239 
“ This palm grows in the neighbourhood of rivers, and on land that 
is always in a halt swampy condition, being below the flood mark in the 
* or greenish brown colour. The hard thick shell of the nut contains 
two oleaginous edible seeds, and is enclosed in a thin polished ies 
case which is capped at the base like the acorn. The campos, as 
rule are not liable to flood, but lying as they do surrounded bys asd 
land, the conditions of moisiure are fulfilled, in which it is necessary 
for the trees to flourish. The mean temperature of the Piassava 
district is about 77° F. On reaching the age of six to nine years, 
a very foolish proceeding, considering the time the fallen nuts take to 
germinate and grow into bearing trees. The base of the petiole of the 
leaf wraps round the trunk (as can be seen in many other palms) like 
i o u 
growt. ns two trans- 
verse layers of fibre, the one going up into the midrib of the leaf, and 
o form the wrapper, both protruding in a festooning fringe 
from the edge of the m T 
“ From this it be seen that the fineness or coarseness of the fibre 
depends largely on its position in the petiole, the coarsest fibre lying 
closest to the midrib. 
“ Two commercial kinds of Piassava. 
“There are two kinds of Piassava used in co merce; t the round, 
stiffish fibre from the districts I have mentioned, dhik t shipped from 
Bahia, and known as ‘Bahia Piassava (Attalea funifera) ; and that 
collected on the Amazons and the Rio Negro, shipped from Manáos, 
ol 
Wallace, Palm trees of the Amazon, p. 17). This latter is flat, 
soft, and flexible, sep ie differing from ‘ Bahia’ fibre, and com- 
manding on occasions three times its price, which at present stands at 
38I. for good red fi 
* In Brazil, regie fibres are used for cables, ropes, baskets, ee 
tieing, fences, and many other purposes; but in this country, an 
Europe, emi! for brush and broom work, by itself and mixed w ith 
other fibre 
*'The nuts of the Piassava are exported to Europe for the manu- 
facture of initis knobs, &c. 
* Method of Collection and Preparation for the Market. 
“ Immediately after the exploration (often very arduous) undertaken 
ise ps repay t cutting, it is necessa 
establish the ‘camp,’ and to stock it with food implements in- 
miden to the men; also to ast als 
mployed, and a supply of folder to augment the unsubstantial food th: at 
is i Junioi by the forest. ‘Through failing to take this precaution, the 
best troops of mules will be reduced in a few months, and the number 
of sick animals will be OI " say nothing of the difliculties 
which will illon from this false ec 
* As soon as the cutters her arriv EE in the camp, each takes a 
different dieitios, thus endeavouring to secure an advantageous cutting 
I 60056, 125.—11/89. Wt.13799. E. & 
