Ch. VIL SOUTH AMERICA. 285 



feparated without a knife. The outward coat, during 

 its growth, is of a dark green, but on attaining its 

 full maturity, becomes fomewhat lighter. This coat 

 is variegated with prominent veins, forming a kind of 

 net- work all over it. The pulp is white, intermixed 

 with fcveral almoft imperceptible fibres, concentring 

 in the core, which extends from the hollow of the ex- 

 crefcence to the oppofite fide. As they have their 

 origin near the former, fo in that part they are larger 

 and more diftin6t. The fiefli contains a large quan- 

 tity of juice reiembling honey, and its tafte fweet 

 mixed with a gentle acid, but. of a mod exquifite 

 flavour. The feeds are formed in feveral parts of the 

 fiefh, and are about feven lines in length, and three 

 or four in breadth. They are alfo fomewhat flat, and 

 fituated longitudinally. 



The tree is high and tufted, the ftem large and 

 round, but with fome inequalities ; full of elliptic 

 leaves, terminating in a point. The length is about 

 three inches and a half, and the breadth two or two 

 and a half. But what is very remarkable in this tree 

 is, that it every year flieds and renews its leaves. 

 The blofTom, in which is the embryo of the fruit, 

 differs very little from the leaves in colour, which is a 

 darkifh green ; but when arrived to its full maturity 

 is of a yellowifii green. It refembles a caper in figure, 

 but fomething larger, and compofed of four petals. 

 It is far from being beautiful \ but this deficiency is 

 abundantly fupplied by its incomparable fragrancy. 

 This tree is obferved to be very parfimonious in its 

 , blofToms, producing only fuch as would ripen into 

 fruits, did not the extravagant paflion of the ladies, 

 for the excellence of the odour, induce them to pur- 

 chafe the bloflbms at any rate. 



The aguacate, which in Lima and other parts of 

 Peru is known by the ancient Indian name plata, 

 . may alfo be clalTed among the choiceft fruits of this 

 country. Its figure in fome meafure refembles the ca- 



labafhes 



