COMMON MELON OR PAPAW TREE. 
49 
the leaves, and that poultry and hogs, though old, become 
tender in a few hours after feeding on the leaves and fruit. 
This property was first described by Brown in his history 
of Jamaica, who remarks, that meat washed in the milky 
juice, mixed with water, became in a few hours so tender 
that when cooked it could scarcely be taken from the spit. 
The utility of the Papaw is proved by the fact of its 
being cultivated over the whole of South America, (accord- 
ing to the observations of Humboldt and Bonpland ;) it is 
likewise cultivated throughout India and in many of the 
islands of the Pacific, particularly in the Friendly and Sand- 
wich island groups ; here it frequently produces fruit at the 
height of 6 or 8 feet. In the wilds of East Florida, accord- 
ing to Bartram, it presents a more imposing and stately 
appearance, and adds a peculiar feature to the almost tror 
pical scenery of the forests of the St. John. It is also 
met with on the small islands or keys, near the extremity 
of the peninsula, and is indigenous to many parts of South 
America and the West India islands. 
Linschoten says it came from the West Indies to the 
Philippines, and was taken thence to Goa. According to 
Sloane, it grows wild in the woods of Jamaica, but is there 
of small stature. It was observed also at Realejo in Guate- 
mala by Dr. Sinclair. 
In Bartram’s Travels, (p. 131,) is given a very ani- 
mated and exact description of this graceful tree. He adds 
it “ is certainly the most beautiful of any vegetable produc- 
tion I know of; the towering Laurel Magnolia, and exalted 
Palm, indeed exceed it in grandeur and magnificence, but not 
in elegance, delicacy, and gracefulness ; it rises erect, with 
a perfectly straight tapering stem to the height of 15 or 20 
feet, which is smooth and polished, of a bright ash colour. 
Its perfectly spherical top is formed of very large lobe- 
sinuate leaves, supported on very long footstalks ; the lower 
