the Hiflory of Plants. 
Frutexmarimureticulatus. calls it Frutex 'JAinriniu elegantipmu, and 
Sea Fan. ~ ; , ^ , ' thinkes it may be referred to the Palma Ma- 
Cxffi-airinjut d'LaF'J rinaoCTheophrajltts . Bauhine hath referred 
1 it to the CoraUmds, calling it Corallmacmi- 
cc reticulato maculojo pitrpurafcenie. It growes 
vp fomtimesto the height of three footba- 
lling a ftalke fome hand full or two high be- 
fore it part into branches -.then is it diuided 
into three, foure, or more branches, which 
are fubdiuided into infinite other Idler 
firings, which are finely interwouen and 
ioyned together as if they were netted , yet 
leaning fometimes bigger, otherwhiles lef- 
fer holes : and thefe twiggy branches be- 
come fmaller and fin a Her, the farther they 
are from the root, and end as it were in fmal 
threds : thefe branches grow notvp on cue- 
rie fide, as in other plants, but flat one be- 
fides another, fo that the whole plant re- 
fembIesafan,oracabbage leafe eaten full 
of hoIes ; yct fonuimes vpon the (ides come 
forth other fuch fanne-like branches, fome 
bigger, fome leflfe, fometimes one or two, 
otherwhiles more. The inner fub fiance of 
this Sea-Fan is a blackifh tough, and hatd 
wood, and it is all couered oner with a 
rough Coral-like ftony matter, of a reddifh 
or purplifh colour, and this you may with 
your naile or a knife ferape off from the 
fmooth and blacke wood. 
I know novfe of this, but it is kept for 
the beauty and raritie thereof, by many louers of fuch cutiofities, amongft which for the rarendle 
of the ftrufture this may hold a prime place. 
T His root which is brought from the remoteft parts of the world, and is infrequcntvfewith 
vs, hath not been knowne in Europe little aboue fourefcore and ten yeares : for Garcias ab 
Orta the Portugall Phyfition writes, That hecame to the firft knowledge thereof in the Eaflt 
Indies, in the yeare 15 35, and that by this meanes, as he relates it : It hapned (faith he) that about 
that time a merchant in the Ifle Via told the noble gentleman S r . Mart.Alfonfi de Suit fa my Patron, 
by what meanes he was cured of the French Poxes, which was by a certaine root brought from 
China ; whofe faculties he much extol led, becaufe fuch as vfed it needed notobferuc fo ftriift a diet 
as ivas requifit in the vfe of Guajacum,but fliould onely abftaine from Beefe, Porke, Fifli, and 
crude fruits ; but in China they do not abftaine from fifh, for they are there great gluttons. When 
the report of this root was divulged abroad, eucryman wonderfully defired to fee and vfe it, be- 
caufe they did not well likeof the ftrift dyet they were forced roobferue in the vfe of Guajacum. 
Befides, the inhab itants of thefe countries, by reafon of their idle life are much giuen to gluttony. 
About this time the China (flips arriue at Malaca, bringing a fmall quantitie of this root for their 
owne vfe. But this little was fought for with fuch earneftnefle, that they gaue an exceffiue rate for 
it * but afterwards the Chinois bringing a greater quantitie, the price fell, and it was fold verie 
cheape. From this time Guajacum began to be out ofvfe, and banifhed the Indies, as a Spaniard 
that would famifh the Natiues. Thus much Garcias concerning the firft vfe thereof in the Eaft 
Indies, ' 
yuuuuu 3 ? The 
Chap. 2,5. 
Of Qbina, and 'Bajlard Qhina. 
FheDcfcription. 
