A true and faithful account of the four chiefest plantations of the English in America to wit, of Virginia, New-England, Bermudus, Barbados : with the temperature of the air, the nature of the soil, the rivers, mountains, beasts, fowls, birds, fishes, trees, plants, fruits, &c. : as also, of the natives of Virginia, and New-England, their religion, customs, fishing, hunting, &c. / collected by Samuel Clarke ...

Now for Trees.

Amongst the Trees,* 1.1 there is none of more use then the Physick Nut, and yet hath it poison secretly lodged in it, but that poison makes good Physick: This Tree grows to be eighteen foot high; There are none like it for beauty, and use in the Island. It hath many Sprigs upon it of four, five, and six foot long, which they lop off one after another, and of them make stakes of above four long, and stick them in the ground an inch deep, close to one another, and keep them even with a Rail on ei∣ther side, and in a moneths space they will take root, and send forth Leaves; and in another moneth will be rooted so fast, that they take a∣way the the Railes.

These Leaves are large, smooth, and beautifully shaped, of a full green, looking like green Sattin hang'd on a line, so even they hang naturally.

Their Stems grow apace, rather in bigness then in heighth, and within a while imbody themselves one into another, and then they become a ve∣ry strong fence, and so close that a Rat cannot pass through them, nei∣ther will Cattel or Vermin willingly come near them.

And as it's a beautiful and useful fence for Gardens and Orchards, and to keep in Conies, Turkies, Muscovy-Ducks, so it excellently fences in their Pastures which they would inclose.

Their Fruit also is Phisical: Five of its kernels eaten in a morning fasting, causes both Vomits and Stools.

This Nut is like to a white Pear-Plumb, and of a yellowish colour, and of yellowish colour, having on it as great a peelp as a Plumb, which being taken off, you come to the stone of a blackish colour, and within that is a kernel that will part in the middle, where you shall find a thin Film of a faint Carnetion colour. Take off that Film, and you may eat the Kernel safely without any operation at all, and it's as sweet as a Jor∣dans Almond. The Leaves are sharp some like a Vine Leaf, but thrice as big, and much thicker.

The poison Tree is very beautiful, almost as large as the Locust:* 1.2 Her Leaves as large and beautiful as the Lawrel Leaves, and very like them. As they cut down these Trees they have Cipers over their Faces: For if any of their Sap flies into their eyes, it makes them blind for a moneth after. Of this Timber they make most of the Vessels wherein they cure their Sugar.

There is a Mantionel Tree whose Fruit is Poison.* 1.3 The Fruit is like an Apple John, and (they say) that the Indians invenom their Ar∣rows with it.

The Cussavy is rather a Shrub then a Tree,* 1.4 the Sprigs as big as a Broom-staff, crooked and ill shaped; The Leaves grow so thick as to cover them, and they grow in bunches, each of them an inch broad, and six or seven inches long, of a Dark Green. The growth of the Roots, and the use of them is set down before.

Coloquintida is a very beautiful Fruit,* 1.5 as big as an Ostrages Egg, of an ill taste, the rind smooth, with various Greens interlaced with murries, yellows, and faint Carnations.

Cassia Fistula is a Tree which grows exceeding fast.* 1.6 A Seed of it be∣ing set will in one year grow to be eight foot high, and as thick as a walking staff. The Leaf is like that of an Ash, but much longer, and of a darker colour. The Fruit when it's ripe is of shape like a black Pud∣dling, sometimes sixteen inches long, the pulp of it is Progatine, and a great cooler of the reins.

There is a Plant very like a Sugar Cane:* 1.7 If it be chewed in the mouth, it causes the Tongue and Throat so to swell, that the party can∣not speak for two dayes.

There are Tammerine Trees,* 1.8 and Palm Trees planted which were brought from the East-India. The Palm yields excellent Wine, which is thus gathered: They cut off the Bark in such a part of the Tree, where a Bottle may be fitly placed, and the Liquor that runs into it, is ex∣cellent good for a day, and no longer. It's a very delicious Liquor.

