The Digital Ark: Early Modern Collections of Curiosities in England and Scotland, 1580-1700
José de Acosta (1539/40 - 1600)
Jesuit missionary and naturalist Other biography: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jos%C3%A9_de_Acosta References in Documents:
this and the
Tree tolerably well described by
(b)
b)
IndBoys Head of ten or
twelve
years old, somewhat oblong, with a circular Ridge
toward
the top. Now all over, without and within of a dark or
blackish colour. The sides extraordinary warm, being an
inch thick. Within, divided into four Quarters. In each
of
which (saith
But here
they are wanting. Described also in part, and
figur'd, in
c)
c)
Ind. lib. 4
the Name of Amygdala dell' Anidi.
Mr.
This Fruit grows principally in
Province of
places of the Kernels are used, saith
Acostaa) a)
c. 22Money;
and commonly given to the
Poor, as Alms. With
Chacawlate, the
Men, (b)
b)
These Kernels being well pounded, as Almonds, in a
Mortar, and mixed with a
certain proportion of Sugar
and Spices (according as the Trader
thinks or finds it best
for Sale) are commonly made up in Cakes or Rowles;
which are brought over hither from
But those
that would have a good quantity for their own
private use, had
much better procure the Nuts themselves
(as fresh and new as may be) and so prepare and com
pound them to their own Constitution and Tast. And for
those
that drink it, without any Medicinal respect, at
Coffee-Houses; there is no doubt but that of
Almonds finely
beaten, and mixed
with a due proportion of Sugar and
Spices, may be made as pleasant a drink, as
the best Chacawlate.
Given by Sig
r.
Botanickto the
Duke of
where it is frequently nursed in
Gardens. The
Figgs(as
nine or ten in a Bunch; two inches and ½ long, and as
thick as the middle Finger of a labouring man; being now
shrunk up, and perhaps also dwarfed by the place of its
growth.
This Plant, as it grows in
scribed by
der the Name of
Platanus, absurdly received by some, as
himself noteth; by
calls it Pacoeira; by Musa, from a)
tus
the Arabian Mous. It grows three or four yards in height,
and ¾ of a yard (a) in compass.
Yet this Trunk, so great,
is (b) but annual.b)
long, and more than ½ a yard broad. The
Figs grow
toward the top of the
Trunk, near the shape and bigness of
a midling Cucumer, sometimes one or two (c) c)
them. Of a
soft melting substance, and a sweet and most
delicious Tast.
In
with their Mandioca-Flower; boiled, or fryed (d) d)
Butyr.
c)
green, might weigh four or five ounces. And is said to be
dug up, sometimes, of fourteen Ounces. The
Plantun
certainly describ'd.
La
chryma Jobi;Lobelius ,(
chryma Jobi;
c)
c)
Bals
Reed;Garcias , to a
Flag;
Cod.
of the Male, the other of the Female: and supposeth, that
the uncertainty of Relations hereof may proceed partly
from the not distinguishing betwixt them. The Stalk of
the Male indeed seems to have some little likeness to a
Flag.
But the Seed-Cod is there neither figur'd nor describ'd.
In Numb. 1. 2. and 5.
Argument. Much of it, together with considerable Reflections may be
seen in Boyle's Essay of Firmness: In
other remarques, is recited the Testimony of Petrified Child
seen at Paris, and by the Owner used for a Whetstone: In
storia Infantis in abdomine inventi, & in ducitiem lapideam conversiHook's
related (but perhaps not well enough attested) by Authors, concerning the
stupendious Petrification of whole Companies of Men, and Troops of
Cat
tle; by Purchas
in his Pilgrimage p.
426.Spanish Horsemen)
by