109 



doms, as Peru, New Spain, Guatemala, &c. The Creator has 

 given to each region that which Avas necessary to it."* 



Garcilazzo de la Vega, 1685, reports that " maize is the prin- 

 cipal food of the jNIexicans ; that they make bread, puddings and 

 ' biskits ' of it, and honey from the green stalks ; that the physi- 

 cians forbid the sick to use Avheaten flour, and confine them to 

 maize bread. Also that the people get intoxicated with the pro- 

 duct of the fermented stalk, which intemperance the government 

 forbids. In the time of the Incas, maize, bananas and potatoes 

 were the chief food of the people."! 



Cortez, in one of his letters to Charles the Fifth, notices the 

 fact that the Peruvians made sugar from the green stalks of the 

 maize, and sold it in their markets. 



Stevens, in his " Twenty Years' Residence in South America," 

 says, " The assertion that maize is not a native of America is so 

 evidently false, that it does not need contradiction. Indeed, if the 

 Aborigines were destitute of maize, on what did the numerous 

 population of Indians live ? For Avhat purpose did they cultivate 

 such large tracts of land, and why procure water for irrigation on 

 the coast of Peru with such immense labor and such extraordi- 

 nary ingenuity ? Maize enters into the consumption in almost 

 every possible Avay, — bread, puddings, cakes, samp, sweet juice 

 and fermented beverage. "J 



Mr. Prescott says, " Wherever a natural opening in the forest, 

 or a green slope Avas found along the rivers, the Mexicans planted 

 it Avith Indian corn. It was the great staple of that country as 

 indeed of the American continent. The Aztecs were as curious 

 in its preparation, and as Avell-instructed in its manifold uses as 

 the most expert New England house-wife. "§ 



Also of Peru ; — " Maize Avas the great staple of both the north- 

 ern and southern divisions of the American continent. After its 

 exportation to the old Avorld, it spread so rapidly there as to sug- 

 gest the idea of its being indigenous to it. The Peruvians Avere 

 Avell acquainted Avith the different modes of preparing this useful 

 vegetable." II 



" The common grain of Peru is maize, of which there are two 

 kinds. From these they make two kinds of bread, one used in 

 sacrifices, the other for ordinary food."*|y 



" Maize [in Peru] far exceeds all other plants in abundance, 

 and in the ease Avith Avhich it may bo cultivated."** 



" The maize or Turkey Avhcat Avas Avell knoAvn in America Avhen 



* Natural and Moral History oftiic Indians. Pari?, 15'J8, p. 161. 



\ Royal CJonnncntarics of rem, C'liap. IX. 



J Pa^c .•JOG. 



§ History of Mexico, 1 : lo.'i. 



II (Jonciucst of Pern, I : l.".!t. 



II Dc JA'iit's IH'scription of iIk; West Indies, 16.33. 



** Hcrrcra's Description of I'eni, 1622, fol. 6. 



