554 



shall mention only the paraguatan, a magnifi- 

 cent species of the macrocnemum, the bark of 

 which yields a red dye * ; the guaricamo, with a 

 poisonous root-}-; the jacarandaj obtusifolia ; 

 and the serrape, or jape § of the Saliva Indians, 

 which is the coumarouna of Aublet, so celebrated 

 throughout Terra Firma for it's aromatic fruit. 

 This fruit, which at Caraccas is placed among 

 linen, as in Europe it is in snuff, under the name 

 of the tonca, or tongo bean, is regarded as 

 poisonous. It is a false notion, very general in 

 the province of Cumana, that the excellent dram 

 fabricated at Martinico owes it's peculiar flavour 

 to the jape. In the missions it is called sima- 

 ruba ; a name that may occasion serious mis- 

 takes, the true simaruba being a febrifuge 

 species of the quassia genus, found in Spanish 

 Guyana only in the valley of Rio Caura, where 

 the Paudacot Indians give it the name of achec- 

 chari. 



I found the dip of the magnetic needle in the 

 great square at Carichana 33*7° (new division). 

 The intensity of the magnetic action was ex- 



di&color, casearia capitata, spathodia orinocensis, beliotropium 

 ciuereum, h. filiforme, &c. 



* Macrocnemum tinctorium. 



+ Ityania coccinea. 



X See our Plantes Equifioxiales, vol. i, p. 62, tab. 18. 

 § Dipterix odorata, Willd., or baryosma tongo of Gaertner. 

 The jape furnishes Carichana with an excellent timber. 



