These latter are useless as timber; and their roots are, of course, hurtful to the canes.

But the Negro is shy of felling the Ceiba.

It is a magic tree, haunted by spirits.

There are 'too much jumbies in him,' the Negro says; and of those who dare to cut him down some one will die, or come to harm, within the year.

In Jamaica, says my friend Mr.Gosse, 'they believe that if a person throws a stone at the trunk, he will be visited with sickness, or other misfortune.