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Show • 24 H I S T 0 R Y 0 F M E X I C 0. B 0 0 K I. like puribin, but not fo grofs. Its flowerets are white, which '---..-. . oJ' bring no fruit. Its fruit are not bon~e 01~ the branches or ~eO: as in other plants, but attached to the JUnCtiOn of the roots, wlthm a white, grcyiih, long, roundi01, wrinkled fheath, and as rough as we have rcprefented it in our third figure of fruits and flowers. Every ihcath has two or three Cacahuati, which arc in figure like pinefeeds, but larger and groffer; and each is compofeJ, like other feeds, of two lobi; and has its germinating point. It is fit for eating, and well tafied when not raw but only a little toafied. If they are much toafied, they acquire a fmell and tafi:e fo like coffee, any · one may be deceived by it. Oil is made from the Ca.cahuati, whi h is not ill tafted; but it is believed to be unwholefome becaufc .it is very hot. It makes a beautiful light, but is eafily extinguifhed. This plant would thrive, with certainty, in Italy. It is [own in March or April, and the fruit is gathered in OCtober or November. Among many other fruits, which I pafs over to ihorten my account, I cannot difpenfe with the mention of the cocoa, the cocoa nu t,. vainma, chia, chilli or great pepper, Tomati, the pepper of T abafco, coton, grain, and leguminous plants which are moft common with the Mexicans. Of the Cocol nuts, (a name taken from the Mexican word Cacahuatli,) Hernandez enumerates four fpecies; but the Tlalcacahuatl, the finalleft of the whole, was the one mofi ufed by the Mexicans in their chocolate and other daily drink; the other fpecies ferved more as money to traffic with in the market, than aliment. The ocoa nut was one of the plaflts moll: cultivated in the warm countries of that empire; and many provinces paid it in tribute to the crown of Mexico; and amongfi others the province of Xoconocho, whofe Cocoa-nut is excellent and better than that of Maddalena. The defcription of this celebrated plant, and its culture, is to be found in many authors of every polifhed nation in Europe. The Vainilla or Vainiglia, fo well known and much ufed in Europe, grows without culture, in warm countries. The ancient Mexicans made ufe of it in their chocolate and other drinks which they made of the cocoa. The |