Ch. VII. SOUTH AMERICA. iB) 



whofe juice is fweet and cooling, not being above a 

 line and a half in thicknefs round each feed. 



The granadilla refembles a hen's heg in fhape, hut 

 larger. The outfide of the fhell is fmooth and glofiy, 

 and of a faint carnation colour, and the infide white 

 and foft. It is about a line and a half in thicknefs, 

 and pretty hard. This fhell contains a vifcous and 

 liquid fubftance, full of very fmall and delicate grains 

 lefs hard than thofe of the pomegranate. This me- 

 dullary fubftance is feparated from the fhell^ by an 

 extreme fine and tranfparent membrane. This fruit 

 is of a delightful fweetnefs, blended v/ith acidity, very 

 cordial and refrefhing, andfo wholefome that there is 

 no danger in indulging the appetite. The two former 

 are alfo of the fame innocent quality. The grana- 

 dilla is not the produce of a tree, but of a plant, the 

 bloffom of which refembles the pafTion ilower and 

 of a moft delicate fragrance. But we muft obferve a 

 remarkable Angularity in the fruits of this country, 

 namely, that they do not ripen on the trees, like thofe 

 of Europe, but muft be gathered and kept fome 

 time for if fuffered to hang on the trees they v/ould 

 decay. 



The laft of the fruits I fhall mention is the frutilla, 

 or Peru ftrawberry, very different from that of Eu- 

 rope in fize ; for though generally not above an inch 

 in length, and two thirds of an inch in thicknefs, they 

 are much larger in other parts of Peru. Their tafte, 

 though juicy and not unpalatable, is not equal to 

 thofe of Europe. The whole difference between the 

 plant and that known in Spain confifts in its leaves 

 being fomewhat larger. 



The papas are natives of a cold climate; and be- 

 ing common in feveral parts of Europe, where they 

 are known by the name of potatoes, all I fliall fay of 



* This is the identical pafTion flower, which in England never 

 bears any fruit, the clijjiate being too cold. A. 



7 them 



