The Description.

The ancient writers have been very brief in the history of Anacardium: the Grecians have touched it by the name of Anakardion, taking the name from the likeness it hath of an heart both in shape and colour; called of the Portugals that inhabit the East Indies, Fava de Malaqua, the bean of Malacca; for being green, and as it hangeth on the tree, it resembleth a Bean, saving that it is much bigger: but when they be dry they are of a shining blackish colour, containing between the outward rind and the kernel (which is like an Almond) a certain oil of a sharp caustic or burning quality, called Mel Acardinum, although the kernel is used in meats and sauces, as we do Olives and such like, to procure appetite.

The other fruit groweth upon a tree of the bigness of a Pear tree: the leaves are much like to those of the Olive tree, but thicker and fatter, of a faint green colour: the flowers are white, consisting of many small leaves much like the flowers of the Cherry tree, but much doubled, without smell: after cometh the fruit (according to Clusius, of the form and magnitude of a goose egg, full of juice; in the end whereof is a nut) in shape like an hare's kidney, having two rinds, between which is contained a most hot and sharp oil like that of Anacardium, whereof it is a kind.

The bean or kernel itself is no less pleasant and wholesome in eating, than the Pistacia, or fistic nut, whereof the Indians do eat with great delight, affirming that it provoketh venery, wherein is their chiefest felicity. The fruit is contained in long cods like those of beans, but greater: near unto which cods cometh forth an excrescence like unto an apple, very yellow, of a good smell, spongious within, and full of juice, without any seeds, stones, or grains at all, somewhat sweet in taste, at the one end narrower than the other, Pear fashion, or like a little bottle, which hath been reputed of some for the fruit, but not rightly; for it is rather an excrescence, as is the Oak Apple.

The Place.

The first grows in most parts of the East Indies, especially in Cananor, Calicut, Cambaya, and Deccan. The later in Brazil.

The Time.

These trees flower and flourish winter and summer.

The Names.

Their names have been touched in their descriptions. The first is called Anacardium, of the likeness it hath with an heart: of the Arabians, Mador: of the Indians, Bibo.

The second is called Caious, and Caius: of some, Caiocus.

The Temperature and Virtues.

A. The oil of the fruit is hot and dry in the fourth degree, it hath also a caustic or corrosive quality: it taketh away warts, breaketh apostumes, prevaileth against lepry, alopecia, and easeth the pain of the teeth, being put into the hollowness thereof.

B. The people of Malabar do use the said oil mingled with chalk, to mark their clothes or any other thing they desire to be coloured or marked, as we do use chalk, ochre, and red marking stones, but their colour will not be taken forth again by any manner of art whatsoever.

C. They also give the kernel steeped in whey to them that he asthmatic or short winded; and when the fruit is yet green they stick the same so steeped against the worms.

D. The Indians for their pleasure will give the fruit upon a thorn or some other sharp thing, and hold it in the flame of a candle, or any other flame, which there will burn with such crackings, lightnings, and withal yield so many strange colours, that it is great pleasure to the beholders which have not seen the like before.