131 



- The melons, of which there are many kinds, arc 

 almost always long; the rind is very thin and the 

 flavour excellent. Among them the musk melon 

 and the scritti, two marked and constant varieties, 

 are preferred to any other; and I have seen many 

 that were two feet in length. The melons begin to 

 ripen in the month of December, and continue until 

 the end of May. These last, which I have called 

 winter melons (invernizl) are green, and will keep 

 perfectly v/eil during the winter if they are placed 

 in a situation where the air may have free access to 

 them. 



The inhabitants cultivate seven species of water 

 melons of an excellent kind, but the most esteemed 

 is that called peliata, which has a thin rind like the 

 skin of an apple. This fruit is a native of Jamaica, 

 from whence the Spaniards imported it into Europe, 

 but it is probable tliat the cuchugîia, which is of the 

 same species and of an excellent flavour, was culti- 

 vated in Chili long before the arrival of the Spa- 

 niards. 



I have already spoken of the great fertility of the 

 soil in the production of different kinds of grain ; 



otherwise it would not only endanger breaking the limbs, but would 

 never come to maturity. The fruits are not inferior in quality 

 to those of Europe, except the chesnut which is much less, but 

 in place of this there are many other kinds of fruit unknown in 

 our climate, — FeuiHf, vol. ii. 



All the houses in Coquimbo have large gardens surrounded with 

 walls, in which, in their season, are produced apples, pears, prunes, 

 delicious cherries, nuts, almonds, olives, lemons, oranges, pomegra- 

 nates, figs, grapes and many other fruits, peculiar to the country, 

 not known in Eur^e. All these fruits are very odoriferous, as I 

 have myself experienced. — Fcuillé^ vol. ii. 



