Early History of the Potatoe. 5 



accounts of travellers, who have since that period visited the 

 country. 



From these details we may fairly infer, that potatoes were 

 first brought into Europe from the mountainous parts of 

 South America, in the neighborhood of Quito ; and, as the 

 Spaniards were the sole possessors of that country, there is 

 little doubt of their having been first carried into Spain ; but 

 as it would take some time to introduce them into use in that 

 country, and afterwards to make the Italians so well ac- 

 quainted with them as to give them a name,* there is every 

 reason to believe they had been several years in Europe, be- 

 fore they were sent to Clusius. 



The name of the root in South America, is Papas, and in 

 Virginia, it was Openawh ; the name of potatoe was evident- 

 ly applied to it on account of its similarity in appearance to 

 the Battata, or Sweet Potatoe ; and our potatoe appears to 

 have been distinguished from that root, by the apellative of 

 Potatoe of Virginia, till the year 1640, if not longer.f 



Several authors have asserted, that potatoes were first dis- 

 covered by Sir Francis Drake, in the South Seas ; and others, 

 that they were introduced into England by Sir John Haw- 

 kins ; but in both instances the planf alluded to is clearly the 

 sweet potatoe, which was used in England as a delicacy, long 

 before the introduction of our potatoes ; it was imported in 

 considerable quantities from Spain, and the Canaries, and 

 was supposed to possess the power of restoring decayed vigor. 

 The kissing comforts of Falstaff,! and , other confections of 

 similar imaginary qualities, with which our ancestors were 

 duped, were principally made of these eringo roots. 



* Taratoufli signifies also truffles, 

 t Gerard's Herbal, by Johnson, p. 729. 



\ " Let it rain potatoes, and hail kissing comforts." Merry Wives of 

 Windsor, Act V., Scene V. 



1* 



