# A Voyage to the Islands Madera, Barbados, Nieves, S. Christophers and Jamaica/Volume 1/Book 1/Chapter 15

Chap. XV.
Of Herbs that are Bacciferous or Pomiferous.
I. Cucurbita longa folio molli, flore albo. J.B. Cat. p. 100. Cucurbita longa. Mus. Samm. p. 13. Gourds, whereof they make Conserves of an Anonymus Portugal of Brasile, Purchas, lib. 7. cap. 1. p. 139. The sweet Gourd.
I could not observe any difference between the Plant I saw here in Gardens, and those in Europe, only they seem'd to be larger, and had a whitish Skin, which is only, I suppose, an accidental variety.
It was planted by Mrs Aylmer in her Garden at Guanaboa.
The Pulp of this is edible and cooling, whereas that of most of the other Gourds growing here is very purgative.
This is what the Jews, Spaniards, and Portuguese make into Sweet Meats, in the Island of Madera and elsewhere.
If crude it is not grateful to the Stomach.
Applied to the Head by way of Poultess, it cures inflammations of the Eyes, and pains thereof. The Seeds are Diuretick and made into Emulsions temper the Urin, taking off its Acrimony.
Bodæus à Stapel tells us that he had one of these Gourds which came from Indian Seed, as large as a Human Body.
This is cut into long slices, and candied with Sugar by the Spaniards and Portuguese and sent into the North to sell, it is call'd Carbasade, and is very delightful to Dry or Feverish People. Lob.
The Seed of this is one of the four greater cold Seeds.
It is eat with Onions boil'd after the manner of Coleworts, being good for Lean People. The distilled Water is good in Fevers. Lon.
Children in Fevers are cured, if one of these, as long as themselves, be put to Bed to them. Dod.
Being of no tast they imbibe any. Lac.
The long, round, and compress'd Gourds come of the same Seed from different parts of the Fruit. Durant.
II. Cucurbita spherica maxima. Cat. p. 100. The largest round Gourd.
In Leaves, &c. it agrees with the white, long, sweet Gourd, only the Shell is yellow, or Cinamon coloured, hard, smooth, shining, having a bitter Pulp within it, and smaller and darker coloured Seeds. One of them is able to contain many Gallons of Melassus, &c. for which they are us'd instead of Bottles.
The Shell gives a purging quality to any thing infused in it for some times.
They are planted on stony Hills.
They are so large, that cut in two they make Panniers to carry any thing in. Acosta. And others are lesser for eating and drinking in.
III. Cucurbita tertia seu lagenaria, flore albo, folio molli. C.B. Cat. p. 100. An Kabach, cucurbita lagenaria Herbar. Olear. p. 231?
This grows with the former likewise.
This is falsly taken for Colocynthis though it Purges, and gives that quality to any Liquor standing in its Shell.
​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/397 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/398 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/399 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/400 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/401 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/402 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/403 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/404 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/405 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/406 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/407 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/408 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/409 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/410 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/411 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/412 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/413 ​Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/414 ​they are white, and divided in their Margins into five Sections, and to them follows several red, smooth Berries, round, as big as a small Pea, containing in an Orange colour'd Pulp, two oblong, brown Seeds, each of which is flat on one side, and rais'd on the other, with a sharp or more eminent ledge on it.
It grows in shady, dark, and moist Woods in the Path going to Sixteen Mile Walk, and elsewhere.
Boil'd in Whey it cures the Flux. Boil'd in Oil it cures bloody Eyes. H.M.