Ch.VL south AMERICA. 49 



an apple, which the fruit of this tree exaftly fefem- 

 bles in fhape, colour^ and flavour ; but contains, un- 

 der this beautiful appearance, fuch a fubtle poifonj 

 that its effeds are perceived before it is tafted. The 

 tree is large, and its branches form near the top a 

 kind of crown ; its wood hard, and of a yellowifli 

 tind. On being cut, it ifTues out a white juice, but 

 not unlike that of the fig-tree, iefs white and of a 

 thinner confiftencei but equally potfonous with thd 

 fruit itfelf ; for if any happens to drop on any part of 

 the fiefh^ it immediately caufes an ulcer and inflam- 

 mation, and, unlefs fpeedy application be ufed, foon 

 fpreads through all the other parts of the body * ; 

 fo that it is neceflary, after felling it, to leave it till 

 thoroughly dried, in order to its being worked with- 

 out danger; and then appears the beauty of this 

 •wood, which is exquifitely variegated and veined like 

 tnarble on its yellow ground. Upon tafl:ing its fruity 

 the body immediately fwells, till the violence of the 

 poifon, wanting fufficient room, burfl:s it as has been 

 too fully confirmed by feveral melancholy inflances of* 

 European failors who have been fetit on fliore to cut 

 wood. The fame unhappy confequence alfo attended 

 great numbers of Spaniards at the conquefl: of thefe 

 countries, till, according to Herrera^ common oil was 

 found to be the powerful antidote to this fubtl® poi* 

 fon. 



But fuch is the malignity of the man?ahillo, that 

 if a perfon happens to fleep under It, he is foon awaked^ 

 and finds his body fwelled almofl: as much as if he had 

 adlually eat the fruit f- and continues in great danger 



* The juiee dropping on the flefli generally caufes an inflam-' 

 iiiation ; but I do ndt tertieitiber ever to have feen an ulcer pro- 

 ditced, 01* any very bad efFeds, the hot burning pain excepted. A* 



f The author is here mifinformed. Indeed perfons, who hav0 

 flept under the tree, have afterwards complained of an head- 

 ach. Thofe who happen to take fhelter under it in a fhower, ge- 

 Rerally feel the fame effedl from the dropping of the leaves, a$ 

 though the juice had dropt on them* A* 



Vol. L E ind 



