CHAPTER VIII

Summary

That tree called Triste, which is produced in the East Indies, is so named because it blooms only by night. As the sun sets you see no flowers upon the tree, then, half-an-hour after the sun is below the horizon, the tree flowers all over; and when the sun rises, incontinently all the flowers fall off, nor does one abide. The tree is of the size of a pear-tree; the leaf resembles that of the laurel, save that it is somewhat slashed. The seeds are useful for soups, for they colour it like saffron; and the water distilled from the flowers is useful against the eye-disease.

The ebony-tree is of the size of the olive, having a leaf of the form of sage, and bearing a white flower like a rose. The wood is exceeding hard; it is found in great quantity at Mozambic, and that is the best; also at the island of St. Helena, but there it is not so good, being full of knots.

Betel is a plant set at the foot of other trees, which it clasps like as does pepper or ivy: the leaf is about as big as that of the rib-wort (plantain), but harder and thicker, and full of little nerves or filaments. There is great store of it in the East Indies, and chiefly at the Maldive islands, for there they cultivate it with extreme care.