OF FOREST-TREES.

371

What may we say then of innumerable other trees, fitted for the usesnature has designed them, especially for timber, and all other fabrile em-

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advantages, no other so well satisfies the sight when laden with great and smaller clusters,some ripe, others colouring; some in the blofsoms, others forwarder; the grateful appear-ance of her fruit is no lefs pleasant than her admirable fecundity: Her tallnefs not inferiorto a high Cyprus -tree, her trunk slender, without the help of boughs to climb by, her nutsretired at the top, amongst her leaves and branches, makes her resemble a fond mother,bringing her children about her the better to preserve them, and cutting off all intercoursetending to their destruction. All places produce not Cocoes of the same bi^nefs, whichare great or small according to the nature of the climate, and quality of the soil fitted forthe production of that fruit. The coast of Malabar being cool, and abounding withrivers (which spring in the mountains of Gate, to whose foot this coast extends)affords such large and fair Cocoes, that the Lanhas (i. e.) young and imperfect nuts ofCochim and those territories, are every one sufficient to quench the thirst of two personsAfter these are cried up those of Ceylon, where the ground is very rank and luxuriant'yet inferior to the soil of Malaca, and the places adjoining, where the Cocoes are thethe greatest. Those of Arabia the Happy are fairer than any yet spoken of; the goodnefsof the soil, and nature of the climate, being proportionably advantageous, the name ofHappy proves it. Of all these places and sorts of fruit, I am an eye-ivitnefs. Two pecu-liar virtues of these Cocoes, are not to be pafsed over in silence : The first, that when thecluster begins to appear, being yet covered with the Rower, gathered, pounded, boiled inthree pints of cow’s milk, it is an infallible cure for the yellow jaundice; besides theopinion had of this remedy, I speak by experience, having with it in a few days cured onetroubled with this disease. The second is, that in the opinion of the women, (wherefancy most domineers) the water of Lanhas makes a wash for the face, which eminentlybetters the complexion, either by creating it where nature bestowed it not, or advancing-it where nature is deficient, or preserving it wherb it was naturally allowed. . From whahath been said, is evidently concluded, that if the Author of Nature created all trees'fa rthe service of man, the Palm-tree of all those doth most industriously serve and advanta ehim, by so many ways, and so considerable productions; and because that which bears

Dates is of the true race of Palm-trees, something is to be said, of that and her fruit_

Those trees which bear Dates, yield them not in India ; there only affording the Surabefore mentioned, of which wine is made. Northward, those trees grow in the greatestquantity; some have Dates , which appear in fair clusters but come not to maturity: thereason must be in the climate, which favours them not. In Africa they attain the highestperfection, Dates being the natural fruit of that part of the world; those of Arabia, wherethey grow in great quantities, are excellent, pleasant to the sight, in beautiful cluster-(which beginning to ripen appear in various colours, consisting of a faint Vermillion ai 1pale whitenefs, called the Date colour) and more acceptable to the taste. Arabia 311duceth divers sorts, particularly the Happy; .Petrea is not without them.) d \ p as ' >r °~there is, which serves for common sustenance, given to horses for provender : Other- 1°^ "are of a more exquisite ta.$te and value, amongst them those called Muxanas wl N

the least, but naturally recompensed by an excellent flavour; few of then, ’ W ’“V ° re

’ 1 lnen > exported cut.