1892 Drinks of the world

DRINKS,

286

and the provisions of all things which are made for it, we ought rather to render thanks to God for his abundant blessings in the variety of his Creatures, than to believe or conclude that what we write is fabulous or incredible ; if these fruits were to be planted or nourished in other Countries, the charge and labour of them would be more than the benefit. *' The Herb is gathered every four Months, that is three times a year, and in the manuring of it care is taken to weed it often ; for the Country being hot and moist, the Weeds grow apace, and the Herb sometimes increases So fast, that the season for gathering of it advances fifteen days ; so that sometimes they have four Harvests for it In a year ; the which, a certain covetous Tithe-gatherer observing, In my time, farmed the Tithes of all the principal and rich Ir|,heritances and Possessions about Cozco, and, taking care to keep them clear and clean from Weeds, he so improved his Revenue, that the year following, the Farmer of the Tithes made two thirds more than what had been made in the preceding years ; which caused a Law Suit between the Farmer and the Proprietor, but what the Issue was of it, I that was then but a Boy, did not much remark. " Amongst many other Virtues of this Cuca, they say it corroborates the Gums, and fortifies the Teeth, and that it gives strength and vigour to any person that labours and toils, onely by carrying it in his mouth. I remember a Story which I heard in my own Countrey. That a certain Gentleman, both by Bloud and Vertue, called Rodrigo Pantoia^ journeying once from Cozco to