CHAP. XII. Of Corall.
COrall, otherwise Stone-tree. It comes from a juice that is stony when it growes, under the Sea water: it is a small Tree green and soft, bearing Berries, like the Cornus Tree; in shape and magnitude, but soft and white: it presently growes hard before it is cut; it appears all green. Sometimes also the stalks of one Corall Tree are partly red, partly white, and partly black. In the Mediterranean, they gather great quantity of it; and those of Massilia go yearly to fish for it, and draw it from the bottom of the Sea with Nets, Dispens. Chymic. l. 2▪ c. 49. Linschot. part 3. orient Ind. c. 1. At the Cape Bon Esperance, he saith, there are Rocks, on which Coral grows of all colours. The Indians weare it because Southsayers think it avoids dangers. The vulgar thinks it can preserve their Children from Witches. This is super∣stitious, but certain it is, it will quench thirst, being extreme cold. Mercurial. l. 3. de curand. affect. Tied to the neck, it drives away troublesome dreams, and stills the nightly feares of Children. Pansa de prorog. vitae l. 4. If a Man weare it, it will be very red: but pale, if a woman use it. Lemn, l. de occult. c. 22. The fuliginous Spi∣rits in a woman are the cause of it, and the faint heat in Coral. In men the naturall heat is strong and evaporates. Hence if Coral be covered with Mustard seed it waxeth red. There are other Plants in the Sea that come from a juyce that grows into a stone. About Hercules Pil∣lars, and in the outland Sea, Trees grow like Bay Trees. In the Indian Sea, there are Bull-rushes and Reeds; in the red Sea, Mush∣rooms; all which being cast forth, are changed into stones. Theophra∣stus and Pliny confirm these; To this appertains Syringites, that is like a joynted straw, and the reed hollow.