z8o The J^atur aland Moratt 



yea, they fay, if they were often tranfplanted from 

 place to place, they would carry nuttes altogether like 

 to thofe ofSpaiwe. And the reafon why the fruite is fo 

 vnplea(ant,is,for that they are wilde. To conclnde,we 

 ought well to confiderthe providence and riches of 

 the Creator, who impartcsto fo divers partesofthe 

 world,fuch varictie of fruite trees , all for the fervice of 

 man that inhabites the earth . And it is an admirable 

 thing to fee fo many different formes, taftes, andef- 

 fe&svnknowne, whereof we did never hearefpeake, 

 before the difcoverie of the Indies. And whereof Plinie 

 himfelfe, Dioftorides and Tkeophraftes, ( yea, the moft 

 curious,)had no knowledge, notwithftandingall their 

 fcarchanddilligence. There have^beenefome curious 

 men of our agc^jvhich have wriHenTomcT Trearifes 

 et the Indian plants, of hearbcs, and rivers , and of 

 their operations for phifickc, to whom they may flic 

 for their better inftrudion. I onely pretend, (and in 

 icw words,) to treate fuperficially of that which comes 

 to memory touching this fubiecft ; yet do I not thinke 

 it good to paffe away vnder filcnce theCiraror Indian 

 palmes, by reafon of a very notable propertie it hath. 

 I call them palmes , not properly , or that it beares 

 dates,but that they are trees like to other palmes. They 

 are high andftrong b and the higher they grow, the 

 broader they firetch out their branches. Thefe Cocas 

 yield a fruit which they likewife call Q?W,wherof they 

 commonly make veflells to drinke in , and fome they 

 fayhaveavertue againftpoifon, and to curethepaine 

 in the fide. The mute and meate being dried, is good 

 to eate, and comes neere in tafte to grccne chefnu ttes. 

 When the Coco is tender vpon thetree, thefubftance 

 within it, isasitwqreniilke, which they drinke for 



daintines. 



