parilla. There is also a
particular root in this country of an herb called _Jean Hebert_, about
the ordinary size of the _Salsifix_, or _Goatsbread_, with knots at
about an inch, or an inch and an half distance from one another, of a
yellowish colour, white in the inside, with a sugarish juice, which is
excellent for the stomach.

There has been lately discovered in these parts a poisonous root, much
resembling, in color and substance, a common carrot. When broke it has a
pleasing smell; but between the flakes may be observed a yellowish
juice, which is supposed to be the poison. Of four soldiers that had
eaten of it in their soup lately, two were difficultly preserved by dint
of antidotes; the other two died in the utmost agonies of pain, and
convulsions of frenzy. One of them was found in the woods sticking by
the head in a softish ground, into which he had driven it, probably in
the excess of his torture. Such a vegetable must afford matter of
curious examination to a naturalist; for as it does so much harm, it may
also be capable of great good, if sought into by proper experiments.

The spirit of turpentine is much used by the inhabitants. The gum itself
is esteemed a great vulnerary; and purges moderately those who are full
of bilious, or gross humors.

For the rest there is, I believe, hardly any sort of grain, tree, or
vegetable, especially in the north of France that might not be
successfully raised in Acadia. The rains are frequent in every season of
the year. There are indeed often violent squalls of wind, especially
from the South, and seem the West, but nothing like the hurricanes in
the West-Indies. It is a great rarity if thunder does any mischief. Some
years ago there was a man killed in his hut by it; but the oldest men of
the country never remembered to have known or heard of any thing like it
before. There have been earthquakes felt but rarely, and not very
violent. This country produces no venomous beasts, at least, that I
could hear of. In the warmer season there are sometimes found snakes,
not, however, thicker than one's finger, but their bite is not known to
be attended with any fatal consequences, There are no tygers, nor lions,
nor other beasts of prey to be afraid of unless bears, and that only in
their rutting-time, and even then it is very rare that they attack. As
there are then no carnivorous animals except the lynxes, who have a
beautiful skin, and these rarely fall upon any living creat