Prof. Christison's Analysis of the Hya-hya Tree. 35 



papaw tree. The former, the vegetable milk of Caraccas, is 

 said by Humboldt to be an agreeable beverage when taken 

 alone, and to be so nutritive that the inhabitants fatten sensibly 

 while it is in season. It has been lately analyzed by MM. 

 Boussingault and Mariano cli Rivero *, who found its solid con- A^ 

 tents to be wax, with a little sugar, and a large proportion of a 

 substance analogous to fibrine. Hence, they remark, when it is 

 heated in a vessel over the fire, the fibrine separates in a solid • 

 mass from the wax, which liquefies ; and, at a higher tempera- 

 ture, the fibrin is fried in the wax, exhaling the odour of fried 

 meat. As to the juice of the papaw tree, it appears, from the 

 researches of Vauquelin, to contain two principles analogous to 

 albumen and casein f. It is easy to perceive, from their che- 

 mical nature, how these two vegetable juices are nutritive. 

 They contain, in fact, principles analogous to the most nutritive 

 of those belonging to the animal kingdom. 



On the Physiognomy of the Vegetable Kingdom in the. Brazils. 

 By Dr C. F. Phil. Vo?J Maetius, Knight of the Royal 

 Bavarian Order of Merit, &c. 



Accounts have been transmitted in dark traditions, and in 

 sono-s, of a happy Island which, in ancient times, arose, far to 

 the west, out of the ocean, and appeared even to later antiquity^ 

 only in the uncertain light of a glory then unknown. Atlantis, 

 thus runs the story, unfoldcxl, in near alliance with the sun, 

 whatever there is great or dignified in the productions of our 

 planet. Incalculable was the quantity of precious metals and 

 gems brought to light from its bowels, in wonderful variety ; 

 thousands of the most fragrant plants flourished and bloomed 

 there ; the animal creation arose^powerful, lively and gigantic ; 

 while a noble race of men enjoyed the happy riches of such a 

 country, under the blessings of wise laws, and well legulatcd in- 

 stitutions. Once, however, as the tradition goes on to say, the 

 Earth being convulsed by internal comraotions, the foundations. 



• Ann. de Chim. et de Phys. xxiii. 21f>. 



+ Anil, .le Chim. xliii. 275, and jJix. 25« and 304- 



e2 



