113 



placed by threes ; they are four inches m length, 

 half an inch in breadth, and of a bright green liker 

 the leaves of the rose laurel ; its flowers are ra- 

 diated and of a yellow colour; the seeds are con- 

 Tex on one side, and covered with a very thin 

 brownish pellicle on the other ; they are from 

 four to five lines in length, and enclosed in a sphe- 

 rical pericarpium of about eight or nine lines in 

 diameter. An excellent oil is obtained from the 

 seeds, either by expression, or merely boiling 

 them; it is of an agreeable taste, very mild, and 

 as clear as the best olive oil . Feuille, who resided 

 three j^ears in Chili, praises it highly, and gives 

 it the preference to any olive oil used in France.* 

 This plant, hitherto unknown in Europe, would be- 

 come the most valuable acquisitionto those coun- 

 tries where the olive cannot be raised. The wild 

 madi (madia mellosa) is distinguished from the 

 other by its leaves, which are amplexicaul and 

 glutinous to the feeling. 



The pimento (capsicum) called by the Indians 

 tnapi. Of this plant many species are cultivated 

 in Chili, among others the annual pimento, which 



* From the ?ec(l of this plant is obtained an admirable oil, 

 which the inhabitants of liic country use in various ways to 

 alleviate pain by rubbing with it the diseased part, to seasoQ 

 their victuals, and also for light. T my taste it is sweeter and 

 more j)leasaiit than most of our olive oil which it reseinblis 

 in colour. Fev;'//^, vol. iii. 



