Ch. vil south AMERICA. i^ 



separated without a knife. The outward coat, during 

 its growth, is of a dark green, but on attaining its 

 full maturity becomes somewhat lighter. This coat 

 is variegated with prominent veins, forming a kind of 

 net-work all over it. The pulp is white, intermixed 

 with several almost imperceptible fibres, concentring 

 in the core, which extends from the hollow of the ex- 

 crescence to the opposite side. As they have their 

 origin near the former, so in that part they are larger 

 and more distinct. The ficsh contains a large quan- 

 tity of juice resembling honey, and its taste sweet 

 mixed with a gentle acid, but of a most exquisite 

 flavour. The seeds are formed in several parts of the 

 flesh, and are about seven lines in length, and three 

 or four in breadth. They are also somewhat flat, and 

 situated longitudinally. 



The tree is high and tufted, the stem large and 

 round, but with some inequalities ; full of elliptic 

 leaves, terminating in a point. The length is about 

 three inches and a half, and the breadth two or two 

 and a half. But what is very remarkable in this tree 

 i*s, that it every year sheds and renews its leaves. 

 The blossom, in which is the embryo of the fruit, 

 differs very little from the leaves in colour, which isa 

 darkish green; but when arrived to its full maturity 

 is of a yellowish green. It resembles a caper in figure, 

 but something larger, and composed of four petals. 

 It is far from being beautiful ; but this deficiency is 

 abundantly supplied by its incomparable fragrancy. 

 This tree is observed to be very parsimonious in its 

 blossoms, producing only such as would ripen into 

 fruits, did not the extravagant passion of the ladies, 

 for the excellence of the odour, induce them to pur- 

 chase the blossoms at any rate. 



The aguacate, which in Lima and other parts of 

 Peru is known by the antient Indian name plata, 

 may also be classed among the choicest fruits of this 

 country. Its figure in some measure resem bles the ca- 

 labashes 



