1892 Drinks of the world

DRINKS.

283

the Spaniards, Coca, being that which is, and hath been a considerable part of the Riches of Peru, and such as hath yielded great benefit to the Merchants. And, indeed, the Indians did justly esteem it for the rare Virtues and Qualities of it, which the Spaniards have not onely approved, but have also discovered several other specifick and medicinal Qualities belong- ing to it. Bias Valei^a, who was a very curious Person, and one who had resided many years in Peru, and came from thence thirty years after my departure, hath wrote Very largely of the many Virtues of this Herb, and such as he hath found out by his own experience. His words are these, * The Cuca is a tender Tree or Bind, about the height and ' small,

it produceth not many Branches,

' biegness of a Vine ;

* but is full of delicate Leaves, of about the breadth and

* length of a Man's Thumb ;

it is of an excellent smell,

the Spaniards and Indians do both

* and very fragrant ;

* give them the name of Ctcca ; the which is so much * esteemed by the Indians, that they prefer it before

They plant and

* Gold, or Silver, or Pretious Stones.

* manure them with great art and diligence, and gather * them with great care, pulling them leaf by leaf, and 'then lay them to dry in the Sun, and so the Indians ' The Virtue and Benefit of this Cuca is plainly * observable in labouring Men, who, having eaten it are ' much refreshed, and often labour a whole day in the * eat them dry. **

The

without any other nourishment.

* strength of it,

' Cuca moreover preserves the Body from many in-

and our Physicians make use of it,

being

* firmities ;