Ch. VIII. SOUTH AMERICA. 71 



nerally roundiOi and uneven. They are both pickled 

 and ufed as roots with the meat ; but, confidcring 

 the goodnets and plenty of this root, they do not inn- 

 prove it as they might. 



Plantations of fugar-canes abound to fuch a de- 

 gree, as extremely to lower the price of honey ; and 

 a great part of the juice of thele canes is converted 

 into fpirit for the di^pofing of it. They grow fo 

 quick as to be cut twice in a year. The variety of 

 their verdure is a beautiful ornament to the country. . 



Here are alfo great numbers of cotton trees, fome 

 planted and cultivated, and thefe are the beft ; others 

 y fpontaneoufly produced by the great fertility of the 

 country. The cotton of both is fpun, and made in- 

 to feveral forts of fluffs, which are worn by the Ne- 

 groes of the Haciendas, and the country Indians. 



Cacao trees alfo grow in great plenty on the 

 banks of the river Magdalena, and in other fituations 

 which that tree delights in ; but thofe in the jurif- 

 didtion of Carthagena excel thofe of the Caracas, 

 Maracaybo, Guayaquil, and other parts, both in fize 

 and the goodnefs of the fruit. The Carthagena ca- 

 cao or chocolate is little known in Spain, being only 

 fent as prefents ; for, as it is more efleemed than that of 

 other countries, the greateft part of it is confumed in 

 this jurifdid:ion, or fent to other parts of America. 

 It is alfo imported from the Caracas, and fent up the 

 country, that of the Magdalena not being fufficient 

 to anfwer the great demand there is for it in thefe 

 parts. Nor is it amifs to mix the formxr with the lat- 

 ter, as corred:ing the extreme oilinefs of the choco- 

 late when made only with the cacao of the Magdalena. 

 The latter, by way of diffindion from the former, is 

 fold at Carthagena by miliarcs, whereas the former 

 is difpofed of by the buihel, each weighing iio 

 pounds j but that of Maracaybo weighs only 96 

 pounds. This is the moft valuable treafure which 

 nature could have beftowed on this country j though 



F 4 it 



