

326 



The Aborigines of Brazil. 





becomes more tender and better tasted by being kept for some 

 time exposed to its exhalations. 



9. Plaintain, Musa Sapientum, in Tupi Pacoba, and Musa 

 Paradisaica, in Tupi Pacobuqu, the Banana of the Caribs. 

 This tree was found spread in numerous varieties over tro- 

 pical America, when the New World was discovered ; and, 

 as far as I know, it has never been met with in a wild 

 state. 



10. The Guava tree, Psidium Guajava, Raddi, or Ps. Pomi- 

 ferum and Pyriferum, L. This tree also, in Haiti Guajabas, 

 among the island Caribs Cojdbu, among the Chaymas Gua- 

 rapa, must also be reckoned among the mythical plants of 

 Brazil, where it is hardly to be found wild, though extensively 

 cultivated by the Indians. The Psidium Aracd, Raddi, is 

 again found growing originally wild, though producing an 

 equally good fruit. 



11. The Cashew-tree, Anacardium Oecidentale, L. This 

 tree called in Tupi Oacaju and Caju, by the Caribs of the 

 islands Gaschiu, of the mainland Moue, occurs chiefly in many 

 spots near the sea and the mouths of great rivers, in places 

 where probably Indian settlements stood formerly. Here 

 also it possesses that large pear-shaped swelling of the fruit 

 stalk, which recommends it as a fruit tree. A remarkable 

 species, the Anacardium mediterraneum, is perhaps to be re- 

 garded as the wild stock, and is specifically different from the 

 small one, A, humile. 



12. The Spanish pepper, Capsicum. Of this family many 

 species are used. Their fruit is the most important condi- 

 ment of the Indians. There is no doubt that these plants 

 have been in use among the Indians time out of mind. They 

 are called in Aztek Chilli, in Zapotek Quijuna, and, what is 

 very remarkable, have the same name in Tupi (written by the 

 Portuguese Quiinha) in the language of Chili Thapi, in Haiti 

 Andy among the continental Caribs Pomi, among the Chaymas 

 Pomucy, and in Cusco Uchu. 



