238 SMITHSONIAN MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTIONS VOL. 102 



various troubles ; when parched, it is good for constipation ; when 

 boiled, for fevers ; and it has other virtues. 



682. There is another tall and bulky tree called nance, with small 

 rounded leaves. It bears fruit like jujubes and well flavored ; they 

 come red and yellow. There is a vine which climbs like ivy and 

 bears very fragrant and medicinally beneficial pods (vaynillas) which 

 they put in chocolate. There are other low bushes growing on the 

 cliffs which bear slender whitish pods with great fragrance and 

 medicinal virtues ; they call them mecasuchil, which means thread- 

 flower, and they put this also into chocolate. 



683. The achiote or arnotto tree resembles an apricot tree in size 

 and leaf, though somewhat taller. It produces a flower like that of 

 the brambleberry, which develops into a fruit composed of red 

 granules smaller than hemp seed. When these are ripe and the proper 

 time has come, they pick them and squeeze and rub them under 

 water till they come apart and lose their husks ; then they boil this 

 water in large kettles (or of a size suitable to the quantity). As it 

 boils, they skim off the greasy scum which comes to the top and 

 put it in another vessel ; then they strain it through cloths or strainers ; 

 cooling, it comes out like dough ; they make bars or cakes out of this, 

 and cure and dry them in the sun. Annatto is good for urinary 

 complaints, as a heart stimulant, and for other troubles ; for these 

 reasons and for its color, they put it into chocolate. Much is exported 

 from these provinces and from New Spain to China, where it sells 

 very well for dyeing silk and for other purposes. There is another 

 variety of annatto of a saffron color, which they call achiomico, 

 which is utilized in stews, and is likewise good for urinary and heart 

 troubles and other afflictions. 



684. There is a root in this country which they call amole (soap- 

 root), of the shape of a round white potato, and in its foliage like 

 a radish. The Indians wash their soiled clothes with it, and it serves 

 as soap for them. It makes much lather and whitens the clothes. 

 It is a great help to the poor in this country for their laundering ; 

 it is likewise useful for catching quantities of fish ; they pound it 

 up and throw it into the streams, and it intoxicates the fish and they 

 take as many as they want. 



685. There is another root which looks like parsley root, of a 

 saffron color, which is put into stews ; they make much use of it in 

 that country. It is good seasoning and has medicinal value. 



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