1892 Drinks of the world

DRTNKS.

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A plant having such manifold and beneficent pro- perties must needs have a supernatural origin, and the Indians had a belief that the goddess Varischa first introduced the Cuca plant into Peru, and taught the inhabitants the use thereof. Abraham Cowley sang thereof in his Latin poems, " Sex libri plan- tarum," and I make use of the translation by Nahum Tate, of the fifth book, published in 1 700. The Indian Bacchus challenge the other deities to judge between the fruits of the two worlds. " But Bacchus much more sportive than the rest. Fills up a Bowl with Juice from Grapestones drein'd, And puts it in Omelichilus hand ; Take off this Draught, said he, if thou art wise, 'Twill purge thy Cannibal Stomach's Crudities. He, unaccustomed to the acid Juice Storm'd, and with blows had answer'd the Abuse, But fear'd t'engage the European Guest, Whose Strength and Courage had subdu'd the East. He therefore chooses a less dang'rpus fray, And summons all his Country's Plants away Forthwith in decent Order they appear, And various Fruits on various Branches wear Like Amazons they stand in painted Arms, Coca alone appears with little Charms ; Yet led the Van, our scoffing Venits scorn'd The shrublike Tree, and with no Fruit adorn'd. The Indian Plants, said she, are like to speed In this Dispute of the most sterile Breed, Who choose a Dwarf and Eunuch for their Head, Our Gods laugh'd out aloud at what she said. Pachamama defends her darling Tree, And said the wanton Goddess was too free.