288 / 374
288
DRTNKS.
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.