xxxvi 



PREFACE. 



another, (which lie calls the Seje Palm,) Humboldt 

 says he estimated the number of flowers on one 

 raceme only, at forty-four thousand ; and of the 

 fruit produced thereby, at eight thousand. From 

 this fruit, a beverage is obtained which tastes like 

 milk of almonds, and is exceedingly nourishing. 

 The Indian jugglers, he tells us, are paid by the 

 people to go into the forests and sound the botuto, 

 or sacred trumpet, under these trees, " to force the 

 tree," as they say, " to yield an ample produce the 

 following year*." 



The Fan Palm, or Talipot tree, although the 

 trunk is not particularly large, bears a leaf large 

 enough to cover twenty men. It will fold like a 

 fan, and is then no bigger than a man's arm. The 

 whole leaf, when spread out, is round ; but, for use, 

 it is cut into sections ; these the people lay upon 

 their heads, when they travel, with the point 

 foremost, to cut their way through thickets. 

 Soldiers carry them, not only to shade them from 

 the sun, or keep them dry, in case of rain ; but 

 also to make tents to sleep under. 



* Humboldt's Personal Narrative^ vol. v. p. 152. 



