From which doctrine I gather, that the Author of _Marchena_, was in an errour, who, writing of _Chocolate_, saith that it causeth Opilations, because _Cacao_ is astringent; as if that astriction were not corrected, by the intimate mixing of one part with another, by meanes of the grinding, as is said before. Besides, it having so many ingredients, which are naturally hot, it must of necessity have this effect; that is to say, to open, attenuate, and not to binde; and, indeed, there is no cause of bringing more examples, or producing more reasons, for this truth, then that which we see in the _Cacao_ it self: which, if it be not stirred, and compounded, as aforesaid, to make the _Chocolate_. But eating of it, as it is in the fruite, as the _Criollas_ eate it in the _Indies_, it doth notably obstruct, and cause stoppings; for no other cause but this, that the divers substances which it containes, are not perfectly mingled by the mastication onely, but require the artificiall mixture, which we have spoken of before.
Besides, our Adversary should have considered, and called to his memory, the first rudiments of Philosophy, that _à dicto secundum quid, ad dictum simpliciter, non valet consequentia_; As it is not enough to say, the Black-a-Moore is white, because his teeth are white; for he may be blacke, though he hath white teeth; and so it is not enough to say, that the _Cacao_ is stopping; and therefore the Confection, which is made of it, is also stopping.
The Tree, which beares this fruit, is so delicate; and the earth, where it growes, is so extreme hot, that to keepe the tree from being consumed by the Sun, they first plant other trees; and when they are growne up to a good height, then they plant the _Cacao_ trees; that when it first shewes it selfe above the ground, those trees which are already growne, may shelter it from the Sunne; and the fruit doth not grow naked, but ten or twelve of them are in one Gorde or Cod, which is of the bignesse of a greate black Figge, or bigger, and of the same forme, and colour.
There are two sorts of _Cacao_; the one is common, which is of a gray colour, inclining towards red; the other is broader and bigger, which they call _Patlaxte_, and this is white, and more drying; whereby it causeth watchfulnesse, and drives away sleepe, and therefore it is not so usefull, as the ordinary. This shall suffice to be said of the _Cacao_.