244 COCOA. 



LlB - IY - the Indies,, as from Mexico,, Cuernavaca, and other vallies. 

 In Tierra Firme, and in some Hands, there are great 

 store of plantains, like vnto thicke groves. If this plant were 

 fit for the fire, it were the most profitable of all others, but 

 it is nothing fit, for neither the body nor the boughs will 

 burne, and much lesse will it serve for building, being a 

 sappy wood, and without force. Yet Don Alonzo de Ercilla, 

 as it is said, vsed the leaves of this tree dried, to write a part 

 of the Araucana, and in truth it may serve for want of paper, 

 seeing that the leafe is as broade as a sheet of paper, or 

 little lesse, and foure times as long. 



CHAP. xxn. Of Cacao and Coca. 



Although the plantain be the most profitable, yet the 

 Cacao is most esteemed in Mexico, and the Coca in Peru, 

 in which two trees they have great superstition. The 

 Cacao is a fruit little lesse than almonds, yet more fatte, 

 the which being roasted hath no ill taste. It is so much 

 esteemed amongest the Indians (yea and among the 

 Spaniards) that it is one of the richest and the greatest 

 traffickes of New Spaine, for being a drie fruite, and that 

 keepes long without corruption, they carry whole shippes 

 loaden from the province of Guatimala. The last yeare an 

 English Pirat did burne in the Port of Guatulco in New 

 Spaine above a hundred thousand cargoes of Cacao. They 

 vse it instead of money, for with five Cacaos they buy one 

 thing, with thirtie an other, and with a hundred an other, 

 without any contradiction; and they vse to give it to the 

 poore that beg for almes. The chiefe vse of this Cacao, is 

 in a drinke which they call Chocolate, whereof they make 

 great accompt in that Country, foolishly, and without 

 reason, for it is loathsome to such as are not^ acquainted 

 with it, having a skumnie or froth that is very vnpleasant 

 to taste, if they be not very well conceited thereof. Yet it 



