102 



TRAVELS IN BRAZIL. 



the wild (Psidium pomzferum, L.), they make with sugar a 

 cooling and rather astringent conserve. The berries of 

 other species of Psidium, which grow plentifully on the 

 campos of S. Paulo, and are distinguished by the name of 

 GuABiROBA, are used in a similar manner. The young 

 bark and leaves are used as astringents, the latter also for 

 medicinal baths, which are very customary in Brazil. 



54*, AcAju. Anacardium occide7itale, L. The gum of 

 this tree, which in its properties almost entirely agrees 

 with the gum arable, but is rather more astringent, is used 

 in Brasil in the same manner. The bookbinders in the 

 principal towns sometimes wash the books with a solution 

 of it, which is said to keep off the moths and ants. The 

 fresh acid juice of the flower-stalks is used in lemonade ; 

 wine and vinegar too are made of it by fermentation. The 

 sympathetic effect is remarkable, which the nut, borne 

 about the person, has upon chronical inflammations in the 

 eyes, especially such as are of a scrophulous nature. 



