Greg Coffta Bio190/Costa Rican Adventures 11/30/1999 Part I Banana: Bananas were most likely picked up by the European traders in Southeast Asia when in search for spices. Soon, as the discovery of the Tropics arrived, traders took bananas to Central America. Breadfruit: this fruit commonly grows among the southern Pacific islands, and it probably found its way to Costa Rica when the natives started to explore on boat. Chocolate: as far as I could find, …showed first 75 words of 1239 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1239 total…Aspirin. Natives used this to treat fever and mild pain. The form they used contained salicylic acid, which irritated the gastrointestinal tract to the extent of ulcers. This form also tasted even bitterer than the modern form. Coconut root is another form of a narcotic, Natives often make chew the root or make a tea from the root to relieve pain, and give a feeling of euphoria. Material was solely taken from Encarta Interactive Encyclopedia 1998