EARLY USE. 27 



of exchange. An early writer says, " In 

 certain provinces called Guatimala and 

 Soconusco there is growing a great store 

 of cacao, which is a berry like unto an 

 almond. It is the best merchandise that is 

 in all the Indies. The Indians make drink 

 of it, and in like manner meat to eat. It 

 goeth currently for money in any market, 

 or fair, and may buy flesh, fish, bread 

 or cheese, or other things." 



In the " True History of the Conquest 

 of Mexico," by Bernal Diaz, an officer 

 under Cortez, it is related that " from time 

 to time a liquor prepared from cocoa and 

 of a stimulating or corroborative quality, 

 as we are told, was presented to Mon- 

 tezuma in a golden cup. We could not at 

 the time see if he drank it or not, but I 

 observed a number of jars above fifty 

 brought in and filled with foaming choco- 

 late." 



Thomas Gage, in his "New Survey of 



