244 BOTANICAL OBJECTS COMMUNICATED 
take the most making, and are accounted the strongest ; one is wrapped 
with Timbó-titíca (Menispermacea) ; one with Jacitéra (the stem of a 
twining prickly Palm, probably Desmoncus polyacanthos), and one with 
Uarumé (Calathea sp.).—The largest requires a handle, the others are . 
used without handles. 
103. Mat made at Moyobamba in the Peruvian Andes, of the young 
fronds of the Murité Palm (Mauritia sp.).—These mats serve during 
the day for a dining-table, and at night, spread under the hammock, 
for a carpet. 
104. Maqgueira (hammock) made by Indians on the Rio Napo, of 
the young fronds of the Tucúm Palm (Astrocaryum vulgare, Mart.). 
Maqueira cord is all spun by hand, without distaff. The Indian 
woman holds the fibre tight with her left hand, and with her right rolls 
it along her thigh. This explains why nearly all the women met with 
on the Solimóes have a callosity on the upper side of the right thigh. 
105. Maqueira of Tucüm, made by Tucúna Indians, inhabiting the 
north shore of the Solimóes, about the 70th degree of west longitude. 
106. “ Contas,” used by the Indians of Nauta (near the mouth of 
the Ucayali) in their dances. They seem to be the cotyledons of some 
Lauraceous fruit, and are slightly odoriferous. 
107. Two rings of kernel of Tucumdé Palm (Astrocaryum Tucuma, 
Mart.) Barra do Rio Negro. ; 
108. Lepidocaryum sp. (L. tenui, Mart., aff.) Portion of 9 plant in 
fruit, and of 4 plant in flower. Forests at the back of the Barra do 
Rio Negro, on ascending dry ground. July, 1851. Gregarious; stems 
8-12 feet high. Fruit: scales yellowish, brownish in centre, nearly 
black at the apex. Seems to differ from Z. enue in the tristichous 
leaves and cuspidate fruit. I have called it Z. éristichum in my MSS., 
but you will perhaps be so kind as to consult Martius's figure of Z. tenue. 
` 109. Bactris bifida. Bussú-rána, L. G.. Forests in angle between 
Rio Negro and Solimões. May, 1851. Stem 10 feet by 1 inch, ge- 
nerally leaning. Fruit green-and-deep-purple. Mesocarp juicy, sub- 
acid. (Leaves, fruit, and portion of stem.) A very handsome Palm! 
110. Bactris concinna, Mart.? Inundated spots at the mouth of the 
Rio Negro; growing in tufts. August, 1851. (Flowers and persistent 
fruit, leaves, etc.) I think you will find this the same as the ‘ Bactris 
concinna? previously sent, though the habit was rather different. The 
flowers are yellow. 
