THE BRAZIL NUT. 51 



bushels of that nut are annually brought to this country, 

 chiefly from the district of Para in the Brazils ; and that 

 they there furnish occupation to a large number of the male 

 inhabitants, who are consequently styled Castanheiros, or 

 Castanha (the Brazilian name) gatherers ? 



As we have mentioned the Brazil nut, we will give its 

 history first. 



The Brazil, Juvia, Castanha, or Para Nut, is the fruit 

 of a very fine tree, Bertholetia excelsa. (Nat. Ord. Lecythi- 

 dacea, Lindley.) (Plate VI. fig. 27.) 



It often reaches the height of 120 feet, attaining fre- 

 quently a diameter of four feet at its base, and often rising 

 a hundred feet before putting forth a branch. The Para 

 forests contain this and an allied tree in great abundance, 

 both yielding sweet nuts in profusion. The nuts are not 

 borne singly, but are packed with most remarkable exact- 

 ness, to the number of from twelve to twenty, in a hard 

 ligneous capsule, which is nearly round, but inclined to the 

 pear-shape; so hard and so heavy is this great pod, that 

 when ripe, it is dangerous to pass under the trees, for even 

 an Indian's head is not sufficiently hard to withstand the 

 fatal blow of the Castanha Cabomba, as the Brazilians call 

 them. 



