about ten pound. From the first bearing the Tree is never found without fruit, for it bears new every moneth. The shell is so hard and thick that it may be polish'd, and figures en∣grav'd upon it, and made into Cups, Bottles, and other Ves∣sels. It is encompass'd with a thick covering which is all of filaments.
When the Coco-nut is opened, there is first met with a meat, white as snow, which is extreamly nourishing, and tastes like an Almond: There is so much of this marrowy substance in every fruit as may well fill an ordinary dish. It is very firm∣ly fastened within the shell, and in the midst of it there is a large glass full of liquor, clear and pleasant as perfum'd Wine: so that a man may be well satisfi'd with one of these fruits at a meal. It is only this water which is turned into seed, and among other vertues hath that of clearing the face of all wrinkles, and giving it a bright and Vermilion colour, so it be washed therewith as soon as the fruit is fallen from the Tree.
Who desires a particular account of the Cocos and its uses, as well in Physick as House-keeping, may read the large descrip∣tion of it made by Francis Pyrard, in his Treatise of the Ani∣mals, Trees, and Fruits of the East-Indies.
Some from the neerness of the names do sometimes confound the Cocos with the Cacao, which grows in the Province of Gua∣timala, neer New-Spain, which is also a famous fruit all over America, for its being the principal ingredient in the composi∣tion called Chocolate. This drink taken moderately causeth Venery, Procreation and Conception, and facilitates Delive∣ry, preserves Health, and impinguates: It helpeth Digestion, Consumption and Cough of the Lungs, Plague of the Guts, and other Fluxes, the Green-Sickness, Jaundise, and all man∣ner of Imflammations and Oppilations: It cleanseth the Teeth, and sweetneth Breath, provokes Urine, cures Stone and Stran∣gury, expells Poyson, and preserves from all infectious Dis∣eases; all which vertues are attributed to it by several credita∣ble Authors.
The Cacao which was to be seen in the Caribbies, in the year one thousand six hundred forty nine, in a Garden of an Inhabi∣tant of the Island of Sante Croix, which was then in the hands of the English, is a Tree much like an Orange-tree, save that it grows not up so high, and that it hath larger leaves. It is com∣monly planted in shady places, even under other Trees, that they may keep off the heat of the Sun from it, which might otherwise occasion the withering of its leaves. Its fruit is about the bigness and neer the figure of an Acorn, or a middle siz'd Olive, and grows in great long cods, or husks, which are streaked in several places with little partitions along the sides.