RAQUETTE, or Indian fig; plants so named by the Indians from which the cochineal is collected in Mexico. These plants bear fruits which resemble our figs; tinge the urine of those who eat them; and probably communicate to the cochineal the property which makes it useful to the dyer. The Indians of Mexico cultivate the nopal near their habitations, and sow, as it were, the insect which affords the cochineal. They make small nests of moss or fine herbs; put twelve or fourteen cochinels into each nest; place three or four of these nests on each leaf of the nopal; and fasten them there by the prickles of the plant. In the course of a few days, thousands of small insects issue out, and fix themselves upon the parts of the leaf which are best sheltered and afford the most nourishment. The cochinels are collected several times in the course of the year; and are deprived of life by scalding them, or by putting them into an oven. See COCHINEAL.