eee 
Bid 
The Natural Fiftory of JAM ATC A. 
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The Shell of this Fruit, the Pulp and Seeds being taken out, is made Ufe 
_of for Cups, Spoons, and all other Indian Houfhold-Goods, according -to 
their various Shapes, the round chiefly for Cups, and the oval or long Sort 
for Spoons. ‘They are generally made without any great Labour, only 
when they would do fomething extraordinary, they cut on them, after 
a rude Manner, ftrange Figures of Beafts, @c. without any other De- 
fign than that of Ornament. 
The Indians wanting Goldfmiths, thofe that work Tin, dc. are 
fitted with this Fruit to fupply their Places. It cures Burns, and Pains of 
the Head proceeding from Heat. The beft Way is to boil it to get out 
the Pulp. Tertre. 
It cures Thirftin Hunters, but ftops up the Belly. Rochef. 
The unripe Fruit is candied with Sugar, Fon/t. 
The pulp is eat candied with Sugar, when not ripe, it isas good in 
Fevers as Citruls ; apply’d as a Poultefs to the Head and Temples it cures 
the Head-ach which comes from the Heat of the Sun. Pé/o. 
In Time of Scarcity the Indians eat this Fruit for Food, but the 
great Ufe of it istomake Cups and Veffels to drink out of, called The- 
comates, efpecially for Chocolate. Xim, Cluf. 
The Balfam of To/w is always gather’d in thefe fmall Calabafhes, 
whence I believe it-to be the third Fructus orbicularis, Cluf. Ps 30 
Exotic. 
The Shells of this Fruit were made Ufe of by the Canibals in their 
Conjurations, being empty’d of their Pulp and, fil?’d with Stones or 
Maix, adocn’d with Feathers, ftuck into the Ground by Handles faften’d 
to them, and when handled by their Paygt or Conjurers, after their having 
taken Tobacco, were faid to return them their Anfwers. Thevet. Claf. 
The Wood is firm, fit to make Stools, Saddles, &c. Oviedo, 
This Fruit being pierced, hollow’d in the Middle, and {mall Stones, 
or great Millet, or Mazz put into it, thrufting into it a Stick of a Foot 
and a half long, makes an Inftrument called Maraca, with which, the 
Indians, holding it in their Hands, make a ftrange Noifé. . This being 
adorn’d with Feathers is ufed by them in their Religion, to make’ the 
Spirits fpeak. They fometimes fmoke Tobacco, and would {moke the 
Faces of the Indians, telling them to receive the Spirit of Force, where« 
by they may overcome their Enemies. The Maraca with three or four 
fine, Feathers, is by its Handle planted in the Ground among the Houfes, 
and the People are order’d to carry Meat to it, and after they have 
ftay’d fourteen or fifteen Days with Meat and Drink carried by the 
Inhabitants, they are thought to have received {uch a Virtue that. on 
ratling them a Spirit fpeaks by them, and that it makes their Roots 
for Food to grow. Lery. 
Every Houfe has two, or three of them; the Indians think that the 
Toupan {peaks by them, and they adore nothing elfe. They make Vet- 
fels for Ufe, Thever. 
There are feveral Kinds, or Varieties of this, as, 
Arbor Cucubitifera fruttu ovali. : 
Arbor Cucubisifera fructu oblongo. : 3 
? Arbor. Cucubitifera fruttu maximo, humani Capitis magnitudinen, exce= 
ente, te is x Ree 
The Seeds Macoguer produced a Gourd, and fo Clufus was miftaken, 
making this and the Macoquer all one, Laer. vee 37 ' 
The Bay of Honduras was called Hibweras firft, from Gourds floating in 
It. id. 
The 
