Page:The History of the Island of Dominica.djvu/54

which they acquire by feeding on the bloſſoms and leaves of the mahaut, a tree which gives name to a part of the iſland where it grows eſpecially, and of which it is neceſſary to give firſt a deſcription. This tree is of the cork kind, and grows ſpontaneoufly in watery places, or at the ſides of rivers, and renders the water and air near them very unwholeſome. They are about the ſize in common of the Engliſh oak-trees, and are almoſt continually in bloſſom; which is of a ſickly yellow colour, and has much the appearance of the poppy bloſſom, but is rather larger. The body, branches, leaves, and bloſſoms of the mahaut-tree, contain a milky juice, which is a moſt ſubtle poiſon to every creature but the crabs who taſle it; and to them it gives the ſame deadly quality if eaten, as has been fatally experienced by ſeveral perſons. Yet notwithſtanding their bad qualities, theſe trees are very ſerviceable, as the bark of them ſtripped oft makes good ropes, nearly as ſtrong as thoſe

made