Ball — On the Colloquies of Garcia Be Orta. 405 
to some extent. As an article of merchandise it comes from Mandu 
and Chitore, being obtained in a mountain 100 leagues from Cambay 
(it was really obtained from Thibet, which is more distant). It was 
used largely as a flux for melting gold and other metals. 
[Eeferences. — Ainslie, i., p. 44; KJiory, p. 79.] 
(2) Croco Indiaco, aqafrao da terra or a^afrao da India. 
[Turmeric, the root of Curcuma longa, Linn., and other species.] 
Called alad (Jialada or haladi) or mangale {munjel) by the Canarese 
and Malabarese ; cimhet (?) by the Malays ; damrd {ddra-%arda) by the 
Persians ; hahet (?) by the Arabs. It is the calidunium or caletfium of 
Avicena. 
Garcia says it is not found in Persia, Arabia, or Turkey, but was 
abundant in Cananor and Calicut. 
It was used in India, and also in Arabia and Persia for dyeing and 
for seasoning. It was also applied to sore eyes, and, mixed with 
orange juice and cocoa milk, it was efficacious for the itch. 
[Eeferences. — Clusius {Acosta), p. 48; Bontius and Fiso, lib. vi., 
p. 116, fig.; Ainslie^ i., p. 454 ; FlucUger and Sanhury, p. 577; 
Khory, p. 521.] 
(3) \_Fas Curcas. Seeds of Jatropha curcas, Linn. ?] 
Called curcas and chiviquilengas in Malabar ; carpata in Cambay ; 
Jiah-al-culcut of Serapion ; quilquil of Pasis. 
Garcia describes curcas as consisting of certain white grains larger 
than a hazel-nut with a shell, but not so round, and tasting like cooked 
truffles. They were cultivated in Malabar, and grow in clusters. If 
taken in quantity they are apt to cause cholera, and are aphrodisiac. 
[I have very much doubt as to the identity of this fruit, because 
Jatropha is said to be poisonous and to produce violent purging ; but 
Garcia appears to have used his curcas in curry, and says that it was 
non-medicinal, while Ainslie and Khory ascribe to the Jatropha medi- 
cinal properties.] 
[Eeferences. — Ainslie, ii., p. 45 ; Khory, p. 490.] 
