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Show H I S ·T 0 R Y 0 F M E X I C 0. The Caca/oxochit!, or raven-flower is fmall, but very fragrant, and coloured white, red, and yellow. The tree which produc s thefe flowers appears covered all over with them, forming at the end of the branches natural bunches not lefs pleafing to the fight than grateful to the fenfe. In hot countries there is nothing more common thar1 thefe flowers ; the Indians adorn their altars with them ; and the Spaniards make excellent conferves of them ( u)" The Izquixochitf is a fmall white flower, refembling in .figure the cynorrhodo, or wood-rofe, and in flavour the garden-rofe, but much fuperior to it in fragrance. It grows to a great tree. The Cbempoalochit/, or Cbempajcuhi/, as the Spaniards fay, is that flower tranfpbnted to Europe which the French call Oeillct d'lnde, or Indian carnation. It is exceedingly common in Mexico, where they call it alfo Flower of the Dead; and the1:e are feveral kinds differing in fize, in figure, and in the number of petals of which they are compofcd. The flower which the Mexicans call Xiloxocbitl, and the Miztecas Tiata, is entirely compofed of thin, equal, and ihait threads, but pliant and about fix inches long, fpringing from a round cup fomething refembling an acorn, but different in · fize, in colour, and fubfiance. Some of thefe beautiful flowers are entirely red, others all white, and the tree which bears them is mofi beautiful. The Macphalxochitl, or flower of the hand, is like a tulip, but its pifiillum reprefents the form of a bird's.foot, or rather that of an ape, with fix fingers terminated with as many nails. The vulgar Spaniards of that kingdom call the tree which bears thefe curious flow rs Arbo/ de Manitas. Befides thefe and innumerable other flowers, natives of that country, which the Mexicans delighted to cultivate, the land of Mexico has been enriched with all thofe which could be tranfported from Alia and Europe, fuch as lilic , j effitmincs, carn:1.tions of different kindll, and others in great numbers, which at prefent in the gardens of Mexico rival the flowers of America. 19 BOOK I. ~ With regard to fruits, the country of Anahuac is partly indebted to the Canary Iflands, partly to Spain, for water melons, apples, peaches, s !C T. v cr. Plants vnlucd for their fruit. (u) It is probaulr. that this tree is the fatne which Bomare dcfcribe3 \mder tl}c name of Fra11- zipallier. D 2 qumces, |