VI. 
THE BEACH AGAIN. 
Our way to the high sand-bank, which I have de¬ 
scribed as extending all along the coast, led, as usual, 
through patches of Bayberry bushes, which straggled 
into the sand. This, next to the Shrub-oak, was perhaps 
the most common shrub thereabouts. I was much 
attracted by its odoriferous leaves and small gray berries 
which are clustered about the short twigs, just below the 
last year’s growth. I know of but two bushes in Concord, 
and they, being staminate plants, do not bear fruit. The 
berries gave it a venerable appearance, and they smelled 
quite spicy, like small confectionery. Robert Beverley, 
in his “ History of Virginia,” pubhshed in 1705, states that 
at the mouth of their rivers, and all along upon the 
sea and bay, and near many of their creeks and swamps, 
grows the myrtle, bearing a berry, of which they make 
a hard brittle wax, of a curious green color, which by 
refining becomes almost transparent. Of this they make 
candles, which are never greasy to the touch nor melt 
with lying in the hottest weather; neither does the snuff 
of these ever offend the smell, like that of a tallow can¬ 
dle ; but, instead of being disagreeable, if an accident 
puts a candle out, H yields a pleasant fragrancy to all 
that are in the room; insomuch that nice people often 
