EDIBLE ROOTS. 235 



of the great diversitie of fraite trees and plantes we have ; LlB - IV - 

 yet for rootes and other things that grow vnder the earth, 

 the which they vse for meates, in my opinion there is 

 greatest aboundance there : for of these kindes of plants, 

 we have radishes, turnips, parsnips, carrots, liekes, gar 

 lic, and some other profitable rootes. But in those coun 

 tries they have so many divers sortes, .as I cannot reckon 

 them ; those which I now remember besides Papas, which 

 is the principall, there is Ocas, 1 Yanaocas, 2 Camotes, 3 

 Batatas, Xiquimas, Yuca, Cochuchu, Cavi, Totora, Mani, 

 and an infinite number of other kindes. They have 

 likewise carried fruites to the Indies from these parts, the 

 which prosper better there then the Indian plants do 

 brought into Europe; the reason in my opinion is, for that 

 there is greater variety of temperatures then in these 

 partes, by meanes whereof the plants in those regions do 

 rise and prosper better, fitting themselves to the tempe 

 rature they require. And the rootes and plants which grow 

 there, and were not transported from hence, are better then 

 they be heere; for onions, garlic and parsnips are not in 

 Spaine, as they be at Peru; and as for turnips, there is so 

 great abundance, as they have increased in some places in 

 such sort, that as they have affirmed to me, they could not 

 destroy the aboundance which grew vp, for to sowe corne 

 there. Wee have seene radish roots as bigge as a mans 

 arme, very tender, and of a good taste, and of these rootes 

 I have spoken, some serve for ordinairie meate, as the 

 Camotres, which being rosted, serve as pulse. There are 

 other rootes that serve them for dainties, as the Cochuchu. 

 It is a small sweete roote, which some preserve for more 

 delight. There are other rootes used to coole, as the xiquima, 

 which is in qualitie very cold and moist, and in summer it 



1 Oxalis tuberosa. 



2 Yana-oca means black oca. 



3 Sweet potatoe. 



