HERBALS OF THE NEW WORLD 127 



to the Frier, with the desire that he had of healthe, he did accepte 

 his offer and tooke the pouder that the Indian Physition gave 

 hym the nexte daie in a little Wine. . . . He was healed of his 

 infirmitie and the rest of the Friers which were sicke did followe 

 the father Warden's cure and took of the Self same powder 

 once or twice and as ofte as thei had neede of for to heale them. 

 The use of the whiche went so well with them that the Friers 

 did send relation of this to the Father Provincall to Mexico 

 where he was : who did communicate with those of the countrie, 

 giving to them of the roote, and comforting them that thei 

 should take it, because of the good relation that he had from 

 those Friers of Mechoacan. The whiche beyng used of many 

 and seyng the marueilous woorkes that it did the fame of it was 

 extended all abrode, that in short tyme all the countrie was 

 full of his good woorkes and effectes, banishing the use of 

 Ruibarbe of Barbarie and taking his name, naming it Ruibarbo 

 of the Indos and so all men dooeth commonly call it. And also 

 it is called Mechoaca for that it is brought from thence. . . . 

 And so thei do carry it from the Newe Spaine as Merchandise 

 of very great price." 



The plant itself Monardes describes thus : " It is an herbe 

 that goeth creepyng up by certaine little Canes, it hath a sadde 

 greene coulour, he carrieth certaine leaues, that the greatnesse 

 of them maie bee of the greatnesse of a good potenge dishe, that 

 is in compasse rounde, with a little point, the leaffe hath his 

 little Senewes, he is small, well nere without moisture, the stalke 

 is of the coulour of a cleare Taunie. Thei saie that he dooeth 

 caste certaine clusters, with little Grapes, of the greatnesse of 

 a Coriander seede, whiche is his fruite and dooeth waxe ripe by 

 the Monethe of September : he doeth caste out many bowes, 

 the whiche doeth stretche a long upo the yearth, and if you doe 

 put anythyng nere to it, it goeth creepyng upon it. The roote 

 of the Mechoacan is unsaverie and without bightyng or any 

 sharpness of taste." 



The book was published in successive parts, and the second 



