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men paniculatum spicis crassioribus et brevioribus ” by Tournefort inst. 521 ; was observed by Forskal
near Marseilles; and is known to grow in waste places and in woods throughout middle Europe
as far as liritain, where it is called orchard grass or cock's-foot (Engl. bot. pi. 335. Pers., and Prior).
From Europe, was carried by colonists to Northeast America, where it has become naturalized, growing
not only in waste ground, but extending into the forest.
Lapp'tgo/'77/™osa of Hindustan. Known in Arabia (Pers.) as early probably as this date;
observed in the environs of Constantinople by Forskal, and Sibthorp. Westward, described by Tragus,
and Plaller; termed “ gramen spicatum locustis echinatis” by Tournefort inst. 519 ; and known
to grow in various parts of Southern Europe (Lani. fl. fr., and Pers.). Eastward, observed in Plin-
dus'tan by Roxburgh, by Law, in the environs of Bombay (Graham) ; and specimens were shown me
on the Deccan by Mr. Ballantine. The grass bears minute burs, and by European colonists was
carried to the West Indies (Pers.).
Eragrostis poceoides of Subtropical Africa and Asia. A grass called in Nubia “ gytt; ” — and
observed by Forskal p. 21 among the mountains of Yemen ; and by him, and Delile, in Lower Egypt.
Farther North, observed by Sibthorp, and Chaubard, in the Peloponnesus and on Samos, frequent
in cultivated ground; and farther East, known to growin Siberia. Westward, described by Lobel
hist., Clus. rar. vi. 38, and Barrelier pl. 44; termed “ gramen paniculis elegantissimis sive gragrbstis,
majus ” by Tournefort inst. 522 ; and known to grow in Italy, Switzerland, and Barbary (Pers.).
Festuca rubens of the Mediterranean countries. A grass known in Egypt as early probably as
this date : — observed there by Forskal, and Delile pl. 11, on the margin of grain-fields around Alexandria.
Farther North, observed by Forskal, Sibthorp pl. 83, and Chaubard, In Crete, the Peloponnesus,
and on Imros, on the margin of fields and the site of old walls; and Westward, described by
Tournefort inst. 524, and known to grow in Liguria and Spain (All., Pers., and Dec.).
Bromus mollis of Europe and the adjoining portion of Asia. A grass called in Greece “ luko-
nora ; ” — observed there by Sibthorp, and Chaubard, frequent in cultivated ground on the Peloponnesus
and the Greek islands ; and farther South, observed by Delile growing around Cairo. Westward,
termed “ gramen avenaceum locustis villosis crassioribus ” by Tournefort inst. 526 ; and is known to
grow abundantly throughout middle Europe as far as Britain (Curt. lond. i. pl. 8, and Pers,). From
Europe, carried by colonists to Northeast America, where though “ scarce ” it continues to occur m
wheat-fields in our Middle States (A. Gray) ; also to Austral Africa (Rcem. and Schult.). According
to Loudon, the seeds bring on giddiness in the human species and in quadrupeds, and are fatal to
poultry (Lindl.).
“ Sept, 6th, Thursday” (F. Columb. 15 to 44), departure of Columbus from the Canary Islands
Westward : with three ships, provided by Isabella wife of king Ferdinand. “ On the 13th ” at nightfall,
having sailed about two hundred leagues, he remarked Variation o f the magnetic needle : continuing
his observations on this — and his succeeding voyages, he discovered a “ line without magnetic
variation ” one hundred miles West of the Azores.
“ Oct. nth, Thursday,” in the night (F. Columb. 22 to 62), land discovered by Columbus, supposed
by him to be the beginning of the Indies. In the morning, the land was ascertained to be an
island, called by the natives “ Guanahani; ” which name was changed by Columbus to “ St. Salvador.”
The natives proving friendly, on being asked by signs, Where they procured the bits ot gold worn for
ornament, pointed South. Seven natives were then taken on board, and Columbus proceeded in the
direction designated to another island in sight, which he called “ Conception ; ” thence to a thiid
island, which he called “ Fernandina;” thence to a fourth, whose native name “ Saomotto or Somoto ”
he cl/nged to “ Isabella;” and next came in sight of Cuba, a large and mountainous island. A
. “ beast like a badger” (Capromys) was killed here by a party sent on shore. Turning now East,
Columbus followed the coast of Cuba “ one hundred and six leagues ” to its termination : and continuing
beyond, reached another large and mountainous island, and changed its native name “ Aiti ” to
“ Hispaniola.” On this island, the source of the gold above mentioned, he lost his largest ship; aiM with
the materials, saved through the aid ofthe natives, built a fort; and left behind thirty-nine of his men.
In the new archipelago, the tides were observed by Columbus to be “ quite contrary to ours ; for
it was low water when the moon was Southwest and by South.”
The natives first met with, are described (F. Columb.) as “ of a middle stature, well shap d,
plump, but of an olive colour, like the people of the Canaries or peasants that are sun-bnrn’d. Their
countenances were pleasant, and their features good, but their too high foreheads made them look
somewhat wild. Their hair lank, thick, very black,” and in some individuals cut short (agreeing with
the Malayan race, but the complexion too light). They easily repeated the words they once heard;
had javelins pointed with fish-bone, and sword-like clubs; and some of their canoes were large enough
to contain “ forty or fifty ” men. “ Their beds were like a net drawn together in the nature of a sling
tied to two posts,” and were calleci “ hamacas ” {hammocks, now first made known to Europeans).
