356 Sino-Iranica 



was Garcia da Orta in 1563. However, living and studying in Goa, 

 India, he did not learn from what plant the product was derived. On 

 its use in India he comments as follows: "The thing most used through- 

 out India, and in all parts of it, is that Assa-fetida, as well for medicine 

 as in cookery. A great quantity is used, for every Gentio who is able 

 to get the means of buying it will buy it to flavor his food. The rich 

 eat much of it, both Banyans and all the Gentios of Cambay, and he 

 who imitates Pythagoras. These flavor the vegetables they eat with it; 

 first rubbing the pan with it, and then using it as seasoning with every- 

 thing they eat. All the other Gentios who can get it, eat it, and laborers 

 who, having nothing more to eat than bread and onions, can only eat 

 it when they feel a great need for it. The Moors all eat it, but in smaller 

 quantity and only as a medicine. A Portuguese merchant highly praised 

 the pot-herb used by these Banyans who bring this Assa-fetida, and 

 I wished to try it and see whether it pleased my taste, but as I do not 

 know our spinach very well, it did not seem so palatable to me as it 

 did to the Portuguese who spoke to me about it. There is a respected 

 and discreet man in these parts, holding an office under the king, who 

 eats Assa-fetida to give him an appetite for his dinner, and finds it 

 very good, taking it in doses of two drachms. He says there is a slightly 

 bitter taste, but that this is appetising like eating olives. This is before 

 swallowing, and afterwards it gives the person who takes it much con- 

 tent. All the people in this country tell me that it is good to taste and 

 to smell." 



Chr. Acosta or Da Costa 1 gives the following account: "Altiht, 

 anjuden, Assa fetida, dulce y odorata medicina (de que entre los Doc- 

 tores ha auido differentia y controuersia) es ona Goma, que del Coracone 

 traen a Ormuz, y de Ormuz a la India, y del Guzarate y del reyno Dely 

 (tierra muy fria) la qual por la otra parte confina con el Coracone, y con 

 la region de Chiruan, como siente Auicena. Esta Goma es llamada de 

 los Arabios Altiht, y Antit, y delos Indios Ingu, o Ingara. El arbol de 

 adonde mana, se llama Anjuden, y otros le llaman Angeydan. 



" La Assa se aplica para leuatar el miembro viril, cosa muy vsada en 

 aquellas partes : y no viene a proposito para la diminution del coito, vsar 

 del tal cumo de Regaliza. Y en las diuisiones pone Razis Altiht por 

 medicina para las fiestas de Venus: y Assa dulcis no la pone Doctor 

 Arabe, ni Griego, ni Latino, que sea de autoridad, porque Regaliza 

 se llama en Arabio Cuz, y el cumo del cozido, y reduzido en forma de 

 Arrope, le llaman los Arabes Robalcuz, y los Espanoles corrompiendole 



1 Tractado de las drogas, y medicinas de las Indias orientales, p. 362 (Burgos, 

 1578). 