The Fig-Trees are very large,* 1.9 but bear a small and contemptible fruit, neither are the Leaves like ours, nor so long by a fifth part. The bodies of the Trees are as long as our Elms.* 1.10

The Cherry Tree is not altogether so large, the fruit is useless and in∣siped; The colour some resembling our Cherries, and the shape not unlike.

The Citron is a small Tree,* 1.11 though she bears a great Fruit, which weighs it down to the Ground, the Stalk of a dark colour, the Leaf shaped like that of Limon, but of a dark green.

The Orange Trees do not prosper so well,* 1.12 neither is their Fruit so kind∣ly as those of Bermudas: Large they are, and full of juice, but not delici∣ous; besides ther full of Seeds, and their rinds thin and pale. These Trees do not last in their prime above seven years.

The Limon Tree is much handsomer and larger; Their fruits is large and full of juice,* 1.13 and of a fragrant smell.

The Lime tree is like a thick Holly-bush in England, and as full of prickles.* 1.14 When they make a Hedge of them about their houses, it's an excellent fence both against the Negroes, and Cattel. It's commonly of seven or eight foot high, extreamly thick of Leaves, and Fruit, and prickles. The leaves and fruit like those of the Limon-tree, yet in the tast of rind, and juice it differs exceedingly. It's very fit for sauce, but eats not well alone.

The Prickled Apple-tree grows on a tree with very thick leaves,* 1.15 large and of a deep green, shaped like our Walnut leaves. The fruit is in fashi∣on in heart of an Oke, and of that bigness; Green on the outside with many Prickles on it. The tast is very like that of a musty Li∣mon.

The Pilchard Pear is much purer in tast,* 1.16 and better of shape, not much unlike a Greenfield Pear, of a faint green, inter mixed with some yellow near the stalk: The body of a mixt red, partly Crimson, partly stammel, with prickles of yellow near the top, the end being larger then the middle.

The Pomgranate is a beautiful tree, the leaves small and green, mixed with an Olive colour;* 1.17 the blossoms large, well shaped, and of a pure Scarlet colour. The young trees being set in rows, and kept in with cut∣ting, make a very fine hedge. The fruit is well known amongst us.

The Papa is but a small tree;* 1.18 the bark of a faint willow colour, the Leaves large, and of colour like the bark; the Branches grow out four, or five of one heighth, and spread almost level from the place where they sprang out; about two foot higher are such other branches spreading in the same manner. The top is handsomly formed, the fruit as big Turnips, growing close to the body of the tree where the branches grow, and of somewhat a fainter willow colour. The tree is soft, with a Knife a man may cut down one that is as thick as a mans legg. They boil the the fruit, and eat it for Sauce with Pork like Turnips.

The Gnaver-tree is bodied and shaped like a Cherry-tree,* 1.19 the Leaves somewhat larger and stiffer; the fruit of the bigness of a small Limon,

and near of the colour, only the upper end is somewhat blunter: It's soft and of a delicate tast, within is a pulpy substance full of small seeds, like a Figg, some are white, and some of a Stammel colour. These when they have passed through the body of man or Beast, wheresover they are emptied, they grow, and do much hurt in the pastures where Cattel go that eat of them: For they over run all, and are hardly root∣ed out. The fruit differs in tast, some rank, some sweet. The rind pre∣served is delicate meat.

Some Cocos there are,* 1.20 they are seldom above eighty or ninety foot high. Their branches come out in several parts of the trees, leaving spaces between the several heights: The Nuts grow where the lower bows break out: The Nuts are of several sizes, mostly as big as a Foot∣ball, having a green Skin without▪ and between that and the shell a pulpy substance, of which when it's dry they make ropes, being like Hemp hurds.

The shell is full of a clear and well-tasted Liquor, very delicious; It's lined within with a substance as thick as itself, of a white colour that tasts better then a Walnut: The Leaves of this tree in colour are like the Olive leaves.

The Custard Apple grows on a tree full of Branches,* 1.21 and large leaves: The fruit when ripe, is as big as the largest Pomwater, and of the colour of a Warden; they cut a hole in the lesser end, and so eat out the meat with a Spoon: It tasts exceeding like to a Custard. It hath many smooth seeds in it.

