252 THE GUAEANA OF BRAZIL. 



of the watery solution to a clean, deep, fiery, blood red." This solution, 

 with sulphate of iron, constitutes an excellent and permanent writing 

 ink. 



An extract is also artificially prepared, from this and allied species, for 

 tanning purposes in India, under the name of Pelachy or Palasy, which 

 resembles the gum in appearance, but is generally brighter. 



The flowers are large and pendulous. Their ground colour is of a beau- 

 tiful deep red, shaded with orange, and clad with a soft, silvery down, 

 which gives them a most elegant appearance. Infusions of the flowers, 

 either fresh or dried, will dye cotton cloth, previously mordanted with an 

 alum solution, of a beautiful bright yellow, more or less deep, according to 

 the strength of the infusion. The addition of a little alkali changes the 

 colour to a deep reddish orange. In this state it dyes unprepared cotton 

 cloth of the same colour, which the least acid changes to a yellow or lemon 

 tint. It is to be regretted, however, that these colours are not permanent. 

 Under the name of Kessaree flowers, a parcel was imported into 

 Liverpool a few years since, but hitherto we have not met with them in 

 London. 



The juice of the fresh flowers, diluted with alum water, and evaporated 

 in the sun to the consistency of a soft extract, produces a pigment brighter 

 than gamboge, which is said to retain its tint for a considerable time. Infu- 

 sions of the dried flowers yield an extract little inferior to that of the fresh 

 flowers, and from them may also be obtained a fine, durable yellow lake, in 

 considerable quantity. 



The seeds of this tree yield by expression a thick dark-coloured oil, 

 resembling cotton grease, which is employed in India to a limited 

 extent. 



Lac insects are frequently found on the small branches, upon which they 

 deposit their valuable secretion. 



Of all the products of this tree it is singular that not one of them is 

 known in European commerce, for even the kino is never met with now, 

 whatever may have been the case in former years, and we doubt whether 

 it ever occurred but as an exceptional import. The bright yellow pigment, 

 if permanent, and the yellow lake which is affirmed to be so, are certainly 

 worthy of a trial. 



THE GUARANA OF BRAZIL. 



Guarana is the manufactured product of the fruit of a tree which grows 

 on the river Tappagos, on some headwaters of the Orinoco, and elsewhere 

 in the great Amazon valley. It is manufactured by various Indian tribes, 

 among which may be enumerated the Muras and the Decapitadores, or 

 Mondrucu Indians, with whom it forms a staple article of commercial ex- 

 change among the Portuguese settlers (a cunning people) and the native 



