Fruits that grow in India “Copied from Life.”

While in the employ of the Portuguese archbishop in Goa, the Dutchman Linschoten collected vital information on Portuguese life in Goa, including on Indian medicines and botany, for the fledgling Dutch East India Company. When he returned to Holland, Linschoten published his compilation of information with the help of the Dutch scholar physician Palladinus, in “On Spices, drugges, plants and stuffes for Physitions and Apothecaries, that is the common sort and such as are ordinarily used in India, and of their growing in what manner and place they grow.” The information was invaluable for the Dutch East India Company, and later also for the by British East India Company.