The Macow-tree is one of the strangest trees in the Island,* 1.22 the Body and Branches being stuck all over with prickles, as black as jet, from one to seven inches long, sharp at point, and taperwise all the way, and wa∣ved as some Swords are; they are hard and excellent for tooth-pikes. The tree is of the size of a Willow-tree, the Leaves of that colour and shape, but very stiff and hard.

At the top is a large tuft of Fruit, but not to be eaten, being for shape like that which the Ciprus-tree bears: The body is straight, the branches comely, and the top round.

Date-trees are in colour like these,* 1.23 but the leaves longer.

The Mangrave,* 1.24 though she be not tall, yet is she of large extent. For there drops from her Limbs a kind of Gum which hangs together till it touch the Ground, and then it takes root: So that this tree so multi∣plies, that a troop of Horse may well hide themselves in it.

Of the Bark they make very strong Ropes: And the Indians spin it into a fine thred as Flax make. Of it they make Hamocks, and divers things which they wear.

The Calibash-tree bears Leaves,* 1.25 of a full and rich green, and in great plenty; Her Fruit is as big as that of a Coco, but not to be eaten: Round as a Ball, and green, smooth, and shining: they grow close to the body of the tree, or Boughs, without stalks.

Of this round Fruit they make dishes, Bowls, and Cups, and other Utensils. They look very beautiful on the tree.

There are Bay-trees whose Leaves are so Aromatick,* 1.26 as three or four of them will amply supply the place of Cloves, Mace, and Cinamon in dressing any Dish of Meat. It's in shape and colour like ours in Eng∣land.

The Cedar is the most useful timber in the Island.* 1.27 It's strong, lasting, and not very heavy, and therefore good for building. It works smoothly, and hath a fair grain, and therefore is much used for Wainscot, Chairs, Stools, and other Utensils; the Leaves are like those of the Ash-trees in England, but somewhat bigger.

The Mastick-tree is very tall,* 1.28 but the body is slender, and therefore to support her, she hath spurs above seven foot from the ground, fixt into the body, and reach from the tree to the roots: So broad that they make round tables of them, above three foot and an half in the Diameter.

This tree hath commonly a double top, one side being somewhat higher then the other. The Fruit is of a Stammel colour, and hath neither Skin nor stone, and is unwholsome. The leaves of it grow of such an heighth, that the form cannot be discerned till they fall down. Some of these trees are about sixty foot high.

The Bully-tree* 1.29 is somewhat less, but excellent wood to work on: It bears a fruit like our Bullies. Her body is strait, and well shap't, her Branches proportionable; the timber very lasting.

Red-wood is an handsome tree of a midling size,* 1.30 the body about two foot and and an half in the Diameter: the timber works so well that workmen commend it above all other.

Prickled yellow wood is as good as the red-wood, strong and lasting: Good for building,* 1.31 and all work without doors.

Iron-wood is so extream hard, that it breaks the Axes that fall it. It is so heavy that it is seldom used in buildings.* 1.32 It is good for any use without doors. For neither Sun nor Rain can soften it. It's much used for Coggs to the Rollers.

Signum vitae,* 1.33 they use for the same purpose. They send much of it to England: where it's used for Bowls, Cabinets, Drinking Cups, &c.

The Loust-tree is like a Tuscane Pillar,* 1.34 plain and massie: For the burden it bears being great and ponderous, ought to have a body proportion∣able thereunto. Some of them are four foot in the Diameter near the root, and 30. foot high growing taper-wise. The Head is neither too heavy, nor too light, the branches large; the Springs, Leaves, and Nuts so thick, that one may lie upon them. The Nuts are 3. inches and a half long, and two inches broad, and an inch thick: the shell somewhat thick, of an hair colour: the leaves bigger then those of our Ashes. In every Nut are three or four Kernels. In times of Famine poor people eat them for their sustenance.

There is also a bastard Locust-tree that looks fair,* 1.35 but will not last.

