1548 
"The bony or ivorylike coating of the seed is uti- 
lized by the jewelers of the city of Dlamantina, who, 
with great taste and skill, from this substance make 
buttons, rings , watch chains , and other ornaments. The 
greatest industrial value of the seed, however, is 
found in the production of oil. 
"The kernel which is covered with a thick shell, 
contains about 60 per cent of excellent oil which is 
as well suited for the finer products of Industry as 
for table oil. The pulp, or the substance which lies 
between the eplcarp and the endocarp, by reason of its 
greater volume, predominates in the nuts and is the 
part of the fruit which produces the largest yield of 
oil, and, naturally, it has a more extensive use. This 
oil, however, is greatly Inferior in quality to that 
obtained from the kernel. It may be purified , however, 
and rendered quite useful. On some of the fazendas 
[plantations] In Mlnas, a kind of oil is manufactured 
from the macauba palm, by a very primitive process, but 
the product thus obtained Is offensive in appearance 
and has a very disagreeable odor due to the impurities. 
It is sold generally for a few cents a liter. 
"In this small industry only the pulp which has 
passed through a process of fermentation is used. The 
fruits are placed together in holes made in the ground 
and covered with a layer of straw. They are kept in 
these holes for tenor twelve days and are watered con- 
stantly. After the hull has been removed, the pulp 
is partially crushed in a kind of mill leaving unin- 
jured the innermost kernel which contains the finest 
oil. By this process the yield is scarcely more than 5 
to 8 per cent. There is, however, in the city of 
Bello Horizonte, a factory which makes use of the en- 
tire nut, obtaining in this way a yield of 15 to 17 per 
cent and a product of much better quality. 
"By the common process, the oil obtained is uti- 
lized in making laundry soap, and this may be greatly 
improved by the addition of a small quantity of resin 
which gives to the soap the proper consistency and 
neutralizes the disagreeable odor. Properly handled, 
this oil may be used to advantage in the manufacture of 
fine toilet soaps. 
"Each tree produces about 80 liters [85 qts.J of 
nuts a year, and, according to experiment, an aore of 
ground planted in macauba palms would give a total yield 
of 1100.00 not counting the residue which may be used 
as a combustible or as a fertilizer." (Brazil, Suas 
Riquezas Naturaes, Suas Industrias, vol. 1, pt. 2, p. 198. ) 
