157 



The tree ia not gregarious and is found mostly in savanaa or 

 in cluniips of deciduous forests interspersed through these. 

 The generic name is derived from the Tupi, genipapo , and other 

 names are found in many other primitive languages, as for 

 instance: 



Taino: xagaa , whence the Spanish Jagua . 



iruak: tsaoua. 



Gallinago: labouloubou , when spoken of by men. 



tsaoua , when spoken of by women. 

 Gruarauno: Caruto , used also by the Venezuel^ans. 

 Guaycurii: nottikai . ^ 



Panos: nanl^ 



Sua rani: n ha nd ipa -gua zd . 

 Cocamas: ouito . 

 Huna Simi; huTto , vitd. 



These name are all from eastern South America and ex- 

 tracted from the Beitraege zur ]5thnograj...hie of the celebrated 

 von Martius. In Central America we find the following names 

 in use: 



Cuna: saptur , aapturu-uala . 



Ghoc6; pipara . 



Guaymi : Krem^ . 



T^rraba: brir . 



Salvador & Guatemala: Irayol . 



The wood is fine-grained and does not split when exposed 

 to the sun. It is often used in some parts for joiner and 

 lathe-work, for gun-stocks, etc.; in Chepo (Panama) it is the 

 choice material of house-builders for the hinge-bearing side 

 of doors, designated by the singular name of pi^ de yerguenza 

 (shame's foot). The bark is rich in tannin. Jhe i^ulp of the 

 fruit, acid and very astringent, is edible and used sometimes 

 together with pine- apples and aashew fruits, in the ^repara- 

 tion of a fermented beverage. But the principal importance 

 Of the tree, in primitive economics, consists in the dark 

 blue dye which is obtained from the fruit by maceration, and 

 which i3 used extensively for tattooing and body-painting; 

 among the Cuna-Ouna and the Guaymies of Panama,") it enters 

 into ingredients of facial adornment, and the former cele- 

 brate the coming into puberty of a girl by dipping her into 



