THE NITRATE OF SODA AND BORATE DISTRICTS OF PERU. 115 



strong aromatic smell, and are used as a vermifuge. As one of its names 

 implies, this plant has also been used, and to a certain extent doubtless is so 

 still, as a tea substitute. 



Citroxelle, Lemon grass. — This plant (Cymbopogon Schcenanthus) is a 

 native of India, but is cultivated here. It is, says Dr. Wallich, a favourite 

 herb with the Asiatics, both for medicinal and culinary purposes, and is 

 found to afford a drink generally very grateful to the palate in sickness. 

 Dr. Maton, Physician Extraordinary to the late Queen Charlotte, informed 

 me that he had been repeatedly treated with a dish of lemon grass tea 

 by her Majesty, who used to be very fond of it, and was supplied with the 

 plant from the Royal Gardens at Kew. 



Capillaire. — This little fern (Adiantum caudatum, L.) is found over 

 a great part of the world ; in China, Ceylon, Java, and the Mauritius, 

 where it grows even in dry places and on rocks. It is much employed in 

 infusion as a diaphoretic, and also as a substitute for tea. 



THE NITRATE OF SODA AND BORATE DISTRICTS OF PERU, 



BY WM. BOLLAERT, F.R.G.S., ETC. 



Muclf Nitrate of Soda is shipped from Pisagna Bay. Iquique is, however, 

 the principal port for its shipment. It is dug up and refined some leagues 

 distant in the interior. In 1880 only 900 tons were exported, but in 1859 

 78,700 tons. The present population of the province of Tarapaca is about 

 18,000, the greater portion of whom are occupied in the manufacture of 

 nitrate of soda ; then follows the agricultural, which is but limited, in con- 

 sequence of the general arid character of the country. In 1827, at the 

 request of General Castilla, then Intendante of the province, Mr. George 

 Smith and myself examined the district, presenting the survey and report 

 to the Peruvian Government. This I extended in my " Observations on 

 the Geography of Southern Peru, with Map." Mr. Smith has lately for- 

 warded to me the most recent account about nitrate, printed on an elaborate 

 plan, published in Lima, of the localities in the province of Tarapaca, where 

 the nitrate of soda and borate of lime are found, with the position of the 

 principal oficinas, or works, and the ports the nitrate is shipped from. I 

 translated the following from his observations on the plan : — The Pampa 

 de Tamarugal is a plain having a rise of about one per cent, from east to 

 west. There is greater abundance of salitre or caliche (native nitrate of 

 soda) on the north about Tana ; also in the south to the river Loa. In the 

 far north it is not worked, there being no water ; neither in the south, on 

 account of the distance from the coast. It is generally considered that the 

 nitrate of soda producing ground does not extend beyond the ravine of 



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