« back to encyclopedia search resultsChanca, Dr. Diego Alvarez
The personal physician of Christopher Columbus, who made notes on why the first Spanish settlers were slow to try food. One, possibly referring to chilis went as follows -
"There were wild fruits of various kinds, some of which our men, not very prudently, tasted; and upon touching them with their tongues, their countenances became inflamed, and such great heat and plain followed, that they seemed mad".
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