TIIE ISTHMUS OF PANAMA. 61 



use of while the tree is still young, and measuring 

 but five inches square. 



" It is the universal opinion of the country, that 

 the quality of the timber is influenced by the time 

 of cutting, in regard to the age of the moon ; and as 

 the same opinion is prevalent in our own country, and 

 in Europe, although regarded by engineers as falla- 

 cious, I will give the strongly expressed ideas of 

 Sefior H on the subject : 



" ' It is a fact, within my own observation, that no 

 wood should be cut before the moon is full. I paid 

 little attention to this popular belief until I found, by 

 experience, that such was really the case. Insects 

 will attack wood that will not be touched by them if 

 cut after the full moon. This is very evident, if the 

 wood is of a light and spongy nature. Some vege- 

 table productions will prove this in a most striking 

 manner, thus. If our common thatch be gathered 

 under a new moon, it will rot in a few months, and 

 be attacked by worms ; while it will last from fifteen 

 to twenty years, if gathered at the full moon. Those 

 who many years ago built houses in this country, are 

 now most particular in selecting their woods after 

 this manner. 5 " 



Two varieties of the manzanilla, or manchineel of 

 Lindley, the india rubber and the palo de vaca, or 

 cow tree, so particularly described by Humboldt, 

 are to be found here, but to no very great extent. 

 They all belong to the same order, and include the 

 bread fruit and famous upas. Each discharges, 

 when cut into, a white fluid ; the india rubber, or 



