THE COCHINEAL. ' 445 



?)e2:r5 the appellation of Negra, if deftroyed upon the bot 

 plates that have been ufed for the roaftlng of maize. 



But whatever be the method of preparation, that co- 

 chineal is always found fuperior, both in quality and 

 quantity, which has been produced upon the cultivated 

 trees. The cultivation of the opuntia, therefore, and the 

 railing cochineal, is a trade almoft univerfal throughout 

 Mexico : Eight hundred and eighty thoufand pound 

 ■weight of this article, is faid to be annually imported in- 

 to Europe, where it fells at a high price *. Various are 

 the ufes to which our luxuries, and the arts fubfervient 

 to them, have applied this drug. It is ufed in dyeing, and 

 produces along with other fubllances, a variety of fhades 

 of fcarlet : it furniflies painters with many lively Ihades of 

 fcarlet, crimfon, and red : When ground into powder, ic 

 enters copioufly into that carminative mixture which 

 ioiitates the bloom of youth on the human cheek, and 

 which is fo frequently had recourfe to by the fair, who 

 would repair the injuries of timef : had it really this 

 efl'ecl, the Mexicans, we mull allow, would command a 

 freafure of greater varlue than all the mines of the new 

 world. 



Some attempts have been made by the French to find 

 out the cochineal in St. Domingo, and to rival the Spani- 

 ards in their lucrative commerce in that article. The 

 fpeclmens, however, that have been produced in Europe^ 

 by one of the correfpondents of the academy of fciences :|: 

 in that ifland, have not, hitherto, anfwered expedtatlonj 

 but produced a colour fo weak as gives reafon to doubt 

 whether the infect be of the fame fpecles. It is proba- 

 ble, 



* Reaumur, Tom. IV. p. io6. • 



•)• Barbut, page ij;6. 1 M. dvi Hamel, Doctor of Medlci^vci 



