686 



a plant abounding in the vicinity of Chirambira, after having been 

 boiled and reduced to a mash, are mixed with milk and sugar, and 

 thus eaten. A kind of bread is also prepared from them. As condi- 

 ments for esculent purposes, divers plants are used. The red berries 

 of the Malagueto chico, or Malagueto hembra [Xylopia frvtescens, 

 Aubl.), are substituted for pepper, especially by the negroes. The 

 fruit of the Vainilla ( Vanilla sp.) and Vainilla chica [Sohralia sp.) are 

 spices employed in flavouring sweetmeats, chocolate, and puddings. 

 The leaves of the Toronjil [Ocimum), a common herb, are chopped, 

 and serve to replace our parsley. The most important, however, of 

 all the aromatics to the Panamian cook is the Culantra {Eryngium 

 foetidum, Linn.). It imparts a flavour difiicult for a foreigner to 

 relish ; but the inhabitants consider it indispensable, and are quite 

 distressed when in the soups and sancoches their favourite condi- 

 ment has by some accident been omitted. 



" Excellent timber for building and wood for cabinet-makers' pur- 

 poses abound. ****** From the Roble and Guyacan the most 

 durable wood is obtained. The Nazareno, a beautiful bluish fancy 

 wood, the produce of a scientifically unknown tree, would fetch a high 

 price in Europe. The Quira is remarkable for its black and brown streaks. 

 The Corotu and Espave supply the natives with materials for canoes. 



" Dyes the country produces several ; a yellow one is obtained from 

 the wood of the Macano {Diphysa Carthaginensis, Jacq.), a scarlet 

 from the leaves of the Hojita de tenir [Lundia Chica, Seem.), a blue 

 from the foliage of the Anil silvestre {Indigo/era Anil, Linn.), a vio- 

 let from the fruit of the Jagua {Genipa), a red from the pulp of the 

 pulp of the Bija or Achotte [Bixa Orellana, Linn,), and a black from 

 the seeds of the Ojo de venado {Mucuna sp. pi.). A brown colour 

 might be extracted from the Dichromena pura, Nees ah E., which 

 abounds in the Savanas, and makes on cotton and linen a stain very 

 much like that caused by the rusting of an iron nail, hence the ver- 

 nacular name, Clava, a nail. The Indians of Southern Darien paint 

 their faces with the colour obtained from the Bixa Orellana, Linn., or 

 as they themselves term it, Bija. The scarlet dye observed in the 

 hammocks of Veraguas is not given with the purple shell {Purpura 

 patula, Lam.), as the people of Panama assert, but with the leaves of 

 the Lundia Chica. 



" The cordage which the Isthmians use is solely procured from 

 indigenous plants. The best and whitest is made from the fibre of 

 the Corteza {Apeiba Tibourbou, Aubl.). A brownish-looking rope 

 easily afTected by dampness, probably because the tree from which it 



