PALMS AND THEIE USES. 31 



to that article. The "Kettnl" fibre of commerce, largely 

 -employed in the manufacture of ropes, baskets, hats, . 

 brushes, and brooms, is obtained from this and perhaps 

 some other species of Caryota. 



The material imported from South America under the 

 name of " Piassaba," is the produce of Attalea funifera 

 ■sundi Leopoldinia Piassaba, and is extensively used by the 

 Brazilians and others for rope making, and by us for 

 making the brooms for street sweeping, popularly known 

 as " whalebone " brooms. The large seeds of Attalea 

 fvmfera, called " Coquilla Nuts," are dark brown, and 

 take a high polish ; they are manufactured by the turner 

 into various elegant toys, such as humming tops, boxes, 

 and also into handles for doors, umbrellas, walking canes, 

 bracelets, rosaries, and many other things. From the 

 leaves of this plant the South American Indians make 

 ■quivers, in which they carry their poisoned arrows, which 

 latter are made from the beard of another Palm (OEno- 

 ca/rpus Batana), the part used being the stiff slender nerves 

 of the decayed base of the petioles, whilst the young 

 slender stems of Iriartella setigera furnish them with the 

 " Gravatana " or blow-pipe from which they are dis- 

 charged. Indeed, the Indians draw the greatest portion 

 lof their necessaries from Palms : from them they obtain 

 meal, wine, sugar, and oil ; their leaves and leafetalks 

 afford good thatch and material for house building and 

 fences ; from their fibre is obtained strong cordage, which 

 they convert into cables, fishing-lines, fishing-nets, ham- 

 mocks, brushes, &c. ; from their wood they m^ke lances, 

 hiarpoons, and blow-pipes for their arrows, which are 

 furnished by Palm spines, whilst from the swollen stem 

 of Iriartea ventrieosa they form their canoes. The hats 

 worn in this country during summer, and designated " Chip 



