The Description.

1. The Grecians have not known, but the Arabians have mentioned this Indian Nut tree, the body whereof is very great, smooth and plain, void of boughs or branches, of great height; wherefore the Indians do wrap ropes about the body thereof, as they do upon the tree last described, for their more ease in gathering the fruit: the timber whereof is very spongy within, but hard without, a matter fit to make their canoes and boats of: on the top of the tree grow the leaves like those of the Date tree, but broad, and sharp at the point as thorns, whereof they use to make needles, bodkins, and such like instruments, wherewith they sew the sails of their ships and do such like business: among these leaves come forth clusters of flowers like those of the Chestnut tree, which turn into great fruit of a round form, and somewhat sharp at one end; in that end next unto the tree is one hole, sometimes two bored through: this nut or fruit is wrapped in a coverture, consisting of a substance not unlike to hemp before it be beaten soft: there is also a finer and gentler stuff next unto the shell, like unto Flax before it be made soft: in the middle whereof is contained a great nut covered with a very hard shell, of a brown colour before it be polished, afterward of a black shining colour like burnished horn: next into the shell upon the inside there cleaveth a white kernelly substance firm and solid, of the colour and taste of a blanched almond: within the cavity or hollowness thereof is contained a most delectable liquor like unto milk; and of a most pleasant taste.

2. We have no certain knowledge from those that have travelled into the Indies, of the tree which beareth this little Indian nut; neither have we anything of our own knowledge, more than that we see by experience, that the fruit hereof is lesser, wherein consisteth the difference.

3. The other, expressed in the same table with the former, by the name of Mehenbethene, Clusius received it by the same name from Cortusus of Padua: yet it doth not (as he saith) well agree with the description; and he rather approves of their opinion who refer it to the Nux unguentaria, or Ben. It is some inch long, of a triangular figure, with a hard and woody shell: which broken, shows three cells or partitions, in each whereof is contained a long kernel white and sweet.

The Place.

This Indian Nut groweth in some places of Africa, and in the East Indies, and in all the islands of the West Indies, especially in Hispaniola, Cuba, and Saint John's Island, and also upon the continent by Carthagena, Nombre de Dios, and Panama, and in Virginia, otherwise called Norembega, part of the same continent, for the most part near unto the seaside, and in moist places, but it is seldom found in the uplandish countries.

The Time.

It groweth green winter and summer.

The Names.

The fruit is called in Latin, Nux indica: of the Indians, Cocus: of the Portugals that dwell in the East Indies, Cocco, taken from the end, wherein are three holes representing the head of a monkey: Serapio and Rhasis do call this tree Iaralnare, id est, arborem nuciferam, the tree bearing nuts: of Avicenna, Glauci al hend: of the vulgar people, Maro, and the fruit Narel; which name Narel is common among the Persians and Arabians: it is called in Malabar, Tengamaran: the ripe fruit, Tenga; and the green fruit, Eleri: in Goa it is called Lanhan: in Malaya, Triccan: and the nut, Nihor.

The distilled liquor is called Sula; and the oil that is made thereof, Copra.

The Temperature.

It is of a mean temper betwixt hot and cold.

The Virtues and use.

A. The Indians do use to cut the twigs and tender branches toward the evening, at the ends whereof they have bottle gourds, hollow canes, and such like things, fit to receive the water that droppeth from the branches thereof, which pleasant liquor they drink instead of wine; from the which is drawn a strong and comfortable Aqua Vitæ, which they use in time of need against all manner of sicknesses; of the branches and boughs they make their houses; of the trunk or body of the tree, ships and boats; of the hemp on the outward part of the fruit, they make ropes and cables; and of the finer stuff, sails for their ships.

B. Likewise they make of the shell of the nut, cups to drink in, which we likewise use in England, garnished with silver for the same purposes. The kernel serveth them for bread and meat: the milky juice doth serve to cool and refresh their wearied spirits: out of the kernel when it is stamped, is pressed a most precious oil, not only good for meat, but also for medicine, wherewith they anoint their feeble limbs after their tedious travail, by means whereof the ache and pain is mitigated, and other infirmities quite taken away proceeding of other causes.