26 



Astrqcaryiim vuhjare (Martius) is invaluable to the natives, as from 

 the young and unexpanded leaves of the centre they make a fine 

 strong fibre called Tucuni, from which they maimfacture their 

 bow-strings, fishing lines, and nets, and in some places their hammock 

 cloths. 



Astroccuryum tucunia (Martius) yields a much prized frviit which is 

 eaten by the Indians. 



The hard oval seeds of Astrocaryum jauari (Martius), according to 

 Mr. Wallace, are used by the Brazilian ladies of the upper Amazon as 

 beads for their lace-bobbins, and the bark of the petioles of Astrocaryum 

 ncaule (Martius) is used for making baskets. 



The next genus, Attalea (of Humbolt), is also a New World palm, 

 and is of great importance to European commerce. From one species, 

 Attalea funifera (Martius), certainly is obtained the common piassava 

 of commerce, and the coquilla nut, so highly prized by turners for 

 making a variety of small ornamental turnings. 



Another species, Attalea cahune (Martius), produces the cahune nut 

 of British Honduras, which has become a matter of some interest, in 

 consequence of several importations having been received for experi- 

 ment in the production of a valuable oil, which its kernels yield in 

 great abundance ; but I apprehend the difficulty of extracting the 

 kernel from the very thick and hard shell will neutralise its value. 

 The foliage of Attalea speciosa (Martius) and Attalea spectabilis is used 

 for thatching, and the fruit of one or two species, especially Attalea 

 excelsa, is burned for smoking the newly made India-rubber. It would 

 be curious to investigate the action of this smoke upon caoutchouc, 

 because, if mere wood smoke would do, the inhabitants would not be 

 at the trouble of procuring the fruits of a very lofty palm for this pur- 

 pose, and I have shewn by some observations which I communicated 

 to the British Association, in 1854, that when ammonia is added to 

 caoutchouc, light readily blackens and gives it solidity. 



The magnificent genus Maximiliana (Martius), one of the most 

 majestic of Brazilian palms, has only three species, one of which, 

 Maximiliana regia, yields an edible fruit, and its enormous boat- 

 shaped spathes furnish useful cooking utensils to the hunters, cradles 

 for the Indian infants, and baskets ready made. 



JuB(EA, an American genus, the Molinoja, of Berter, is very little 

 known, but within the last three years several importations of the nuts 

 of Juhaia spectabilis have taken place, and they have been offered for 

 sale in our fruit shops under the name of little coker nuts (there are 

 specimens on the table), but their qualities as edible fruit are of a 

 verv inferior character. 



