Hobson-Jobson: A Glossary of Colloquial Anglo-Indian Words and Phrases, and of Kindred Terms, Etymological, Historical, Geographical and Discursive c10.531

c10.531

1563.—“One kind (of coco-palm) they keep to bear fruit, the other for the sake of the *çura*, which is *vino mosto*; and this when it has been distilled they call *orraca*.”—*Garcia D’O.*, f. 67. (The word *surā*, used here, is a very ancient importation from India, for Cosmas (6th century) in his account of the coco-nut, confounding (it would seem) the milk with the toddy of the palm, says: “The *Argellion* is at first full of a very sweet water, which the Indians drink from the nut, using it instead of wine. This drink is called *rhoncosura*, and is extremely pleasant.” It is indeed possible that the *rhonco* here may already be the word *arrack*).