152 
ON TWO KINDS OF VEGETABLE WAX. 
were repeated at Rio Janeiro with a very satisfactory re- 
sult, so that at present the substance has become an object 
of commerce. It meets with a ready sale in the market of 
Rio Janeiro, and vessels go even as far as Ceara in order to 
obtain cargoes of it. 
The second kind of wax, known in the country by the 
name of Ocuba wax, is derived from a widely-distributed 
shrub in the province of Para, and also appears to be found 
in French Guiana. This shrub, which is rather bushy, 
scarcely attains the height of thirty hands ; it grows in the 
marshy lands, and abounds on the shores of the Amazon 
river and its tributaries. It affords a fruit of the form and 
of the size of a bullet, containing a nut covered by a thick 
crimson pellicle, which imparts a red tint to water, and af- 
fords an excellent purple color. After its first washing the 
nut retains its black color ; it is piled in heaps, ground and 
reduced to a pulp ; it is then boiled for a certain time, in 
which operation it affords a wax, which floats on the sur- 
face of the vessel. This crude wax greatly resembles bees' 
wax; it has also much analogy with the wax Ibucuiba, 
which M. de Humboldt described on his return from Ameri- 
ca, and of which I have preserved a sample for the sake of 
comparison. Submitted to a process of purification, the 
Ocuba wax acquires a brilliant white, and is used for can- 
dles ; it affords a light similar to that of gas. At Belem, the 
capital of Para, this wax has long been used for the manu- 
facture of cheap candles. 16 kilogrms. of seed afford 3 
kilogrms. of wax. These trees are so numerous in Para, 
along the banks of the Amazon river, that in the months of 
January, February and March the entire population is oc- 
cupied in gathering the seed or fruit, as they are occupied 
in Europe during the months of September and October in 
getting in the vintage. 
Ibid, from Journ, de Tharm. 
