16 
The Natural Hiftory of JAMAICA. 
_ It grows in the Bay of Campeche, where the Nuts pafs for Money. 
in Cofta Rica, between Portabel and Nicaragua, on the Coalt of Caraccas and 
in the South Seas at Gutaguil, Collina, and Famaica, The Caraccas Nuts 
are oily, tho’ not fo large as thofe of Coffa Rica, therefore they are burnt 
by the Spaniards to dry away the Oil, leaft they fhould make them too 
full of Blood, they drinking Chocolate five or fix Times a Day. They are 
ripe in December and ‘fune, twice a Year ; the Inhabitants fweat the Cods, 
the Nuts are dried on Mats, being taken outjof the Cods: Nuts are not 
hurt with fale Water. They Set the Nutsto raife them every four or 
five Years by Plantains, to keep them from the Sun, for they are much 
annoy’d by Heat. Dampier. 
Leaving Tecoantepec, I went ftill along by the South Sea, about an 
hundred and fifty Leagues in the defolate Province of Soconu/co, where 
there groweth Cacao, which the Chriftians carry from thence into 
Nova Hifpania, for it willnot grow in any cold Country, The In- 
dians of this Country pay the King their ‘Tribute in Cacao, giving him four 
hundred Carga’s,and every Carga is twenty four thoutand Almonds, 
which is worth in Mexsco thirty Pieces of Rials of Plate. The 
chiefeft Merchandife in Swchetepes and Gwafacapan is Cacao. Chilton ap. 
Hakl. p. 3. p- 457- #. p- 461. The Indians alfo pay their Tribute in Cacao 
from Campeche. 
In certain Provinces which are call’d Gwatimala and Soconufco, there is 
growing great Store of Cacao, which is a Berry like unto an Almond: 
Iris the beft Merchandife that is inallthe Indies. TheIndians make 
Drink of it, and in lke Manner Meat toecat. It goeth currently for 
Money in any Market, or Fair, and may buy any Flefh, Fifh, Bread 
or Cheefe, or other Things. Hawks ap. Hak/. p. 3. p. 464. 
Cacao is found about the Port of Tecaanapa, not far from Nicaragua in 
the South Seas. Defcr. of the Port of Tecuanapa ap. Hakl. p. 3. p. 496 and 
aay, Hakl. apad. p' 3. p» 814. tells us, that in Sonfonate the Nuts are 
Money and ready Payment, an hundred and fifty for a Rial. 
Hughes, p. 102. This Tree is fhaded by the Bowana: The Harveft of the 
Nut is ufually in fasaary, or May ; they cut the Kernels out, cleanfe them 
from their Slime, and cure them, drying them in the Sunon Sheets or 
Mats, they are adftringent, caufing a pale Colour, they grow orderly, and 
are planted fix, feven, or eight Foot diftant from each other. Chocolate 
is beft which is made up in the Country where it grows. The Nuts 
are clear’d of their Films by a moderate Heat, and beat up, 117. Notty 
isadded to it to colourit, 119. The Indians us’d it fimply, and the 
Spaniards added Chille, or fweet Pepper and Achiote. The Ingre- 
dients are beat apart and wrought into a Maffe, ib. The Oylinefs and 
Spirits are dried up with too much Fire,121. Cacao Nuts are ground in 
a Mill of black Stones, 122. and aread{tringent, and caufe ObitruGions, 
124. Oyl is drawa from them like that of Almonds, having the fame 
Operations, 125. and the Butter is good in all Inflammations, ec. and is 
cooling and anodine, ib. the Lumps ought to be nine or fourteen Days 
old before they be ufed, 128, Cafava Bread will not diffolve fo well in 
hot Water as cold, 129. Chocolate is not good with Phyfical Matters put 
into it, efpecially Laxatives, 152. it fuftains the Spirits, 154. Lénfchot. 
delcr. de L’ Amerique, Cap. 5- tells us it grows in New Spain. 
“The Indians when taken Prifoners by us Strangers fhew’d their Etteem 
for thefe Nuts more than any other Commodity. Ferz. Col. 
Three or four Nuts firft tofted ftop the Bloody Fluxes. For/. 
When 
