380 VOYAGE TO MADAGASCAH. 



dives have come from the Ifle of Palms, 

 thqiTgh the diftance between thele two places 

 is about three hundred leagues. This re- 

 mark may ferve to point out the diredion 

 of the currents in the Indian Ocean, 



The Indians afcribe great medicinal vir- 

 tues to this nut, known to botanifls under 

 the name of nux nieiiicn. The Afiatic phy- 

 iicians pretend that it is antil'corbutic j that 

 it radically cures the venereal dlfeafe ; and 

 that it is a powerful antidote again fl poilon. 

 The Indian princes caufe cups to be made 

 of it, which are always more or Icfs orna- 

 mented with gold and precious llone% 

 Thefe cocoas are in fo much requell: all over 

 Alia, that it was not imcomraon, about the 

 year 1759, the period when they were dif- 

 covercd, to fee them fold for upwards of 

 four hundred pounds fterling each* 



Descrip- 



