107 



called tuca, were cultivated by the Araucaiiian?^ 

 before the arrival of the Spaniards; but since 

 the introduction of the European wheats tlie 

 cultivation of these ha been entirely neglected, 

 and I have not been able evcii to procure a spe- 

 cimen^ for the purpose of describing them. All 

 that is known at present is that the Araueanians 

 made a bread from them called covqiie, which 

 name they give to that made from maize or 

 European grain. 



The quinua is a species of chenopodium from 

 three to four feet in height; it has large rboiii- 

 boidal sinuated leaves of a deep green, and the 

 flowers are disposed upon long spikes ; the grain 

 is black and spirally twisted, which gives it, of 

 course, a lenticular a])pearance. There is a variety 

 of ibis |)bint called daliuc by tlie Indians, v. liich 

 has grcvish leaves, and produces a white grain. 

 The ;;iTain of the qiiinuci serves for making a 

 verv pleasant stomachic beverage; that of the 

 dah;tc, oil being boiled, lengthens out in the form 

 of V. oims, and is excellent \\\ soup. Th.e leaves 

 are also eaten, and are tender and of an agreeable 

 ta:^e. 



The dc:xul is a species of bean (])ha*colii> vul- 

 g'lri.-;). Before this countrv was conquered by 

 tlie Spaniards, thirteen or fourteen kinds of the 

 h-eaii, varying but lil<le from Ihe conHiion Euro- 

 pean b;: an, were cnilivai'il bv the n-'itives. One 

 of tlic^c: has a slraidit ^i:illv, tl'e oHier thirteen 



