^rg ULLOA*S VOYAGE TO SOUTH AMERICA. 



dimenfions are various, being from one to five inches in diameter. Its figure is im- 

 perfedly round, being flatted towards the ftalk ; where it forms a kind of navel ; but 

 all the other parts nearly circular. It is covered with a thin foft Ihell, but adhering 

 fo clofely to the pulp, as not to be feparated without a knife. The outward coat, 

 during its growth, is of a dark green, but on attaining its full maturity becomes fome- 

 what lio-hter. This coat is variegated with prominent veins, forming a kind of net- 

 work all over it. The pulp is white, intermixed with feveral almoft imperceptible 

 fibres, concentring in the core, which extends from the hollow of the excrefcence to 

 the oppofite fide. As they have their raigin near the former, fo in that part they are 

 larger and more diftindl. The flefli contains a large quantity of juice refembling 

 honey, and its tafte fweet mixed with a gentle acid, but of a moft exquifite flavour. 

 The feeds are formed in feveral parts of the flefti, and are about feven lines in length, 

 and three or four in breadth. They are alfo fomewhat flat, and fituated longi- 

 tudinally. 



The tree is high and tufted, the ftem large and round, but with fome inequalities j 

 full of elliptic leaves, terminating in a point. The length is about three inches and a 

 half, and the breadth two or two and a half. But what is very remarkable in this tree 

 is, that it every year iheds and renews its leaves. The bloflbm, in which is the 

 embryo of the fruit, diffisrs very little from the leaves in colour, which is a darkifti 

 green ; but when arrived to its full maturity is of a yellowifli green. It refembles a 

 caper in figure, but fomething larger, and compofed of four petals. It is far from 

 being beautiful ; but this deficiency is abundantly fupplied by its incomparable fra- 

 grancy. This tree is obferved to be very parfimonious in its bloflbms, producing 

 only fuch as would ripen into fruits, did not the extravagant paflion of the ladies, 

 for the excellence of the odour, induce them to purchafe the bloflbms at any rate. 



The aguacate, which in Lima and other parts of Peru is known by the ancient 

 Indian name Plata, may alfo be clafled among the choicefl: fruits of this country. Its 

 figure in fome meafure refembles the calabaflies of which fnuflf-boxes are made ; that 

 is, the lower part is round, and tapers away gradually towards the flialk ; from whence 

 to its bafe the length is ufually between three and five inches. It is covered with a 

 very thin, glofly, fmooth fliell, which, when the fruit is thoroughly ripe, is detached 

 from the pulp. The colour, both during its growth and when arrived at perfections 

 is green, but turns fomething paler as it ripens ; the pulp is folid, but yields to the 

 preflure of the finger ; the colour white, tinged with green, and the tafl;e fo infipid 

 as to require fait to give it an agreeable relifli. It is fibrous, but fome more fo than 

 others. The ft:one of this fruit is two inches long, one and a half in thicknefs, and 

 terminates in a point. The tafte is four. It may be opened with a knife, and con- 

 fifts of two lobes, between which may be diftinCtly perceived the germ of the tree. 

 Within the Ihell is a very thin tegument, which feparates it from the pulp, though 

 fometimes the tegument adheres to the pulp, and at other times to the fhell. The tree is 

 lofty and full of branches ; the leaf, both in dimenfion and figure, fomething different 

 from that of the chirimoya. 



In the province of Quito they give the name of guabas to a fruit, which, in all 

 the other parts of Peru, is called by its Indian name Pacaes. It confifl:s of a pod Hke 

 that of the algarobo, a little flat on both fides. Its ufual length is about a foot, though 

 there are different fizes, fome larger and fome fmaller, according to the country 

 where they grow. Its outward colour is a dark green, and covered with a down, 

 which feels fmooth when ftroked downwards, and rough when the hand is moved 

 in the contrary direction, as in velvet. The pod, opened longitudinally, is found 



9 divided 



