LETTER FROM THE GOVERNOR OF CAPE VERDE ISLANDS TO THE KING
provision on the 17th of June, 1734, His Majesty commands me to take notice of the local healers of this island and to make a list of the more suitable and
“By
necessary medicines for the treatments; and that is what I will do with the following list made by Father João Marquez of whom I have all confidence because he
has
the experience and is the chaplain of the Misericórdia where he sees to the treatments of the patients; and also because he has cured several diseases I have
had.
His Majesty will order what suits Him. God keep His Majesty safe as this humble and loyal servant... the city of Ribeira Grande, Santiago Island, Cape Verde
Islands, on the 24th of October, 1736 Bento Gomes Coelho.”
“Preparation for a pharmacy of the most durable things on Santiago Island, as follows:
Herbs more commonly used in medicine; with them we make several preparations and use them either one at a time or in compositions; we have them all in this
island of Santiago:
A erva selidonia
A erva mentraste
A rabaça
A erva sinoura brava
Alabaça
Alecrim manço
Alecrim bravo
A sintaura menor
O funcho manço e bravo
A losna
A bonitinha
A erva verbena urgevão
A erva camara
A erva baboza da que fazemos exelentissimos azeure
A mangerição menor
A mangerição mayor
A lingoa canis
O aipo
O aybenca
A artemiza
A angelica
A malva
A salça ortense
A salva
A erva pastinaca
A murta
A erva nicoçiana ou tabaquo
A erva trevo
Marrolhos
A erva stramonça ou ervilha qua
Alfavaca de cobra
Sarralhas
Endro
Erva moura
Tanchazem
Rosmaninho
Ortelam
Arruda
Feto
Tamarindos
Mirabolanos Indos
Óleo de Coco
Canafistola
Urucu ou chiote
Cola ou castanha de Guiné
Cola amarga
Jaguijague ou capuçia mayor
Erva çidrejra
Purguejra ou pinhão do Brasil
Calabeseira, fruta de huma grande arvore
Banana fruta
A erva fedegoza
A erva bombardeiro
A erva munduro
A erva matapasto
Marmelos fruta
Malagueta
Mustarda
A erva olho de vaca
Piorno erva
Malvaísco
Maniplesro arvore
A erva solda
Bolca de Pastor erva
Algodoeiro
Abriolhos erva
Lolo branco erva
Legação erva
Borragen
Ananas fruta
Rimam
A Sintaura menor, erva
Ortigas mortas
“In this way I have stated herbs, plants and fruits from which curatives are made in this island in order to treat several illnesses and indispositions by command of
governor Bento Gomes Coelho on the 27th of October, 1736. I, the chaplain major of the hospital of this island of Santiago of the Cape Verde Islands and physician
of its infirmary// Father João Marquez da Silva // and I Thomas Vasquez secretary of this government have written and verified it.” (Text translated and adapted from
AHU, Cape Verde Islands, box 16, doc. 45)