614 The Andes ajstd the Amazons. 



in hopeless confusion. The natives do not make the bo- 

 tanical distinction of two species, but speak of the follow- 

 ing ten \'aneties of the generic fruit : Pacovao farinacea 

 (the largest), P.jprata, P. massad, P. St. Thomd vermelha, 

 P. St. Thomd hranca, P. usual, P. sempre verde, P. ina- 

 jd, Pacovinha, and P. celestina (the smallest). The first 

 they consider aboriginal, and distinct from the rest. It 

 sometimes attains the height of forty centimetres, and 

 bears over 150 in a cluster. They are seedless, and are 

 propagated by cuttings. The only spot where they regu- 

 largly seed is said to be the Andaman Islands. The stem 

 is underground ; what is called the " stem " is the petiole. 

 The liquor made from Bananas is called mazdto. An ex- 

 periment to test the profits of cultivating this fruit was 

 made in Guiana with this result : 



Acres. Bunches. Value. 



Firstyear 35 8,987 $3,432 64 



Second year 127 20,276 5,95.5 14 



Third year 153 26,694 12,327 39 



Fourth year 161 14,852 4, .560 69 



Total 476 70,809 $26,275 86 



From this it is seen that the average yield per acre dur- 

 ing the four years was 150 bunches, and that the average 

 price per bunch was 37 cents, making a return of $55 20 

 per acre. 



The Wild Banana, or " Sororoca " ( Urania Amazoni- 

 ca), growing along the low shores of the river, is quite an- 

 other plant. 



Pitajaya, the delicious fruit of a tall Cactus, I saw only 

 at Cajamarca. 



Paxmito, the terminal bud of many Palms, is largely 

 used, particularly on the Marauon,as a salad. 



Bread-fkuit {Artocarpus incisa) has been introduced, 

 and is cultivated sparingly from Para to the Andes; but 