The Palmeto hath a body of fourty five or fifty foot high, the Dia∣meter, seldom above sixteen inches:* 1.36 the rind, of a poor Ash color full of

wrinkles; the Leaves about two foot and a half long, in bunches as if twenty long flag-leaves were tied together by the broad ends: with bundles of these they thatch houses very neatly, which is dry, warm, and lasting.

The Palmeto Royal is the stateliest tree that grows on Earth, for beau∣ty and largeness not to be parallel'd.* 1.37 When she is about ten or twelve years old, she is about seventeen foot high; that part which touches the ground is round like 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Inkhorn, above which the body of the tree is less, like that part which holds the pen.

The body is tawny, and purple, with rings of white and green mix∣ed, that go round about, and stand at six inches distance. About six foot and an half high, grow the bottom of the stalks, thin as Parch∣ment, enwrapping one another so close, as to make a continued stem of the same bigness for two foot and an half above the others, every one of those Skins bearing a stalk which lessens insensibly from the Skin to the Point.

These Branches are of several lengths, the most inward are the high∣est; and each stalk is adorned with leaves, and each of these leaves sharp at either end; the Stem is of a pure grass green shining like Ve∣lom, and all the Branches with the Leaves of a full grass green, and speading every way, and the highest of them eight foot above the stem.

The Branches sprout from the middle of tree, one at once, and as it opens it spreads the Leaves abroad, at which time the eldest Branch withers, and hangs down till the wind blows it off.

Then comes forth another, and another, and still there is a Pike, and a dead leaf, a Pike and a dead Leaf as the tree growes higher and higher, which is till she be one hundred years old.

About thirty or fourty yeas old she begins to bear her fruit, which is of the bigness of large Grapes, some green, some yellow, some purple, and then they are ripe when they come to be purple, and fall down; and then the Green turns yellow, and the yellow purple, and so take their turns till the tree gives over bearing.

These trees grow till some of them be two hundred, yea three hun∣dred foot high. The top of this tree is of a vast extent, for from the point of the branches on the one side, to the point of the stalk on the other side is seventy eight foot, yet are none of the roots of this tree bigger then a Swans Quil; But there are many of them, and they fasten them∣selves in the Rock which makes the Tree, though so high, and big, able to stand against all wind and weather. The wood of this tree is so hard and tough, that it breakes the Axes of those those that fell it.

There are many other sorts of trees, some exceeding large aud beauti∣ful, for which they have no names.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The phy∣sick Nut.
• * 1.2

  The poi∣son tree.
• * 1.3

  A mantio∣nel tree.
• * 1.4

  Cussavy.
• * 1.5

  Coloquinti¦da.
• * 1.6

  Cassia Fistu∣la.
• * 1.7

  A strange Tamarine
• * 1.8

  Trees. Palm-trees
• * 1.9

  Figg trees.
• * 1.10

  Cherry-trees.
• * 1.11

  Citron Trees.
• * 1.12

  Orange Trees.
• * 1.13

  Limon Trees.
• * 1.14

  Lime-trees
• * 1.15

  Prickled Apple Trees.
• * 1.16

  Prickled Pear-trees.
• * 1.17

  Pomgra∣nate Trees
• * 1.18

  Papa-trees
• * 1.19

  Gnaver Trees.
• * 1.20

  Coco-trees
• * 1.21

  Custard-Apple trees
• * 1.22

  Mucow Trees.
• * 1.23

  Date Trees,
• * 1.24

  Mungrave Trees.
• * 1.25

  Calibash Trees.
• * 1.26

  Bay-trees.
• * 1.27

  Cedar
• * 1.28

  Mastick Trees.
• * 1.29

  Bully Trees,
• * 1.30

  Red-wood Trees.
• * 1.31

  Prickled yellow wood.
• * 1.32

  Iron Wood.
• * 1.33

  Lignum vitae.
• * 1.34

  Locust Trees,
• * 1.35

  Bastard Locust trees.
• * 1.36

  Palmeto trees.
• * 1.37

  Palms to Royal Trees.