284 A VOYAGE TO Book V. 



les, or yuncas, though these names have different 

 senses, the former signifying plains in a bottom, and 

 the latter those on the sides of the Cordillera; but both 

 in a hotter exposure. In these are produced the plan- 

 tains, guineos, guinea-pepper, chirimogas, aguaca- 

 tes, granadillas, pinas, guayabas, and others natural 

 to such climates, as I have already observed in other 

 countries. The colder parts produce pears, peaches, 

 nectarines, quaitambcs, aurimelos, apricots, melons, 

 and water-melons; the last have a particular season, 

 but the others abound equally throughout the whole 

 year. The parts which cannot be denominated either 

 hot or cold, produce frutillas, or Peru strawberries, 

 and apples. The succulent fruits, which require a 

 warm climate, areingreatplenty throughout the whole 

 year, as China and Seville oranges, citrons, lemons, 

 limes, cidras, and toronjas. These trees are full of 

 blossoms and fruit all the year round, equally with 

 those which are natives of this climate. These fruits 

 abundantly supply the tables of the inhabitants, where 

 they are always the first served up, and the last taken 

 away. Besides the beautiful contrast they form with 

 the other dishes, they are also used for increasing the 

 pleasure of the palate, it being a custom among the 

 people of rank here, to eat them alternately with their 

 other food, of which there is always a great variety. 



The chirimoyas, aguacates, guabas, granadillas, 

 and Peruvian strawberries, being fruits of which, as 

 well as of the ocos and papas, I have not yet given 

 any description, Í shall here give the reader a brief ac- 

 count of them. The chirimoya is universally allowed 

 to be the most delicious of any known fruit either of 

 India or Europe. Its dimensions are various, being 

 from one to five inches in diameter. Its figure is im- 

 perfectly round, being flatted towards the stalk j 

 where it forms a kind of navel j but all the other 

 parts nearly circular. It is covered with a thin soft 

 shell, but adhering so closely to tlje pulp, as not to be 



separated 



