152 
The Natural Hiftoryof JAMAICA. 
Ligon p.11. found them in the Cape-Verd Ifles, 14. 10. p- 70. where 
the Curis fabulous with Leaves. 
Harriot ap. Hakl. p. 273.in Virginia. 
— Alvaro Nunez. ap. Ramaus. p. 319. 4p. Purchas, p. 1511. tells us, that the 
Indians feed on them three Months in the Year and nothing elie ; 
and that they go thirty Leagues to find them in the proper ‘lime of 
Year, p.1513. Ramnus, p. 320. wring open, dry them, and hang them 
on Garlands to eat them by the Way Home ; they powder their Rinds 
allo; dance and are without Care at this Time, 7b. and_ talk et if, 
beforehand, comforting themfelves. In four Days Famine they eat the 
Leaves likewife, p. 1518. ap. Ramnus, p. 322. av. p. after they were 
baked in an Oven. He tells us that they are eat by the Indians them- 
felves, 20. 
‘o. de Lact. lib. 5. cap. 25. tells us that Woods of them are near St. 
Philip in Mechoacan into which, Cattle for their Food get in dry Times, 
and come not out till wet Weather, which makes that Country pro- 
per tor Herds of Cattle. : 
X. Opuntia maxima, folio oblongo rotundo majore, {pinulis obtuis, mollibus 
ce innocentibus obfito, flore ftriis rubris variegato. Cat. Fam. p. 194. Ratj 
Hift. Vol. 3. Dendr. p. 19. An Raquette ou Cardaffe que les Botantftes appel- 
lent Opuntium majus [pinofum fructu fanguineo. Plum. Pommet. p. 31. An 
Ficus Indica major levis feu non {ptnofay vermiculos cochenilla vocant proferens. 
Plak. Tab. 281. Fig. 2. 
This Plant in every thing agrees with that before defcrib’d, only 
tis larger in every Part, grows to eight or nine Foot high,’ its 
Leaves are a Foot and a halt long, half as broad, and have no Tufts 
of Prickles, but in Lieu of them are fmall Holes in the Surface of 
the Leaf, filld..with ‘fmall oblong Protuberances. The Flowers are 
ftreak’d with red, the Fruit,is like the former, only not fo favoury. 
I faw this Plant in Mr..Worleys Plantation, about two. Miles be- 
low the Town, on the other Side of Rio Cobre, where it. was, planted 
by him, being brought from the main Continent of America by a Spa- 
nifh Prieft, and affirm’d to be the Planet on which grew the-Coche- 
neel. But altho’ there were many Plants here and in other. Places of 
the Ifland, yer they never could obferve that Worm upon any of their 
Trees 
Hernandez his Figure agrees pretty well to the young Plant. 
Pifo feems to have been very much miftaken thinking his Famacara 52 
to be this Plant. 
Newberry ap. Purchas, lib. 9. cap. 3. p. 1414. tells us that Cochineel is 
a good Commodity at $hiras in Perfia, 
Cochineel comes from Misba fifty Leagues N.W. of Mexico which 
is noc a Worm nor Fly, as fome fay, buta Berry. Rob. Tomfon, Hakl. 
p- 454. and is gather’d from Bufhes in the Fields wild, in the Time of 
Year when ripe. 
Grain which they call the Grain.of Cochinilla, Mexic, Chron. ap. Par- 
chas, 1094.,.was paid as a Tribute. 
This ts chiefly made a Commodity of, by the Spaniards and Indi- 
ans living near Cofia Rica. . io 
_ One: Captain Goffe and an Indian King who had lived many Years 
in that Place, aflured me that the Indians and Spaniards there planted it 
very,,carefully, infometimes fixty Acres of Ground, that they kept it 
very cledin that the Infects might: breed on .it, that) it is not prickly, 
grows 
