BEES. 2V0 



His dwelling was similar to the liuts of the Indians, but 

 more commodious, while the grounds surrounding were 

 filled with tropical fruits — ^bananas, pineapples, plantains, 

 and lemons. We were especially interested in the vanilla- 

 l^lant, which he was successfully cultivating. Since our 

 return to the States, he, acting upon our suggestion, has 

 been attempting to domesticate some wild bees, obtained 

 from the forest. In a letter recently received, detailing 

 his experience, he says : " Shortly after you left, I obtained 

 two swarms, which I have preserved in the manner you 

 directed. They have been busy since secured ; but they 

 show no indications of swarming. One of the swarms is 

 of a black color, andi are called by the Indians cushillo 

 mishJce, or monkey-honey, because, I suppose, of their re- 

 semblance in color to that animal. The others, which are 

 yellow, they call rara mishke, or corn-honey. It is curious 

 that the Indians have no word for bees, only for their color 

 and for honey. The black species is said to make the most 

 honey, and the yellow the best." We believe this is the 

 first attempt to domesticate native bees in the valley of 

 the Amazons. We are confident that their culture in 

 those forests will be attended with satisfactory results. 



Bees are indigenous to South America ; hence the rea- 

 son of our finding them so far removed from civilization. 

 In the northern continent they were introduced by the 

 colonists, and have j)receded civilization by only a few 

 miles as it has advanced westward. European species 

 were introduced into the temperate portions of Southern 

 Brazil in 1845, and have there been quite successfully cul- 

 tivated. There are about one hundred and fifty species 

 of native bees in South America. The largest number are 

 destitute of stings, or have them but imperfectly developed 

 — one thing in their favor, certainly. Some of these spe- 

 cies inhabit hollow trunks, others construct their homes 

 under-ground, while upon the Llanos of Venezuela is a 



