Page:Books from the Biodiversity Heritage Library (IA mobot31753000820123).pdf/34

 Rh

Chocolate is here us'd by all People, at all times, bur chiefly in the morning; it seems by its oiliness chiefly to be nourishing, and by the Eggs mixt with it to be render'd more so. The Custom, and very common usage of drinking it came to us from the Spaniards, although ours here is plain, without Spice. I found it in great quantities, nauseous, and hard of digestion, which I suppose came from its great oiliness, and therefore I was very unwilling to allow weak Stomachs the use of it, though Children and Infants drink it here, as commonly as in England they feed on Milk. Chocolate colours the Excrements of those feeding on it of a dirty colour.

The common use of this, by all People in several Countries in America, proves sufficiently its being a wholesome Food. The drinking of it actually warm, may make it the more Stomachic, for we know by Anatomical preparations, that the tone of the fibres are strengthened by dipping the Stomach in hot water, and that hot Liquors will dissolve what cold will leave unaffected.

Besides these ordinary Provisions, the Racoon, a small Quadruped, is eaten. Rats are likewise sold by the dozen, and when they have been bred amongst the Sugar-Canes, are thought by some discerning people very delicious Victuals. Snakes or Serpents and Cossi (a sort of Worms) are eaten by the Indians and Negros.

As I have formerly observed some wonderful contrivances of Nature, for propagating the Kind, I shall now on this occasion take notice of one very obvious, and yet not regarded for the preservation of the individuum. 'Tis the great variety of Foods Mankind is sustained by, not only here but in the several parts of the Earth. Mankind would be at a great loss were they restrain'd by Nature to any certain limited kind of Food. For when they should come to multiply and replenish the Earth, and live in all Climates, where the difference of Air and Soil raises variety of Vegetable and Animal Productions, they would come to want necessary sustenance for Life, were they not fitted by Nature, or rather the All-wise Author of it, to make use of what they find ready for that purpose.

'Tis for this reason Man has cutting and tearing as well as grinding Teeth, and a natural Menstruum or dissolvent in his Stomach and Guts, of great force and power in extracting Nourishment from the great variety of Meats, found and used in the several parts of the World. Chymists have with great industry many years sought after an Alcahest, Universal Dissolvent, or Menstruum, whereby to open or extract the Quintessence of Bodies, and have not, so far as I can see or learn, been yet able to attain it. We see every day Nature surpass them in this particular, for whereas with them so many kinds of Drugs or Bodies, so many kinds of Menstrua are required, the Spittle, or whatever is the Menstruum comes from