68 THE ISTHMUS OF TANAMA. 



first scraped and then macerated in spirit, with 

 which the wound is to be washed, and the scrapings 

 bound on to it. The dry powder sprinkled into the 

 wound would probably be quite as effectual. The 

 natives hold this article in high estimation, and are 

 seldom without it. The castor oil plant {oleum rici- 

 nus,) grows along the banks of the Chagres river, 

 and probably throughout the country. The natives 

 extract the oil for domestic use. Ipecacuanha is 

 found abundant on the Magdalena, and probably it 

 is indigenous on the Isthmus ; also, several varieties 

 of the cinchona, but they are said to yield but a very 

 small per cent, of quinine, on which its virtues de- 

 pend. The Mendingo Indians gather large quanti- 

 ties of fustic and other dye woods, which they dis- 

 pose ot to contraband vessels, and therefore no 

 account is rendered of their exportation. The va- 

 nilla bean grows here, but it is said not to be of the 

 best quality ; probably it has never yet been pro- 

 perly cured. 



The Yaliente Indians gather large quantities of 

 sarsaparilla from the savannas of Costa Rica 7 and 

 of excellent quality. 



