180 ^ Treatise on 
Pifon. et Marcgrav. Caftia fiftula Brafiliam flore in - 
carnato , Breyn . C*«/. i . Cap. 21. The Pulp of 
this, before it is ripe, is aftringent, but afterwards 
purgative like the other, as Pifo and Tcurnefort 
have obferved. Lobelius and Cafp. Bauhine aflfert 
even that one Ounce purges more than two of E- 
gyptian Caftia : Whence we may gather, that John - 
fin , in his Dendographia , very improperly calls it 
Cajjia fiftula non purgans Brqfilierjis. Indeed Marc- 
grave alfo afcribes to it only an aftringent Virtue, 
but he probably made Trial of it when the Fruit 
was immature. 
Artic. V. Of Tamarinds. 
¥&marindfi Off. Famarhendi , Arab. ’Ogvtpom'g, 
Acluar . et Gr^cor. recentior. Thefe are a Fruit in 
Figure and Size refembling the Pod of a Bean, 
with three or four Protuberances, and covered with 
two Hulks or Barks *, whereof the external is 
thickifh, of a yellowifti brown Colour, and brittle 
like an Egg-ftiell j the internal is of a green Co- 
lour, and thinner. The Diplofi or Interftice be- 
tween thefe Barks, is full of a foft, blackifti, acid, 
vinous, and fubacrid Pulp. The medullary Sub- 
ftance, or Pulp of the Fruit, is brought to us in a 
thick vifcid Mafs, with a Mixture of Membranes, 
Strings, or Fibres, and Pieces of the Bark ; con- 
taining alfo hard, ftiining, chefnut-coloured Stones 
or Seeds, larger than thofe of Caftia, almoft qua- 
drangular, and flat. This Pulp ought to be frefli, 
fat or clammy, of a blackifh red Colour, four, 
juicy, and not adulterated with Prunes ; and be- 
fore it is ufed ought to be cleared from the Mem- 
branes, Fibres, and the like. It is brought to us 
from Egypt, and the Indies : Whence the Arabian 
Name tamarhendi , which fignifies an Indian Fruit 
The ancient Greeks were not acquainted with it. 
