Page 392
An. 1687
Wild Grape-tree. Wild Nutmeg.
could not fee them: and we generally found them out this way. Mangoes are common in many places of the Eaft Indies: but I did never know any grow wild only at this place. Thefe, though not fo big as thofe I have feen at Achin; at Maderas, and Fort St. George, are yet every whit as pleafant as the beft fort of their Garden Mangoes.
The Grape-tree grows with a ftrait body, of a Diameter about a foot or more, and hath but few Limbs or Boughs. The Fruit grows in Clufters, all about the body of the Tree, like the Jack, Du- rian, and Cacao Fruits. There are of them both red and white. They are much like fuch Grapes as grow on our Vines, both in fhape and colour; and they are of a very pleafant Winy tafte. I never faw thefe but on the two biggeft of thefe Iflands; the reft had no Tar-trees, Mango's, grape-trees, nor Wild Nutmegs.
The Wild Nutmeg-tree is as big as a Walnut- tree; but it does not fpread fo much. The Boughs are grofs, and the Fruit grows among the Boughs, as the Wallnut, and other Fruits. This Nutmeg is much fmaller than the true Nutmeg, and longer alfo. It is inclofed with a thin Shell, and a fort of Mace, encircling the Nut, within the Shell. This baftard Nutmeg is fo much like the true Nutmeg in fhape, that at our firft arrival here we thought it to be the true one; but it has no manner of fmell nor tafte.
The Animals of thefe Iflands are fome Hogs, Lizards, and Guanoes; and fome of thofe Crea- tures mentioned in Chap. XI. which are like, but much bigger than the Guano.
Here are many forts of Birds, as Parrots, Para- kites, Doves and Pigeons. Here are alfo a fort of wild Cocks and Hens: They are much like our tame Fowl of that kind; but a great deal lefs: for they are about the bignefs of a Crow. The Cocks do crow