93 



Indians quada^ tliere are twenty-six varieties, several 

 of which produce fruit that is sweet and edible, but 

 that of the others is bitter. Of the bitter kinds the 

 most distinguished is the cider gourd (cucúrbita 

 ciceraria*) so called from the Indians making 

 use of it, after extracting the seeds and perfum- 

 ing it, to ferment their cider. It is naturally of a 

 round form, and frequently grows to a targe size. 

 It is also used by the natives instead of baskets, and 

 in such cases they give it whatever shape they think 

 proper. The yellow ilov/ered or Indian gourd, called 

 penca^ is of two kinds, the common and the mamil- 

 lary ; this last in its leaves and flowers resembles the 

 first, but the figure of the fruit is spheroidal, with 

 a large nipple at the end ; the pulp is sweet, and its 

 taste is very similar to a kind of potatoe known by 

 the name of camote. 



The quelghen^ or the strawberry of Chili, diíTers 

 from the European in its leaves, which are rough and 

 succulent, and in the size of its fruit, which is fre- 

 quently that of a hen's egg. The strawberries, like 

 those of Europe, are generally red or white, but 

 those that are yellow are also to be found in the pro- 

 vinces of Puchacay and Huilquilemu, where they 



* The calabashes of the Indians are anotlier wonderful produc- 

 tion for, their size and the luxuriance of their growth ; especially 

 those called zapallos^ the pulp of which, particularly in Quaresma, 

 are eaten boiled or fried. There is a great variety of this s^pecies 

 of the calabash ; some of them are so large that when dried, 

 and the shell divided in the middle and cleansed, they are used 

 as covered baskets to. put provisions in ; others that are smaller 

 are employed as vessels to drink from, or handsomely wrcughtfor 

 various purposes. — dcosta's ?Jaíura¡ HiMorij^ bookiv. 