They had nets, cotton “ very well spun, cotton cloth," and “ looms to weave ; ” also honey, and balls of
w ax ( . . . . ) . By the Cubans, large fishes and turtle were captured by means of the remora or
suck-fish (Echineis). Hayti was found governed by four principal caciques ; each having under him seventy or eighty
local subordinate chiefs, who “ were obliged, whensoever called upon, to assist them in their wars,
and till the ground.” The principal chiefs spoke through an intermediate officer (as among the Feejeeans)
; in making treaties presented a “ girdle ” or belt (as among our North American tribes);
and in travelling, were carried in “ a sort of palanquine.” Medicine-men are described (another point
in common with our North American tribes; and as among the Hawaiians), bones of individuals were
kept in calabashes, and certain stones were supposed to cause “ women to be delivered without pain.”
Bows and arrows, the latter pointed with “ a fish’s tooth or bone,” were in use (F. Columb.).
The natives generally, are described by Columbus as “ so loving, tractable, and free from covetousness,”
that “ there are no better people” in “ the world. They love their neighbour as themselves,
and their conversation is the sweetest in the universe, being pleasant and always smiling. True it is,
both men and women go as naked as they were born ; ” yet “ the king is served with great state; and
he is so staid, that it is a great satisfaction to see him, as it is to think what good memories these
people have, and how desirous they are to know everything, which moves ’em to ask many questions,
and to enquire into the cause and effects of every thing.” In regard to religious ideas, “ I could discover
neither idolatry nor any other sect among them, tho’ every one of their kings, who are very
many, as well in Hispaniola, as in all the other islands,” has “ a house apart from the town in which
there is nothing at all but some wooden images carved ” (compare Feejeeans) : “ I have taken pains
to find out what it is they believe, and whether they know what becomes of them after they are dead ;
especially I enquired of Caunabo ; ” who “ and the rest answered, That they go to a certain vale,
which every great cacique supposes to be in his country, where they affirm they find their parents,
and all their predecessors, and that they eat, have women, and give themselves up to pleasures and
pastimes.” *
* Bombax ceiba of the West Indies and neighbouring portion of Tropical America. An immense
tree called by the natives “ ceyba ” (Ovied.), and its spiny trunk scooped out for canoes, some large
enough according to Columbus lett. i to contain “ seventy and eighty men, each with his oar: ” —
“ arboles que llevan lana ” and are “ muy espinosos ” were seen by Columbus on Hayti, on his Second
voyage'(Columb. lett. in soc. Hackl.); the “ ceyba” was observed by Oviedo gen. hist. ix. 11 growing
wild ; trees of the girth of fifteen men were seen in Nicaragua by a writer (quoted by Lerius); and
according to Barcia i. 24, this was one of the first trees to engage the attention of the colonists
(Spreng ) : B. ceiba was observed by Jacquin am. pl. 176 on the West Indies or neighbouring mainland.
By Nimmo, has recently been introduced into the environs of Bombay (Graham).
Isotoma longiflora of the West Indies. A Lobeliaceous plant called by Spanish colonists
“ rebenta cavallos ” (Lindl); and the “ ruybaruo ” mentioned by Columbus lett. i ,—may be compared
: I. longiflora is termed “ trachelium sonchi folio flore albo longissimo ” by Plumier iii. pl. 353,
as observed on Jamaica (Pers.); was also observed in the West Indies by Jacquin amer. 219; is
known to grow on Cuba, Hayti, and Martinique, and is “ one of the most venomous of known plants,”
bringing on “ fatal hypercatharsis,” and the juice applied to “ the lips or eyes ” producing “ violent
burning inflammation ” (Lindl.).
Schinus molle otfN edexn Peru. A small pinnate-leaved Terebinthaceous tree, apparently the
“ almastiga, arbol, hoja y eh fruto es semejante al lentisco,” seen by Columbus in the West Indies:
— S. molle, together with the potato, was introduced into Me.xico after the time of the Montezumas
(Hernand. iii. 15, and Humb. iv. 9) ; was observed by myself wild and frequent along river-banks in
Western Peru: tlie bark and leaves according to Lindley are “ filled with a resinous matter” that
“ concretes into a substance resembling mastich, a white odoriferous substance” also “ procured from
the leaves” and “ used in diseases ofthe eye.” Transported to Europe, the tree is described by Clusius
post. 94 (Spreng.), ancl Lamarck pl. 822. “ S. aroeira,” if a variety only, was doubtless brought
from Peru into Brazil, where it was found by Maximilian of Wied Neuwied employed by the native
tribes in diseases of the eye. ,
Torreya taxifolia ot Florida and the West Indies. A middle-sized tree of the pine tribe; and
the “ pinos ” bearing instead of cones “ frutos ” that “ parecen azeytunas del Axarafe de Sevilla,” seen
by Columbus journ. Nov. 25th and 27th in the West Indies — (Humb, cosm. i.) may be compared:
T. taxifolia was observed by Croom, and Chapman, “ along the east bank of the Apalachicola river,
middle Florida.”
Areca olerácea of the West Indies. Called by the Caribs “ aouari ” (Descourt.), and probably
one of the “ palmas de seys o de ocho mañeros ” seen by Columbus lett. i : — A. olerácea was observed
in the West Indies by Oviedo (Spreng), Jacquin amer. pl. 170 (Pers.), and Descourtilz.
Elais Occidentalis of the West fnclies. Probably one of the “ six or eight kinds of palm-trees ”