^66 The ^atural and Morall 



difeofconfequence.lt growes not Vpon cold grounds, 

 as on thcSitmofPcrtt, but in hote valleis , where it is 

 often watered . There is of this Axi of diverfe colours, 

 fome is greene/ome red , fome yellow, and fbme ofa 

 burning color, which they call Caribe, the which is ex- 

 trcamely (harpe and biting; there is an other fort not fo 

 fharpe, but is fo fweete, as they may eate it alone as any 

 other fruit . There is fome of it very fmall and pleafing 

 inthemouth, almoftliketothcfmellofmuske, andis 

 very good . That which is (harpe and biting in this A- 

 xi, be the veines and the graine onely 5 the reft is not : 

 for that they eate it greene and dry, whole and beaten, 

 in the pot , and in iawces, being the chiefe fawce, and 

 'allthefpicethey have at \hcIitJics. When thisAxi is 

 token moderately, it helps and comforts the ftomacke 

 N^ fordigeftion : but if they taketoomuch , it hath bad 

 cfFe(5h,for of it fclfe it is very hote,fuming,and pierceth 

 greatly, fo as the vfe thereof is, preiudiciall to the health 

 of yong folkes , chiefely to the foule 5 for that it pro 

 vokes to luft . It is ftrange, that although the fire and 

 heate of it be well knowne by experience., and that eve 

 ry man faies, it burnes in the mouth and the ftomarke; 

 yet fome, yea many holde, that the Indian pepper is 

 not hote, but co!de> and well tempered . But I might 

 fay to thcm,thelikefliould be of pepper- though they 

 brought me as many experiences as they woulde of the 

 one and the other : yet is it a very mockery to fay it is 

 not hote 5 feeingitisin the higheft degree. They vft 

 fait to temper this Axi, having great force to corre&it, 

 and fb they moderate one with the other by the con-' 

 ^y_ / trarietie that is in them / They vie alfo Tomates^ which 



arecolde and very wholefomc . It is a kinde of graine 

 great and full of iuyce, the which gives a good tafte to 



lawce, 



