Page:History of the Royal Society.djvu/185

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the Royal Society.
163

but the Indians swallow down their Spittle, together with the Juice of the Betel, and the Areica. The Manner of preparing it is easy, being nothing but the Nut, Leaf and Calx viva, of which last each one adds as much as pleaseth his Palate. There is a Sort of Fruit called Sivgboa, which is used with the Areica, instead of Betel, and can be dried and transported as well as the Areica, and hath the same Force, but a great deal more pleasant to the Palate.

Q. 12. Whether the Papayas, that beareth Fruit like a Melon, do not grow, much less bear Fruit, unless Male and Female be together?

A.They grow, as I have seen two in the English House at Bantam, and bear little Fruit, which never comes to Perfection; but if the Male and Female be together, the one bears great Fruit, the other nothing but Flowers.

Q. 13. Whether the Arbor Triste sheds its Flowers at the rising of the Sun, and shoots them again at the setting of the Sun? And whether the distill'd Water thereof (call'd Aqua di Mogli by the Portugals) may not be transported to England? And whether at the rising of the Sun the Leaves of the Arbor Triste drop off as well as the Flowers?

A.There are two sorts of the Arbor Triste; one is called by the Portugals Triste de Die, the other Triste de Nocte; the one sheds its Flowers at the rising, the other at the setting of the Sun; but neither of them shed their Leaves. There is no Body here that understands the distilling of Waters; some say this Aqua di Mogli is to be had at Malaca, for which I have writ, and shall send it if procurable.

Q. 14. Whether the Arbor de Rays, or Tree of Root, propagate itself in a whole Forest, by shooting up and

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