IN VARIOUS PARTS OF THE GLOBE. 149 



in mill-work. Its native name is Piki. Two large trees be- 

 longing to the Mimosece are also common in the dry woods. 

 One of these, tlie Visgeira of tlie inhabitants, is a species of 

 Parkia (P. plati/cephafa, Bentli.), and is a remarkable tree, 

 from its large fern-like leaves and its dark purple flowers, wliich 

 grow in a large head suspended at the end of a peduncle more 

 than a foot in length. Tlie Jatobd, a species of H[imenaca, is 

 another large tree ; and the Cashew also reaches to a good height, 

 and grows more upright than tlie varietj^ on the coast. A species 

 of Andira, called AngeUue, and a Vitex, are also fine trees of 

 moderate size. Tliere are likewise two large Big/wnias here, 

 one with rose -coloured, the other with yellow flowers; but, 

 owing to the hardness and durability of their wood, which is 

 much sought for by workers in mill and cart work, they are not 

 allowed to attain any great size near the town. Besides these 

 there are many other trees, but which can scai-cely be called 

 large ones. Among them may be mentioned the Pdo de Jangada 

 {Apeiha Tibourhou, A\x\A.), conspicuous from its numerous large 

 prickly capsules. Its wood affords the material of tlie raft-boats 

 so common on the coast, called Jangadas. A species of Byrso- 

 nima, very lovely when in flower, and another of Callisthcnc, 

 also remarkably beautiful, are not uncommon. 



There are, of course, many otlier trees ; but, from not being 

 eitlier in leaf or in flower during my stay, it was impossible to 

 determine what they were. On the Serra de Araripe several 

 species exist that do not occur on the plains below. The top of 

 the serra is quite flat, forming wdiat are called in the nortli of 

 Brazil Taboleiras. They are generally grassy, and not very 

 thickly wooded, which gives them an orchard-like appearance. 

 The Piki, the Mangaha, the Cashew, and Gompkia liexa- 

 sperma, St. Hil., are the most common trees of the Taboleira ; 

 but there are besides a few fine Legumijiosce, a beautiful Vochy- 

 sia, Qiialea parvijiora, Mait., an Albertinia, and a Styrax. 

 Under the shade of these, many fine herbaceous plants and 

 humble shrubs are to be found. Of Palms only four species 

 are found in the neighbourhood of Crato ; the Carnahuba 

 {Corypha cerifera. Mart.), which is so common between Ara- 

 caty and Ico, straight up to within two days' journey of this 

 place, but is not found nearer. Two of the species are very fine. 

 The tallest is that to which the inhabitants give the nameof jB«- 

 777«, and is the 3Iauritia vinifera. Mart. It grew very sparingly 

 near Crato in swampy places, but I afterwards met with whole 

 forests of it in the more inland provinces. Anotlier, which 

 nearly equals it in height, is a species of Attalea. It rivals the 

 Cocoa-nut in the height of its stem, and far excels it in the size 

 of its leaves, which at first grow nearly upright, and then curve 



