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fruit is almost as small as that of the wild cacao- 

 tree. It is, as we have already observed, on the 

 banks of the Upper Oroonoko, after having 

 crossed the Llanos, that we find the true country 

 of the cacao-tree ; thick forests, in which, on a 

 virgin soil, and surrounded by an atmosphere 

 continually humid, the trees furnish from the 

 fourth year abundant crops. Wherever the soil 

 is not exhausted, the fruit is become by cultiva- 

 tion larger and less bitter, but also more late. 



On seeing the produce of cacao diminish gra- 

 dually in Terra Firma, it may be inquired, 

 whether the consumption will diminish in the 

 same proportion in Spain, Italy, and the rest of 

 Europe ; or whether it be not probable, that, by 

 the destruction of the cacao-plantations, the price 

 will augment sufficiently, to rouse anew the 

 industry of the cultivator. This latter opinion 

 is generally admitted by those, who deplore, at 

 Caraccas, the diminution of so ancient and be- 

 neficial a branch of commerce. In proportion 

 as civilization extends toward the humid forests 

 of the interior, the banks of the Oroonoko and 

 the Amazon, or toward the valleys that fur- 

 row the eastern declivity of the Andes, the new 

 planters will find lands and an atmosphere 

 equally favourable to the culture of the cacao- 

 tree. 



It is known, that the Spaniards in general 

 dread the mixture of vanilla with the cacao, 



