the South- Sea. 237 



changes into Fruit, produces a Crofs fo exa&ly form'd^eA Rweru 

 that it could not be better done by Art. 



In the Province de los Charcas, on the Banks of the great 

 River Mifque, there grow large Trees, whofe Leaf is like 

 rhat of the Myrtle, and the Fruit is a Clufter of green 

 Hearts, fomewhat lefs than the Palm of the Hand, which 

 being opeifd there appear feveral little white Films, like 

 the Leaves of a Book, and on each Leaf is a Heart, in the 

 midft of which is a Crofs, with three Nails at the Foot of 

 it. I do not queftion, but that the Spanijh Imagination 

 forms fome Part of thefe Reprefentations. 



In the fame Province is the Plant call'd Pito real, which P*to Real 

 being reduc'd to Powder, diffolves Iron and Steel : It is PIm - 

 fo call d from the Name of a Bird, that ufes it as a Purge, 

 and is green and fmall like a Parrot, excepting that it has 

 a Copple Crown and a long Beak. They fay, that in the 

 Kingdom of ' Mexico, to get fome of this Herb, they flop 

 the Entrance into the Nefts of thofe Birds on the Trees 

 with Iron Wire,- and- that the Bird breaks thofe Wires 

 by means of the faid Herb, whofe Leaves it brings, which 

 are found there. It is farther added, that Prifoners have 

 made their Efcape, getting off their Fetters with it. This 

 looks fomewhat fufpicious. 



There isalfo Maguey, from which they get Honey, Vi- Ma g" e y-, 

 negar and Drink. The Stalks and Leaves are good to cat : 

 They may alfo be wrought like Hemp> and from them 

 they draw the Thread calfd Pita. The Wood of it ferves 

 to cover Houfes ; its Prickles, or Thorns, for Needles j 

 and the Indians ufe the Fruit inftead of Soap. 



Salfaparilla, Quinquina, whofe Tree is like the Almond- 

 Tree ; Quefnoa or Quiuna, a little white Seed, like that 

 of Muftard, but not fmooth, which is good againft Falls^ 

 and a Diftemper they call Paf?nos, whofe Fits are Convul- 

 fions : Dragons Blood, fome Rhubarb, Tamarind, Carni- 

 na Oil, and Alamaaca, are alfo to be found in Peru. The 

 Balfam, which bears the Name., comes thither but in a fmall 



Quantity* 



