COOK—THE COCONUT PALM IN AMERICA. 279 
very much, and then straynynge it, they drawe a mylke thereof, much better and 
sweeter then is the mylke of beastes, and of much substaunce: The which the Chris- 
tian men of those regions put in the tortes or cakes which they make of the grayne 
of Maizium wherof they make theyr breade, or in other breade as we put breade in 
porrage: So that by reason of the sayde mylke of Cocus, the tortes are more excellent 
to be eaten withowt offence to the stomake. They are so pleasaunte to the taste, 
and leaue it aswell satisfyed as thowghe it had byn delyted with many delycate dysshes. 
. . . This frute was cauled Cocus for this cause, that when it is taken from the place 
where it cleaueth faste to the tree, there are seene two holes, and aboue them two 
other naturall holes, which altogyther, doo represente the giesture and fygure of the 
cattes cauled Mammone, that is, munkeys, when they crye: whiche crye the Indians 
caule Coca.@ 
Eden’s version of Oviedo also affords a clue to the mystery of 
Sloane’s statement regarding the introduction of the coconut into 
America, upon which De Candolle appears to have placed so much 
reliance. It was Oviedo, instead of Peter Martyr, who reported the 
planting of dates in Santo Domingo, but these were not coconuts, 
but true dates from Spain, as the context shows: 
Suche frutes as are brought owt of Spayne, into this Ilande, prosper maruelously 
and waxe rype all tymes of the yeare: as herbes of all sortes very good and pleasaunt 
to bee eaten. Also many pomegranates of the best kynde, and oranges bothe sweete 
and sower. Lykewyse many fayre Lymones and cedars: and a great quantitie of 
all such as are of sharpe, sowre, and bytter taste. There are also many fygge trees 
whiche brynge furth theyr frute all the hole yeare. Lykewyse those kynd of date 
trees that beare dates: and dyuers other trees and plantes which were brought owt 
of Spayne thyther.? 
The substitution by Sloane of Peru for Panama, in the passage 
already quoted on page 276, may have been a mere slip of the pen, or 
a typographical error, for it does not appear that coconuts have ever 
thriven in Peru, in ancient times or modern, or that Sloane had any 
warrant of fact for his statement. Finally, we have the evidence of 
the passage just quoted, to show that Sloane confused the coconuts 
that were already in America with the true dates that were brought 
by the Spaniards from Spain. The only indication of historical 
warrant given by De Candolle for his theory of the Spanish intro- 
duction of the coconut into America proves to be entirely without 
foundation. 
REPORT BY COLUMBUS OF COCONUTS IN CUBA. 
Eden’s version of Oviedo definitely asserts the existence of the coco- 
nut palm in the West Indies, as well as on the continent, and Oviedo’s 
larger history includes the coconut in an account of the numerous 
native species found in the island of Santo Domingo, but De Candolle 
seems to have noticed only the mention of the special abundance of 
the coconut palms on the Pacific coast of Central America, which he 
@ Oviedo in Arber, op. cit., p. 225. b Oviedo in Arber, op. cit., p. 239 
51004°—vo. 14, pr 2—10 2 
