An Account of the Abipones, an Equestrian People of Paraguay, (1 of 3)Dobrizhoffer, Martin
History
An Account of the Abipones, an Equestrian People of Paraguay, (1 of 3)
Dobrizhoffer, Martin
Abipon Indians; Jesuits -- Missions; Paraguay -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800
Of the shrub aguaribaỹ, which is likewise thought to be a species of
mastic, a balsam of much service in cleansing and healing wounds is
made. Taken inwardly it greatly conduces to stop flowing of the blood,
and allay coughs.
THE MOLLE.
The molle, a tree of no obscure name, furnishes solid wood for building,
but liable to be moth-eaten. It is adorned with leaves, like those of a
laurel, which, when bruised, serve for dressing goats'-skins, and for
medicinal purposes. The trunk distils a quantity of very fragrant gum,
which is burnt instead of frankincense. It bears fruit of a black
colour, the rind of which, when unripe, is of a pale blue. This fruit is
boiled in water, and, being sweeter than the alfaroba, makes a sharp and
sweet syrup, which, mixed with water, affords a pleasant, but powerful
drink. This liquor imparts a sort of ferocity to the eyes of persons
intoxicated with it, which continues two days. Physicians use both the
boughs and the rosin of this tree for various medicinal purposes.
THE BACOBA AND BANANÀ.
The fruits bacoba and bananà, which the Indians delight greatly in,
belong to the fig species. They are oval-shaped, and of a red colour.
The shrubs which produce them have neither seed, nor boughs, but are
adorned with long, wide, and beautifully green leaves, from the midst of
which the germen and the fruit emerge. The trunk or stalk of these
shrubs is slender and fragile. They die after bearing fruit once, but
are compensated for by suckers which grow from their roots. The fruit of
the bananà is rather long, and square in form, with a saffron-coloured
skin, a soft pulp, and not a very rich, but rather cold juice, which,
unless quite ripe, is injurious to the stomach. The bacoba is,
therefore, more wholesome than the bananà; both fruits, however, when
properly used, are remedies for various complaints. A liquor expressed
from them causes intoxication when taken in excess. Both trees, though
they grow in very sterile soils, bear fruit all the year round.
THE ANANÀS, OR PIÑA DEL PARAGUAY.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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