natural HlSToRV. 
t(^4 
COCOA. TREE. 
^JL 'his tree, bearing the cocoa or chocolate 
hut, refembles our heart cherry tree ; ex- 
cept that, when full grown, it is muchhighi 
er and broaderk It has abundance of leaves^ 
fimilar to thofe of the orange-tree. It Ilou- 
Lifhes throughout the year, efpecially near 
the fummer and winter folftices. As the 
leaves perpetually replenilh thcmfelves, this 
tree is never difrobed of its verdure. 1 he 
blotfoms are fmall, regular, and like a rofcj 
but fcentlefs. Every bloITom is joined to 
the tree by a flender flalk ; and leaves, in faU 
ling, long green filaments; which produce 
a pointed yellow fruit, of the fize of out 
jnelons : thefe adhere to the thick branches, 
without any intermediate Item ; as if nature 
thus providentially provided it a fupport 
ftrong enough to bear the greatnefs of its 
Weight, when grown ripe, and to its largeft 
fize. Each fruit contains from between 15 
and 25 fmall nuts, or almonds, covered 
with a thin yellow Ikin ; which being fepa- 
rated, a tender fubftance appears, divided 
into feveral unequal particles, that, although 
Iharp to the palate, are nouriflnng to the con- 
flitution. 
Thefe trees grow in all the Spanifii Wefi- 
Indies, Jamaica, &c. where they common- 
ly produce fruit every feven years at mod, 
after 
