tailieunhanh - THE Natural HISTORY OF CHOCOLATE

If the Merit of a Natural History depends upon the Truth of the Facts which are brought to support it, then an unprejudiced Eye-Witness is more proper to write it, than any other Person; and I dare even flatter myself, that this will not be disagreeable to the Publick notwithstanding its Resemblance to the particular Treatises of Colmenero (1), Dufour (2), and several others who have wrote upon the same Subject. Upon examination, so great a Difference will appear, that no one can justly accuse me of having borrow’d any thing from these Writers | THE Natural HISTORY OF CHOCOLATE-. BEING A Distinct and Particular Account of the Cocoa-tree its Growth and Culture and the Preparation Excellent Properties and Medicinal Vertues of its Fruit. Wherein the Errors of those who have wrote upon this Subject are discover d the Best Way of Making Chocolate is explain d and several Uncommon Medicines drawn from it are communicated. Translated from the last Edition of the French By R. BROOKES M. D. The Second Edition. LONDON Printed for J. Roberts near the Oxford-Arms in Warwick-Lane. M . PREFACE If the Merit of a Natural History depends upon the Truth of the Facts which are brought to support it then an unprejudiced Eye-Witness is more proper to write it than any other Person and I dare even flatter myself that this will not be disagreeable to the Publick notwithstanding its Resemblance to the particular Treatises of Colmenero 1 Dufour 2 and several others who have wrote upon the same Subject. Upon examination so great a Difference will appear that no one can justly accuse me of having borrow d any thing from these Writers. This small Treatise is nothing but the Substance and Result of the Observations that I made in the American Islands during the fifteen Years which I was obliged to stay there upon the account of his Majesty s Service. The great Trade they drive there in Chocolate excited my Curiosity to examine more strictly than ordinary into its Origin Culture Properties and Uses. I was not a little surprized when I every day discover d as to the Nature of the Plant and the Customs of the Country a great Number of Facts contrary to the Ideas and Prejudices for which the Writers on this Subject have given room. For this reason I resolved to examine every thing myself and to represent nothing but as it really was in Nature to advance nothing but what I had experienced and even to doubt of the Experiments themselves till I had repeated them with the utmost Exactness. Without these Precautions there can be no .