The Civil and Natural History of Jamaica

What it is

A physician's survey of Jamaica's plants and animals, arranged by the new Linnaean system, with a short English note on where each plant grows and how it was used as food, timber and medicine on the island.

Whose knowledge it records

Written by an Irish physician who lived in Jamaica. The uses he records were the everyday practice of the island, much of it the knowledge of enslaved Africans and of Jamaica's Jewish community, which he reports without naming the people who held it.

Passages transcribed

• CANELLA 1. Canella, or Winter's-Bark. (p. 275)
• CAPSICUM 1–4. Bell Pepper; Goat Pepper; Finger Pepper; Bird Pepper. (pp. 176–177)
• HIBISCUS 5. Red Sorrel. (p. 285)
• MOMORDICA 1–2. The smooth-leafed Cerasee; The hairy Cerasee. (p. 353)
• PSIDIUM 1. The Guava Tree. (pp. 238–239)
• RICINUS 1. The Oil-Nut Tree. (p. 350)
• SCOPARIA 1. The Liquorish-weed, or sweet Broom-weed. (p. 145)
• SESAMUM 1–2. The Vanglo, or Oil-plant; The Vanglo, with simple leaves. (p. 270)
• TAMARINDUS 1. The Tamarind-tree. (p. 125)