THE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 305 ~ 
Isthmians did not know, before I visited the Isthmus, that Vegetable 
Ivory, or Marfil vejetal as they call it, existed in their country; and, | 
although they have been told that with the produce of the groves of 
Darien whole ships might be loaded, no one has yet taken advantage 
of the discovery. 
An indigenous production deserving especial notice is the Jipijapa 
(Carludovica palmata, R. et Pav.), a palm-like plant, of whose unex- 
panded leaves the far-famed “ Panamà hats ” are plaited. This species - 
of Carludovica is distinguished from all others by being terrestrial, | 
never climbing, and bearing fan-shaped leaves. The leaves are from six 
to fourteen feet high, and their lamina about four feet across. The spatha 
appears towards the end of the dry season, in February and March. 
In the Isthmus, the plant is called Portorico, and also Jipijapa, but the 
latter appellation is most common, and is diffused all along the coast as 
far as Peru and Chili; while in Ecuador a whole district derives its name 
from it. The Jipijapa is common in Panamà and Darien, especially in 
half-shady places; but its geographical range is by no means confined 
to them. It is found all along the western shores of New Granada - 
and Ecuador; and I have noticed it even at Salango, where, however, — 
it seems to reach its most southern limit, thus extending over twelve — 
degrees of latitude, from the tenth N. to the second S. The Jipijapa, - 
or Panama hats, are principally manufactured in Veraguas and Western - 
Panama: not all, however, known in commerce by that name are - ; 
plaited in the Isthmus; by far the greater proportion is made in Manta, - 
Monte Christi, and other parts of Ecuador. The hats are worn almost 
in the whole American continent and the West Indies, and would 
probably be equally used in Europe, did not their high price, vary- - 
ing from 2 to 150 dollars, prevent their importation. They are dis- | 
tinguished from all others by consisting only of a single piece, and by | 
their lightness and flexibility. They may be rolled up and put into - 
the pocket without injury. In the rainy season they are apt to 
get black, but by washing them with soap and water, besmearing them 
with lime-juice or any other acid, and exposing them to the sun, their | 
whiteness is easily restored. — So little is known about these hats, that. | 
it may not be deemed out of place to insert here a notice of their } 
manufacture. ‘The “straw” (paja), previous to plaiting, has to go F 
through several processes. The leaves are gathered before they unfold, E 
all their ribs and coarser veins removed, and the rest, without being f : 
