knowledge of this kind has been preserved, though much is loft for want of a more certain mode of preservation than human memory. Some of their medicinal operations are ftill practifed; but most of them are difufed, being fuperfeded by profeffional improvements. They raised a blifter by burning punk or touchwood on the skin. They applied roots, boiled foft, in the form of a poultice to the throat or other parts, when swelled or inflamed. They relieved a person chilled with cold, by pouring warm water down the throat. They attempted the cure of fevers by sweating in a covered hut, with the fteam of water poured on hot stones, and then plunging into cold water. For pains in the limbs they had another mode of fweating. A number of fods were heated, and the patient, wrapped in a mat, was laid on fome and covered with others, till the heat of the turf was fuppofed to have extracted the pain. The offices of phyfician and prieft were united in the fame perfon, and a variety of mysterious rites accompanied his operations.

They had a knowledge of poifons and antidotes, and could fo prepare themfelves, that the most venemous ferpents would avoid them, or prove harmless in their hands. This knowledge has feldom been communicated, and is always treated as mysterious.

I wish it could not be faid, that some of their fuperftitious notions have been transferred and propagated. The idea that lonely

mountains and rocks are inhabited by departed spirits, and other invisible and imaginary beings, is not yet worn out. Certain charms and spells, which are fuppofed to be effectual prefervatives, or cures in cafes of witchcraft, are still in ufe among the vulgar; though perhaps fome of thefe traditions may owe their origin to the fuperftition of our European ancestors, defcended from the remoter favages of Britain, Ireland and Germany. Thefe notions, however pitied by fome, and ridiculed by others, are ftill deeply engraven on the minds of many, and are maintained with an inflexibility which would do them honor if the cause were worthy of defence. So ftrong are thefe impreffions, that the fame perfons, whofe intrepidity in fcenes of real danger is unquestionable, often render themfelves miferable by the apprehenfion of evils, which exift only in their imagination.

СНАР.

1

CHA P. VIII.

Foreft-trees, and other Vegetable productions.

FEV

EW perfons in this country, have ftudied natural history as a fcience, and of those who have a tafte for inquiries of this kind, none have had leifure to purfue them, to the extent which is defireable. In the defcription of an American State, it would be unpardonable not to take notice of its natural productions. With much diffidence I enter on this part of my work, fenfible that my knowledge of the fubject is imperfect, yet, defirous of contributing fomething, to promote a branch of science, now in its infancy; but for which there is an ample field of inquiry.* ELM (ulmus americana.) Of this tree there is but one fpecies, of which there are two varieties, the white and the red. The inner rind of both is ftringy and tough, and is frequently used for the bottoms of chairs, and for bed-cords. The wood is not eafily fplit

and

*For the arrangement of the feveral articles in the botanical and zoological chapters, for their generic and specific names, and for fome of the obfervations on their nature and properties, I am indebted to the friendly affiftance of the Rev. Dr. Manaffch Cutler, of Ipfwich, and Mr. William Dandridge Peck, of Kittery.

and therefore ferves for the naves of wheels. The bark of the white elm is ufed medicinally for the gravel. The EUROPEAN ELM (ulmus: campestris) is fo far naturalized as to propagate itself in copfes.

SASSAFRAS (laurus faffafras) is commonly found in moift land. It does not, in this. State, grow to a large fize. Its root, bark and leaves have an aromatic fmell. It affords a valuable ingredient for beer as well as for medicinal purposes. The wood makes handfome bedsteads, and it is faid that bugs will not be found in them for feveral years. The SPICE-WOOD (laurus benzoin) or as it is commonly called FEVER-BUSH, is another species of the laurus, common in New-Hampshire. It is more aromatic than the faffafras, In the western country, its fruit and bark are used as a substitute for pimento.

WILD CHERRY. Of this we have many fpecies; but they have not been well arranged, and properly diftinguifhed. They are very numerous in land which has been newly cleared, if not kept down by culture. The wood of the largest cherry-tree (prunus virginiana) is very highly esteemed in cabinet work, being of a firm texture, a fmooth grain, and a beautiful colour, between red and yellow.

BASSWOOD

BASSWOOD OF LIME-TREE (tilia americas na) is fometimes fawed into boards, which are very white, but foft, and eafily warped. ...Locust (robinia pfeudo-acacia) is excellent fewel. Its trunk ferves for durable posts fet in the ground, and may be fplit into trunnels for fhips, which are equal to any wood for that purpofe. It thrives on fandy and gravelly foils, and its leaves enrich them. For thefe reafons, the cultivation of the locuft has been thought an object worthy of attention, efpecially as it is a tree of quick growth. For fev eral years paft it has been injured by a beetleinfect, which bores a hole through its trunk. Many trees have been entirely killed, and this circumftance has proved a difcouragement to their propagation,

BIRCH. Of this we have four fpecies. 1. WHITE (betula alba.) The bark of this tree is a fubftance of a fingular kind, and is perhaps the only bark which is lefs liable to rot than the wood which it inclofes. The whole interior fubftance of a fallen tree, is frequently found rotten, whilft the bark remains found. This bark is compofed of feveral lamina, eafily feparable, of a firm confiftence, thin, flexible, foft and smooth. It may be written upon, like paper. It is very inflammable, emitting a vivid flame-and a very dense, black smoke, which might cafily be collected like lamp

black,