184 OUR COMMON FRUITS. 



dant of the Incas, born in Peru soon after the invasion of 

 the Spaniards, and therefore an authority of great weight 

 on a subject which must have been so much within his 

 cognizance, testifies most positively in his history of that 

 country that " before the Spaniards conquered Peru it is 

 certain there were no figs, pomegranates, oranges, or se- 

 veral other fruits which are now so abundant." He further 

 adds in explanation of this abundance, that, " among the 

 trees which Europeans have transplanted to America, none 

 have spread so rapidly as the oranges, lemons, and trees 

 of that genus. Here are now in some countries woods of 

 orange-trees. Surprised at the sight, I asked the inha- 

 bitants in one place, who had filled the fields so full of 

 these trees ? when they replied that it was due to chance, 

 for the fallen fruits of the first trees had given rise to an 

 infiDity of others, and the seeds being carried farther by 

 the rains, had formed these thick woods." 



In Jamaica, too, the orange grows wild so plentifully 

 that no one cares to cultivate it ; but the fruit is gathered 

 by the poorer negroes, and brought into town to be sold, 

 as blackberries are by cottage children in England. The 

 perfection attained by these uncared-for wildings for 

 their fruit is truly delicious sufficiently proves the truth 

 of Gralessio's statement, that in a genial climate grafting 

 is quite unnecessary for plants of this kind, though in 

 many places where they are cultivated the process is per- 

 severed in from custom and prejudice. The native cooks 

 not being initiated into the mysteries of marmalade, the 

 Bigarades of Jamaica are looked on as of no value ; yet a 

 use at least is found for them, for whenever they happen 

 to be handy the negroes are acccustomed to squeeze a few 

 into their pail of water when about to wash the floor of a 

 room, the acid having a detergent property, and the de- 

 lightful scent thus spread abroad rendering the apartment, 

 for some time after, a very bower of fragrance. Even Irish 

 " Orangeism " could hardly have got into ill odour had 

 it adopted so pleasant a mode of diffusing its favourite 

 symbol ! 



