FLOKA. OF THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 69 
of discovering gold. In any place where the unhappy patients happen to fall down, digging 
is commenced ; and, as the soil nearly everywhere abounds with gold-dust, an amount of 
more or less value is obtained. In order to counteract the bad effect of tlie poison, some 
sour CJucha de Maiz, a beer made of Indian corn, is administered. 
Many indigenous plants bear eatable fruits, some of most delicious flavour. The ])rin- 
cipal are: Algarroho {Hi/mencea Conbaril, Linn.), Boca vieja {Posoqaeria hngiforn, Aubl), 
Canafidola {Cassia Brasiliana, Lam.), Cerezo {Buncliosia glauca, II. B. K.), Coco {Cocot< 
mici/em, Linn.), Coronillo {Belinda Aubletii, Naud.), Fspave {Auacarduuii llhimcarpm, Dc 
Cand.), Fruta de Pava {Ardisia coriacea, Swartz), Granadilla {Passifom quadranguJaris, 
Linn.), Guayavo de savana {Psidium polycarpon. Lamb.), Cuayavo {Psidium pyrifcrttm, 
Linn.), Guavo {Liga), Icaco {Chrysohalanus Icaco, Linn.), Jayiia {Genipa), Johito de puerco 
{Spondias spinosa, Seem.), Maranon {Anncardium occidenfale, Linn.), Madrono de comer {AH- 
beriia edulis, Rich.), Membrillo [Gustavia), Nance {Byrsonima cotinifolia^ II. B. K.), Nispero 
{Sapota Achras, Mill.), Panama {Stercidia Carthayinens'is, Cav.), Papayo cimarron {Carica 
sp.), Piiia {Ananassa sativa, Lindl.), Pita de zapaferos {Bromclia sp.), Sasira (a Gutiifera), 
Tinajita {Pentagonia Tinajita, Seem.), and Zarzamora {liuhm sp. pi.)*. 
Several spontaneous productions are used as culinary vegetables. The Maratkrum 
fceniculaceum, H. B. K., a plant resembling some of the finer sea-weeds, and growing in mnst 
rivers of Veraguas, is esteemed so highly by the inhabitants that they have called it Passe- 
carne, i. e., excels or surpasses meat ; and, indeed, its young leaf-stalks, when boik-d, have 
a delicate flavour, not unlike that of French beans. The leaves of the iiaju de espina 
{Peirescia Bleo, De Cand.) are eaten as salad, either raw or boiled, like the young branches 
of several Opimiias in Mexico ; and in a country where, from the nature of the climate, the 
rearing of lettuces is attended with difficulty, they form a tolerable substitute. The 
foliage of the Col de Nicaragua {Jatropha viuUlfida, Linn.) affords another culinary vegetable, 
losing, apparently, as do most Eujjhorbiacece , its poisonous qualities by boiling. The seeds 
of the CJdgua {Zamia Chigua, Seem.), a plant abounding in the vicinity of Chiranibira, 
after having been boiled and reduced to a mash, are mixed with milk and sugar, and thus 
eaten. A kind of bread is also prepared from them. As condiments for esculent purposes, 
divers plants are used. The red berries of the Malagueto cJdcOy or Malagueto liemhra 
{Xylopia frufescens, Aubl.), are substituted for pepper, especially by the negroes. The fruit 
of the Vainilla {Vanilla sp.) and Vainilla ckica {Sobralia sp.) are spices employed in flavour- 
ing sweetmeats, chocolate, and puddings. The leaves of the Toronjil ( Ocimum), a common 
herb, are chopped, and serve to replace our Parsley. The most important, however, of all 
the aromatics to the Panamian cook is the Culantra {Eryngium fcetidum, Linn.). It imparts 
a flavour difficult for a foreigner to relish ; but the inhabitants consider it indispensable, 
and are quite distressed when in the soups and sancoches their favourite condiment has by 
some accident been omitted. 
* "Witli a fe'w exceptions, the Spanish names, when ending in o, denote the tree, in o, its fruit. 
