Of the tree named gaguey[1] and its fruit.

Translated by Lizabeth Paravisini-Gebert

Gaguey is a tree that bears a fig-like fruit no bigger than a hazelnut. Inside it is white as a Castile fig and full of very tiny and good-tasting grains. This tree, although its wood is not among the best, is not useless, as in times past ropes and cords were made from its bark by both Indians and Christians, as well as rope-soled sandals when there were no hemp ones available or none had arrived from Castile; and even if they had arrived, the ones made from the bark of these trees were quite good and lasted a long time. The truth is that nature does not create anything superfluous or without benefit, and if other things are not helpful is from us not knowing how to use them.

[1] A tree in the Ficus genus.