The Natural Hiftory of ) A M AIGA. 
The Water contain’d inthe Nuts not ripe, is very pleafant, cooling, 
and a natural Emulfion, good in Govorbeas, Stoppage of Urine, Fevers, In- 
fammations,cvc. and is the moft pleafant cooling Liquor that I ever tafted ; 
but in fome fmall Time, if fuffer’d to remain in the Nut, it tutns into the 
Kernel, {ticking to the InGide of the Shell, for which Reafon, it ftands 
well here among Trees with a dry Fruit, tho’ Dr. Pluk. p. 143. 0f his 
Mantiff. thinks other wife. : 
Margrave faw this Tree removed when thirty Years old at Brafil, there 
being three hundred People to do it, | 
In Goa they take out the white Kernel, dry it, and fend it in Traffick, 
as well as the whole Fruit, to Malabar, Cambaja, Ormus, &c. which ts for 
making Oil to eat, ferve their Lamps, and for Phyfick to purge the Sto- 
mach and kill Worms ; the Dofe is Eight Ounces when made of Frefh 
Nuts; When made of oldones, it ferves for old Aches, Gout and Con- 
traGtions of the Nerves. They cut the Flowers to get the Liquor Sara 
‘na Bottle clofed from the Air, ’tis from thence, none inthe Philippine 
Hflands are troubled with the Stone, it being cooling to the Liver and 
Kidneys, and cleanfing the Urethra ; ftanding an Hour in the Sunit turns 
to Vinegar, which muft be mix’d with Meat when almott cold, for on 
the leaft Heat, itlofes itsSournefs; diftil’d twice, it is called Vraca (or 
Rack) ufed very much in the Indses, being as hot as Spirit of Wine; with 
Raifins it makes a fine red Wine; carried thro” the Indies, and Fagra, a 
black Sugar, good for the Breaft, and every thing as our Sugar, is made 
of Sura by Evaporation ; the Cabbage (or Germen) isa great Dainty ; the 
Maldives are full of thefe Nuts, fo that their whole Barks, Loading, 
Meat, coc. are all from this Tree. Lénfchot. Garctas. 
Martyr fays this Fruit was brought to the American Ifles, but, that ma- 
ny were found naturally ia Peru, it may be doubted whevher chey were 
not brought thicher by the natural Currents of the Sea. 
The Nuts when young are eat, they tafte like Artichokes, and ftop 
al) Manner of Fluxes. Xs. Hermand. Gare. Acofta, 
Of the Villi or Fibres of this Fruit Birds make their hang Nefts to 
fecure them againft Serpents. Valer. ap. Agu. p. 27. 
The Roots Chark’d, gives an excellent Temper to Iron, and the Boughs 
and Leaves make Torches to drive away Serpents, and take Fifh as in 
Portugal ; of the Leaves are made Parafols to fhelter from Sun and Rain 
and Coverings for Palangquins; fome Palm Leaves ferve for Paper, being 
writ on with a fteel Pencil ; of the Twigs or Petsols of the Fruit are made 
ordinary Caps ; when the Clufter appears yet cover’d with the Flower, 
gather’d pounded and boyl’d in three Pints of Cows Milk, icis a Remedy 
againft the Yellow-Jaundice, which is infallible ; the Water of the unripe 
Nuts is an excellent Wafh: When the Palm puts forth her Shoot or Poyo, 
fhaped like a Moorifh Scimiter, before the Clufter appears, they cut three 
Fingers Breadth from the Point, and tying it near the Incifion, flitting 
jt, put the End of the Shoot into a Pitcher made for that Purpofe, leaving 
it there, the Shoots weep that Juice which fhould have produced Cocos- 
Nuts; the Inhabitants take it away twice in 24 Hours, Morning and E- 
vening. Fifh putrified at thefe TreesRoots are good Manure, fomeHftates in 
India confit of them ; they do not thrive on Hills too much expos’d or far 
from the Sea ; the Indians Sow the Ground between them ; the belt are 
in Afia and India; they plant themin Beds, and cover chem with Earth, 
and when grown big, they tranfplant them ; they are fecur’d as it were 
with a fort of natural Canvafs againft Winds; their Age is known 
by the Ve/tigia of their Leaves dropt off. Hieronymo de Lobos. 
_ | The 
