716 The Naturalist Brazilian Expedition. [July, 
addition to the large mass of evidence which tends to show that 
plants are intimately dependent on animals for their propagation 
At ail events it is certain that the Jesuits of Paraguay formerly 
utilized the bodies of their Indian servants to induce germination 
of Ilex seeds for their plantations. 
Arrived at the factory, the leaves, if damp, are again dried by 
exposing them for several hours to gentle heat in a furnace or 
oven. The woody portions are then picked or sifted out, and the 
leaves are reduced to finer fragments in mortars. The commer- 
cial quality of the matte depends mainly on the thoroughness of 
the last two operations, but somewhat, also, on the region from 
which the leaves are gathered, nearness to or remoteness from 
the sea, and the skill and care shown in the drying operations. 
Paraguay yerba is perhaps the best, but that country furnishes 
only one-fifth of the matte which is consumed in South America; 
at least three-fifths is produced by the Brazilian province of 
Parana, the remainder coming from Santa Catharina and Rio 
Grande do Sul! 
No South American thinks of drinking matte from a cup; it 
is taken from small globular or oval gourds, which are ofen 
prettily painted or carved, and sometimes elaborately ornamented 
with silver. The gourds are half filled with the leaves, sug 
being sometimes added ; boiling water is then poured in, peo 
infusion is sucked through a tin or silver tube, the end of wit 
is furnished with a perforated bulb. The same leaves See | 
several infusions. Among the Rio Grande peasants the ne ea 
bombilha handed to a traveler is the first mark of w 
when he has sucked the liquor out, the gourd is filled with at 
, a ce, to a 
again, and passed to the next guest, or, in his absence, eee 
ber of the family. Commonly the same gourd p ea hid 
complete the circle two or three times before they are Saan 
aside. 
(To be continued.) 
‘ +. Grande; it differs 
1I have described the preparation as it takes place 1m Rio Gran ae 
what in the other provinces and in Paraguay. 
