ON  BIXA  ORELLANA  AND  ANNATTO. 
361 
perhaps,  of  another  superficial  weeding,  if  the  weeds  should 
grow  too  fast. 
The  fruit  capsules  ripen  after  8  or  10  months  and  are  collect- 
ed when  they  have  assumed  a  reddish  color  and  some  are  break- 
ing open.  The  branches  with  the  fruit  (caixos)  are  detached  from 
the  tree,  in  consequence  of  which  it  bears  more  without  growing 
high  enough  to  render  the  collection  of  the  fruit  a  matter  of  dif- 
ficulty. The  capsules  are  spread  upon  esteiras  (mats)  or  cloths, 
and  frequently  turned ;  after  thus  drying  in  the  sun  for  3  or  4 
days,  they  are  collected  into  piles,  and  beaten  or  thrashed  with 
clubs,  to  separate  the  seeds,  which  are  cleaned  from  the  empty 
capsules  by  ventiladores,  or  upon  sieves,  by  shaking  and  blowing. 
To  obtain  the  coloring  matter,  the  following  apparatus  are  in 
use:  A  machine,  consisting  of  two  upright  cylinders,  which  by 
means  of  screws  are  brought  together  close  enough  to  crush  the 
seeds,  which  may  be  also  accomplished  by  millstones ;  three 
large  wooden  water-tubs,  one  of  which  is  separated  into  two 
parts  by  boards,  an  ordinary  press,  two  large  copper  kettles, 
several  tubs  (cjamellas)*  &c. 
The  seeds  are  kept  over  night,  underwater,  in  one  of  the  large 
tubs;  the  second  tub  is  filled  with  pure  water,  to  have  it  always 
convenient  and  to  wash  all  the  implements  used.  Next  morning, 
small  portions  of  the  soaked  seeds  are  taken  out,  and  by  two 
persons  well  rubbed  between  their  hands  and  against  the  sides 
of  the  gamellas,  a  little  of  the  water  from  the  first  tub  being 
added  once  in  a  while.  After  the  water  has  become  saturated 
with  the  coloring  matter,  it  is  poured  upon  a  sieve  in  one  of  the 
divisions  of  the  third  tub,  and  then  strained  into  the  second  di- 
vision by  means  of  an  urwpema  (fine  sieve.)  The  seeds  are  well 
rubbed  upon  the  first  sieve,  and  then  slightly  bruised  between 
the  cylinders,  after  which  they  are  rubbed  again  in  the  gamella 
with  some  water,  expressed  with  the  hands,  and  strained  through 
the  first  and  afterwards  through  the  second  sieve.  The  strained 
liquids  from  the  fir3t  and  second  washings  are  mixed,  and,  in  a 
large  gamella,  allowed  to  settle,  which  requires  about  eight 
hours ;  the  sediment  is  called  tapiocca  de  urucic.  The  seeds  are 
then  again  treated  in  the  same  way  a  second  and  third  time  be- 
tween the  cylinders,  in  the  gamella  and  the  sieve,  and  are  lastly 
expressed,  to  gain  all  the  liquid.  When  passing  through  between 
