The Description.

1. The first of the Mirobalan trees, called Chebulæ, is a shrubby tree altogether wild (which the Indians do call Aretca:) in stature not unlike to the Plum tree; the branches are many, and grow thick together, whereon are set leaves like those of the Peach tree. The fruit is greater than any of the rest, somewhat long, fashioned like a Pear.

2. This second kind of Mirobalan, called Flava, or Citrina, which some do call Aritiqui, but the common people of India, Arare, groweth upon a tree of mean stature, having many boughs standing finely in order, and set full of leaves like unto the Service tree.

3. The third kind of Mirobalans, called Emblicæ, the Indians do call Amiale, which grow upon a tree of mean stature, like the former, but the leaves are very much jagged, in shape like the leaves of Fern, but that they be somewhat thicker: the Indians do not put the fruit hereof unto physical uses, but occupy it for the thickening and tanning of their leather instead of Rhus, or Currier's Sumach, as also to make ink and bletch for other purposes.

4. Mirobalani Belliricæ, called of the savages Gotni, and Guti, groweth up to a mean stature, garnished with leaves like unto Laurel or the Bay tree, but somewhat lesser, thinner, and of a pale green colour.

5. The fifth kind of Mirobalans is called Indica, which the Indians do call Rezannale; it groweth upon a tree of mean stature, or rather upon a shrub or hedge plant, bearing leaves like the Willow, and a fruit eight square.

There is a sixth kind, the tree whereof is not mentioned in the authors.

The Place and Time.

The first four kinds of Mirobalans do grow in the kingdom of Cambaia: they grow likewise in Goa, Batkhal, Malanor, and Dabhol: the Kebula in Visnagar, Deccan, Gujerat, and Bengal, & many other places of the East Indies. The time agreeth with other fruits in those countries.

The Names.

Those which we have said to be yellow, the inhabitants of those countries where they grow do call them Arare; those that be black they call Rezemale; the Bellericæ, Gotim; the Chebulæ, Aretca: the Emblicæ are called Aretiqui.

The Temperature.

All the kinds of Mirobalans are in taste astringent and sharp like unto the unripe Sorbus or Service berries, and therefore they are of complexion cold and dry.

The Virtues.

A. The Indians use them rather to bind than purge, but if they do use them for a purge, they use the decoction of them, and use them much conserved in sugar, and especially the Chebulæ; the yellow and black be good that way likewise.

B. The yellow and Bellericæ taken before meat, are good against a lask, or weak stomach, as Garcia writeth.

C. The yellow and black, or Indicæ, and the Chebulæ, purge lightly, if two or three drams be taken, and draw superfluous humours from the head.

D. The yellow, as some write, purge choler, Chebulæ phlegm, Indicæ melancholy, and strengthen the inward parts, but roasted in the embers, or otherwise wasted, they dry more than they purge.

E. There are two sorts especially brought into these parts of the world conserved, the Chebulæ, and of them the best are somewhat long like a small lemon, with a hard rind and black pith, of the taste of a conserved walnut; and the Bellericæ, which are round and lesser, and tenderer in eating.

F. Lobel writeth, that of them the Emblicæ do meanly cool, some do dry in the first degree, they purge the stomach of rotten phlegm, they comfort the brain, the sinews, the heart, and liver, procure appetite, stay vomit, and cool the heat of choler, help the understanding, quench thirst, and the heat of the entrails: the greatest and heaviest be the best.

G. They purge best, and with lesser pain if they be laid in water in the sun until they swell, & sod on a soft fire, & after they have sod and be cold, preserved in four times so much white honey, put to them.

H. Garcias found the distilled water to be right profitable against the French disease, and such-like infections.

I. The Bellericæ are also of a mild operation, and do comfort, and are cold in the first degree, and dry in the second: the others come near to the Emblicæ in operation.