CHAPTER XI

Summary

The Maldives are very fertile in all manner of fruits, and beside those already described, which grow there, are many others, whereof I should wish to mention some, as well because they are altogether alien to the species here, as that I have myself made use of them and observed them more narrowly at the Maldives than elsewhere. I would not say that some of them may not grow elsewhere in India, nor that I may not have seen them there.

In the first place, I did much marvel to observe the very remarkable nature of a kind of root, peculiar to the Maldives, which they use much with their food, and dress very cunningly. It grows as big as a man's thigh. It is sown and cultivated; and what is astonishing is, that they cut the root alone into a number of exceeding small pieces and plant these, insomuch that it grows not from seed but from a morsel of the root—a strange fact, and contrary to the nature of other plants.

There are many sorts of trees, some bearing fruits, others only flowers. Among those bearing fruits are cocos, bananas, pomegranates, limes, and orange. Of trees less known that bear fruit, here are some observed by me.