Of the palms alone, upwards of a hundred species are found in these
forests. These supply the Indian with nearly all he wants to support
existence. Their fruit, or pith, or crowns, furnish him with an
abundance of food. He builds his hut and floors it with their wood, and
thatches it with their leaves. From the trunks of some species he forms
his canoes, of different sizes. He obtains from them oil, cord, thread,
wine--or a beverage which answers the purpose--wax, mats, baskets,
arrows for his sumpitan or bow, and numberless other articles. Pure,
clear oils are made from some of the nuts and palm fruits; while many
palms yield a fibrous material admirably suited for cordage, being
singularly elastic and resistant.
From the curious candella-tree,--called by the Spaniards _arbol de la
manteca_, by the Indians _cuajo_,--he obtains tallow for candles and
excellent oil for lamps, and a beverage which is made from its fruit.
The cow-tree supplies a milk in appearance like that of the animal from
which it takes its name, but thicker. On analysing this product, it is
found to consist of water, animal milk, and wax as pure as that obtained
from bees. By dipping cotton in the liquid, too, candles can be made.
In the hotter regions grows the bajuco d'agua, which supplies the place
of wells and fountains,--each yard of it affording a pint of water.
High up on the mountainside, in the regions of icy wastes, called the
paramos, grows the frailejou, which yields a pure turpentine, and
assists to warm the human body. Of the palms, a few only can be
described. There is the cocoa-nut palm, with its swollen bulb-like stem
when young, its tall straight trunk when full-grown, its cluster of
heavy fruit, its long plume-like drooping flower; the coccoeiro, with
its slighter trunk and pendent branches of small berry-like fruit; the
palmetto, with its tender succulent bud on the summit of the stem, used
as a vegetable, and proving an excellent substitute for cabbage; the
thorny icari, or cari--a variety of fan-palm. Its spiny stems and
leaves, which cut like razors, make it difficult to approach. Its
bunches of bright chestnut-brown fruit hang from between the leaves
which form its crown, each bunch about a foot in length, massive and
compact, like a large cluster of black Hamburg grapes.
The syagrus palm has a greenish fruit, not unlike the olive in
appearance, which hangs in large pendent bunches just below the leaves.
The fruit resembles somewhat that of the bread-tree, but is more slender
and cylindrical in form.
The leaves of different kinds of palms are used for thatching the Indian
huts, the curua palm among others. When young, they grow closely round
the mid-rib attached to the axis by a few fibres only, so that when the
mid-rib is held up they hang from it like so many straw-coloured
ribbons. With these leaves both the walls and roofs are covered. The
mid-rib, which is strong, and sometimes four or five yards long, is set
across to serve as a support, and bind down the pendent leaves. Such a
thatch will last for years, and is an excellent protection from rain as
well as sun.
The Indian furnishes himself with cups and vessels of all sorts from the
cuieira-tree (Crescentia cajeput). It is of immense size, the fruit
being like a gourd. It is spherical, of a light green shining surface,
and grows from the size of an apple to that of the largest melon. It is
filled with a soft white pulp, easily removed when the fruit is cut in
halves. The rind is then allowed to dry. Cups and basins of various
sizes are made from it, which the Indians adorn with a variety of
brilliant colours.
One of the staple productions of the Upper Amazon is the guarana. It is
a trailing plant, a sort of vine; when full-grown, about eight feet
high, and bearing a bean the size of a coffee-bean, two being enclosed
in each envelope. This bean, after being roasted, is pounded in a small
quantity of water till it becomes compact, and, when dry, is about the
colour of chocolate. It is then grated with the rough tongue of the
piraracu, and when mixed with sugar and water makes a refreshing
beverage. It is said to have an excellent effect when administered in
cases of diarrhoea.