BRITISH SETTLEMENT


This bloom is suddenly succeeded by a
multitude of small pods which contain
the cotton, and which burst when suffici-
ently ripe. The crop of cotton it affords
is said to be triennial.* The trunk of this
tree is much used in the building of ca-
noes and small vessels.
 For purposes of a medicinal nature, the
 variety of trees and shrubs peculiar to this
 country is astonishingly great. Indepen-
 dent of which, many others have become
 familiar to it from cultivation. Of the
 former, the Jatropha, or Physic nut,
 claims particular notice. It is the pro-
 pecry of this nut to act upon the human
 systemm either in the way of emeutic or ca-
 thartic; or if it be required, powerfully
 as both; effects which depend on the
 mode of its preparation, and which in
all ways is intimately understood by the
inhabitants. It is very generally consi-
dered one of the most efficacious antidotes
 Natural Hist. of Guiana, Oct.06.