C 238 ] 
XXXVII. An Account of a now Die from 
the Berries of a Weed in South Carolina : 
In a Letter from Mr. Mofes Lindo, dat- 
ed at Charles Town, September 2, 1763, 
to Mr. Emanuel Mendez da Cofta, Li- 
brarian of the Royal Society. 
Read Nov. 10, TT N Auguft 1 757, I obferved the 
17 63 * mocking bird fond of a berry, which 
grows on a weed called Pouck, reprefented to me as of 
a poifonous quality j the juice of this berry being a 
blooming crimfon. I was feveral times inclined to 
try, if I could extrad a die from it ; yet the very 
thoughts of its quality prevented me from proceed- 
ing, till obferving thefe birds to void their excrement 
of the fame colour as the berry, on the Chinefe rails 
in my garden, convinced me it was not" of the quality 
reprefented. I therefore made a tryal in the following 
manner. 
1 ft. I ordered one of my negroes to gather me a 
a pint of thofe berries, from which I extra&ed almoft 
three quarters of a pint of juice, and boiled it with a 
pint of Briftol water, one quarter of an hour. 
idly. I then took two pieces of flannel and num- 
bered them 1 and 2, boiled them in a feparate tin 
pot with alum a quarter of an hour, and rinced 
them in cold water. 
3dly. I then dipped the piece of flannel N° 1. into 
the pot, where the juice was, and left it to funnier 
five 
