THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 269 
The cordage, which the Isthmians use, is solely procured from in- 
digenous plants. The best and whitest rope is made from the fibre of 
the Corteza (Apeiba Petawmo, Aubl.). A brownish-looking rope, easily 
affected by dampness, probably because the tree from which it is taken 
“contains saline properties, is manufactured from the Majagua de playa 
(Hibiscus arboreus, Desv.), and a third is obtained from the Barrigon 
(Bombax Barrigon, Seem.). The Xylopia sericea, St. Hil., also yields 
a fibre fit for ropes. It is on that account named Malagueto hembra, 
or Female Malagueto, in order to distinguish it from the Malagueto 
macho, or Male Malagueto (Xylopia grandiflora, St. Hil.), which is 
destitute of such a quality. The far-famed hammocks of Veraguas 
consist of the fibres of the Cabuya (Agave sp.), and those of a Palm 
called Chonta. A strong fibre is contained in the leaves of the Pita de 
zapateros (Bromelia sp.), which is prepared like flax, woven into bags, 
or Chacaras, by different Indian tribes, and extensively used by shoe- 
makers for sewing. The fibre surrounding the wood of the Cucua or 
Namagua (Brosimum Namagua, Seem.) forms a close texture of regu- 
lar natural matting, which the natives soak in water, beat and make — 
into garments, beds, and ropes, or use as sails for their canoes. The 
mats which the poorer classes use to sleep upon, are manufactured 
from the fibre of Plantain leaves (Musa paradisiaca, Linn.). 
Numerous vegetable substances are applied to miscellaneous pur- 
poses. An infusion of the leaves of the 72 (Corchorus Mompoxensis, 
H. B. K.) is drunk instead of tea, and a similar preparation is now 
made from those of the Freziera theoides, Swartz, a shrub common 
on the volcano of Chiriqui. The aerial roots of the Zanora (Iriartea —— 
exorrhiza, Mart.), being clad with numerous spines, are used as graters, - 
and although they are not so fine as those supplied by art, yet in a - ves 
country where, from the humidity of the climate, tin ones soon get 
rusty, they are almost preferable. The natives. chiefly employ them 
when grating Cocoa-nuts, which, boiled with rice, compose one of 
their favourite dishes. The leaves of the Papayo (Carica Papaya, 
Linn.) are a substitute for soap. The wood of the Balsa (Ochroma 
Lagopus, Swartz), being soft and light, like cork, is used for stopping 
bottles: the never-sinking rafts, which, at the discovery of South 
America, caused such surprise among the early adventurers, were then 
constructed of it and are so still. The prevalence of the Balsa along 
the coast of Western America has hitherto, it seems, not been suffi- 
