3IANDI0CA—CARNAUBA WAX 189 



The U.S.A. are ready to take any surplus from Brazil. 



Indian Corn (Maize). This is grown in some 20 varieties in most 

 parts of the country, generally as a catch crop, as for instance in cotton 

 fields. Indian corn is largely consumed locally, but since 1916 

 exportation has begun : the following are the figures : — 



1917 1918 1919 1920 



Kilos .. .. 24,054,425 14,275,4.50 3,475,400 4,426,223 



Value .. .. £209,849 £195,049 £50,039 £53,392 



Mandioca, a root crop, requires to be mentioned on account of 

 the popularity w^hich it has attained in Europe during the last few 

 3ears. Mandioca or mandioc, as it is sometimes called (in Latin 

 '■ manihot utilissima, euphorbiaces,") is closely related to the manigoba 

 rubber tree. The name is derived from Indian, " mandi " meaning- 

 bread and " oca " house. Indeed it is to the present day largely used 

 as substitute for bread and on our journeys in the interior, along 

 the Sao Francisco river and the north-eastern States, we rarely had 

 bread to eat, always the " farinha " or mandioca flour. Up country 

 many people sprinkle all kinds of food with this flour which one finds 

 invariably on the table. 



The cultivation is very simple. A tuber is planted in August — 

 September, it grows very rapidly ; in March the tree is 4 to 5 feet 

 liigh and flowers begin to show which is an indication that the root 

 is ripe. No weeding is i-equired, as the tree soon spreads a close shade. 

 As with several Brazilian crops, it is merely a question of planting 

 and harvesting. One root may weigh up to 25 kilos. We saw the 

 most luxuriant mandioca plants along the Sao Francisco river. The 

 root is prepared in the following manner : it is cleaned, washed, ground, 

 pressed and roasted ; in this way the poisonous ingredients of the 

 plant disappear. 



Mandioca is used in the preparation of tapioca or Brazilian sago. 



Exports of mandioca flour from 1913/16 fluctuated between 

 4,177 and 4,771 tons, but in 1917 they reached 18,489 tons and in 1918, 

 25,000 tons. Italy has taken large quantities of this commodity ; 

 most of the foreigners in Brazil like this typical Brazilian product 

 in their meals. 



Carnauba Wax. — During one of the breakdowns of our motors 

 Ave had the pleasure of discussing with a number of small farmers in 

 the Carnauba Palm district near Assi'i, the method of obtaining the 

 wax. As this wax is being more and more used in the manufacture 

 of gramophone records, in the making of dyes and size and as little is 

 known of this primitive industry, the following notes may be of 

 interest. These small farmers said : The Carnauba palms belong to 

 those rich men who let out small lots to the poor people w^ho pay the 

 rent in wax after the year's crop, the annual charge depending on the 

 value of the palm trees. No contract is made for longer than one 

 year but the old tenant always has preference over the area Avhich he 

 had hired the previous year. During the year the landowner, who 

 has generally a shop, advances to his small tenants cash and the 

 jiecessities of life. 



