[dd] Navarette tells us of a Tree called the Bejuco, which twines about other Trees, with its End hanging downwards; and that Travellers cut the Nib off it, and presently a Spout of Water runs out from it, as clear as Crystal, enough and to spare for six or eight Men. I drank, saith he, to my Satisfaction of it, found it cool and sweet, and would drink it as often as I found it in my Way. It is a Juice and natural Water. It is the common Relief of the Herds men on the Mountains. When they are thirsty, they lay hold on the Bejuco, and drink their Fill. Collect. of Voy. and Trav. Vol. 1. in the Suppl. to Navarette’s Account of China, p. 355.
The Waterwith of Jamaica hath the same Uses, concerning which, my before-commended Friend, Dr. Sloane, favoured me with this Account from his Original Papers: This Vine growing on dry Hills, in the Woods, where no Water is to be met with, its Trunk, if cut into Pieces two or three Yards long, and held by either End to the Mouth, affords so plentifully a limpid, innocent, and refreshing Water, or Sap, as gives new Life to the droughty Traveller or Hunter. Whence this is very much celebrated by all the Inhabitants of these Islands, as an immediate Gift of Providence to their distressed Condition.
To this we may add what Mr. Ray takes notice of concerning the Birch-Tree. In initiis Veris antequam folia prodiere, vulnerata dulcem succum copiosè effundit, quem siti pressi Pastores in sylvis sæpenumerò potare solent. Nos etiam non semel eo liquore recreati sumus, cùm herbarum gratiâ vastas peragravimus sylvas, inquit Tragus. Raii Cat. Plant. circa. Cantab. in Betula.
BOOK XI.
Practical Inferences from the foregoing Survey.
Having in the preceding Books carried my Survey as far as I care at present to engage my self, all that remaineth, is to draw some Inferences from the foregoing Scene of the great Creator’s Works, and so conclude this Part of my intended Work.
