SASSAFRAS 291 



(1650), and Piso (1658) (511), the latter giving it the 

 Brazilian synonym "anhuiba." 



Francisco Hernandez (314), another Spanish physi- 

 cian, who traveled through Mexico between 1571 and 

 1577, speaks of the occurrence of sassafras at Mechuacan 

 in Mexico. His work was translated by Francisco 

 Ximinez, a monk of the convent of San Domingo in 

 Mexico, in 1615. 



The latter author is quoted at length on the subject 

 of sassafras by Jean de Laet (368), a noted Dutch 

 geographer, whose work, "Novus Orbis, etc., 1633," 

 testifies to the probably French origin of the knowledge 

 of sassafras. Having taken the account given by Lai>- 

 donniere as his source, he speaks, in Chapter XIV, con- 

 cerning the land and inhabitants of the part of Florida 

 traversed by the French, and calls attention to the tree 

 as being prominent in the woods, and refers to the ex- 

 quisite odor of its wood and bark. He says that this tree 

 is called "pavame" by the Indians, and "sassafras" by 

 the French. 



Professor Fliickiger remarks (Pharmacognosie des 

 Pflanzenreich, 3d ed., Berlin, 1891), that he was unable 

 to find the passage alluded to in Laudonniere's own 

 report of 1586, and diligent search on our part in a ver- 

 batim reprint of this work of 1853 also failed to produce 

 the passage. The term "esquine" occurring therein 

 might have been the passage referred to, but it hardly 

 stands for sassafras, for it is stated (pp. 6 and 76) that 

 it is a twining vine, good against pocks (la ve*role). On 

 page 133 a root is mentioned from which Indians pro- 

 duce flour to make bread, and on page 155 it is stated 

 that the colonists in a period of distress used the wood 

 of this "esquine" to make flour and bread, which pre- 



