long, and filled 

 with fmall poliflied feeds. Thefe pods, being dried a 

 fortnight in th€ fun, become brown, and have a fat rich 

 aromatic tafte, and moll agreeable flavour ; on which ac- 

 count they are ufed to fcent the chocolate. There are 

 different kinds of vanilla, but that is mofi: efi:eemed' 

 which has its pods the mofi: long and mofi: flender. The 

 negroes fliewed me here alfo a fmall iweetifii feed, which' 

 they called bongora. 



. As I returned to the Hope., I met Cojo, Joanna's uncle, ' 

 who had fliot one of the howling baboons, which he 

 broxight to the Hope to fliew it me. Thefe animals are' 

 the fize of a fmall bull-dog, and the colour a reddifii-' 

 brown, with long hair; they have alfo a beard, and are 

 iipon the whole extremely ugly ; but what chiefly dif- 

 ting.uiflies them from other monkies is their abominable 



H h 2 howl^ 



