Ch. vil south AMERICA. 287 



whose juice Is sweet and cooling, not being above a 

 line and a half in thickness round each seed. 



The granadilla resembles a hen's egg in shape, but 

 larger. The outside of the shell is smooth and glossy, 

 and of a faint carnation colour, and the inside white ~ 

 and soft. It is about a line and a half in thickness, 

 and pretty hard. This shell contains a viscous and 

 liquid substance, full of very small and delicate grains 

 less hard than those of the pomegranate. This me- 

 dullary substance is separated from the shell, by an 

 extreme fine and transparent m.embrane. This fruit 

 is of a delightful sweetness, blended with acidity, very 

 cordial and refreshing, and so wholesome that there is 

 no danger in indulging the appetite. The two former 

 are also of the same innocent quality. The grana- 

 dilla is not the produce of a tree, but of a plant, the 

 blossom of which resembles the passion-flower *, and 

 of a most delicate fragrance. But we must observe a 

 remarkable singularity in the fruits of this country, 

 namely, that they do not ripen on the trees, like those 

 of Europe, but must be gathered and kept some 

 time ; for if suffered to hang on the trees they would 

 decay. 



The last of the fruits I shall mention is the frutilla, 

 or Peru strawberry, very different from that of Eu- 

 rope in size; for though generally not above an- inch 

 in length, and two thirds of an inch in thickness, they 

 are much larger in other parts of Peru. Their taste, 

 though juicy and not unpalatable, is not equal to 

 those of Europe. The whole difference between the 

 plant and that known in Spain consists in its leaves 

 beiiig somewhat larger. 



The papas are natives of a cold climate; and te- 



-ing common in several parts of Europe, where they 



are known by the namie of potatoes, ail I shall say of 



* This is the identical p:ission flower, which in England never 

 bears any fruit, the climate being too cold. A. 



them. 



