274 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bull. 137 



from which a salt substitute was obtained. On the other hand we 

 seem to hear for the first time of "maracocks," the fruit of the passion- 

 flower {Passiflora incarnata)^ later called maypop, which they repre- 

 sent as native to the country, but Harlot's silence regarding it some- 

 what strengthens the view that it was imported from Brazil at an 

 early period. The name maracock w^ould then seem to be a corrup- 

 tion of the Brazilian Tupi word rriburucuia. (Smith, Tyler ed., 1907, 

 pp. 90-93; Strachey, 1849, pp. 116-121; Hodge, 1907, art. Maypop.) 

 Beverley, writing at the beginning of the eighteenth century, speaks 

 of four varieties of corn instead of three, but whether these were all 

 cultivated in Virginia in aboriginal times is uncertain. His descrip- 

 tion is as follows : 



There are Four Sorts of Indian Corn, Two of which are early ripe, and Two, 

 late ripe; all growing in the same manner; every single Grain of this when 

 planted, produces a tall upright Stalk, which has several Ears hanging on the 

 Sides of it, from Six to Ten Inches long. Each Ear is wrapt up in a Cover 

 of many Folds, to protect it from the Injuries of the Weather. In every one of 

 these Ears, are several Rows of Grain, set close to one another, with no other 

 Partition, but of a very thin Husk. So that oftentimes the Increase of this 

 Grain amounts to above a Thousand for one. 



The Two Sorts which are early ripe, are distinguish'd only by the Size, 

 which shows it self as well in the Grain, as in the Ear, and the Stalk. There is 

 some Difference also in the Time of ripening. 



The lesser Size of Early ripe Corn, yields an Ear not much larger than the 

 Handle of a Case Knife, and grows upon a Stalk, between Three and Four 

 Foot high. Of this are commonly made Two crops in a Year, and, perhaps, 

 there might be Heat enough in England to ripen it. 



The larger Sort differs from the former only in Largeness, the Ear of this 

 being Seven or Eight Inches long, as thick as a Child's Leg, and growing upon 

 a Stalk Nine or Ten Foot high. This is fit for eating about the latter end of 

 May, whereas the smaller Sort (generally speaking) affords Ears fit to roast 

 by the Middle of May. The Grains of both these Sorts, are as plump and 

 swell'd, as if the Skin were ready to burst. 



The late ripe Corn is diversify'd by the Shape of the Grain only, without 

 any Respect to the accidental Differences in Colour, some being blue, some 

 red, some yellow, some white, and some streak'd. That therefore which makes 

 the Distinction, is the Plumpness or Shrivelling of the Grain; the one looks 

 as smooth, and as full as the early ripe Corn, and this they call Flint-Corn; 

 the other has a larger Grain, and looks shrivell'd with a Dent on the Back 

 of the Grain, as if it had never come to Perfection ; and this they call She-Corn. 

 This is esteem'd by the Planters, as the best for Increase, and is universally 

 chosen by them for planting; yet I can't see, but that this produces the Flint- 

 Corn, accidentally among the other. (Beverley, 1705, bk. 2, pp. 28-29.) 



One, and perhaps both, of the early varieties was what we know 

 as popcorn. The smooth variety of late corn was flint corn, as Bev- 

 erley himself names it, and the other what the Indians called flour 

 corn. 



Smith says that the native peas were known as Assentamens and 

 were the same as those called in Italy Fagioli, and that their beans 

 were identical with what "the Turkes call GamansesP Strachey 



