86 
TRAVELS IN 
grow, and increafe, in the fame degree of perfec- 
tion, as if it had fprung up from the feed. When 
frem, cattle and deer will eat it in the winter fea- 
fon. It feems particularly adapted to the purpofe 
of fluffing mattrafTes, chairs, faddles, collars, &c. ; 
and for thefe purpofes, nothing yet known equals 
it. The Spaniards in South America and the Weft- 
Indies, work it into cables, that are faid to be very 
itrong and durable ; but, in order to render it ufeful, 
it ought to be thrown into mallow ponds of water, 
and expofed to the fun, where it foon rots, and the 
outfide furry fubftance is dilTolved. It is then taken 
out of the water, and fpread to dry ; when, after a 
little beating and making, it is fufficientiy clean, 
nothing remaining but the interior, hard, black, 
elaftic filament, entangled together, and greatly re- 
fembling horfe-hair. 
The Zanthoxylum clava Herculis alfo grows here. 
It is a beautiful fpreading tree, and much like a well 
grown apple tree. Its aromatic berry is delicious 
food for the little turtle dove ; and epicures fay, that 
it gives their flefh a fine flavour. 
Having finifhed my observations, I betook myfelf 
to reft ; and when the plunging and roaring of the 
crocodiles, and the croaking of the frogs, had ceafed, 
I flept very well during the remainder of the night ; 
as a breeze from the river had fcattered the clouds 
of mufquitoes that at firft infefted me. 
It being a fine cool morning, and fair wind, I fet 
fail early, and faw, this day, vafl quantities of the 
Piftia ftratiotes, a very lingular aquatic plant. It 
affociates in large communities, or floating iflands, 
fome of them a quarter of a mile in extent, which 
are impelled to and fro, as the wind and current 
may 
