The southern press., 1851-06-25


the pulp is placed on large earthenware pans,
and stirred over hot fire until it granulates it
is then put up in baskets for use. The manner
in which the natives eatthe farina is very anus
ing, and is besides perfectly inimitable. Taking
a quantity of it in one of their hands, by skill
full motion of their arm they toss every particle
of it into their mouths, and il seldom happens
that any is wasted in this manner. have fire.
! quently attempted to initiate them, but found
that the feat required more legerdemain talent
! than was master of, and that on every trial my
mouth was but little better supplied with the
| granulated material than either my nose or eyes.
TApocA.
A milk-white substance is deposited by the
juice OF the mandoca root, which being collec-
ted, and hardened by exposure to the sun, con-
sttutes the article 80 well known as taploca,
! from which such wholesome and delicious pud-
dings are made. So very poisonous is the root
in its natural state that it has been found to &C.
casion death in few minutes when administered
experimentay to animals, and it is said that the
natives used it with great effect many years ago
in destroying their Spanish prosecutors. II has
been ascertained by dissection that this poison
operates by means Of the nervous system, pro-
ducing immediate commissions and exquisite tor
ments, rs soon as it is introduced into the stom-
ach. In some instances it has been used in the
executions of criminals, i'll which cases death in
variaby ensued within from five to ten minutes
after its ambition. The fatal principle appears
to exist in certain gases, which are disspated by
heat This is conclusIvely proved; from the
harmlessness and highly nutritious properties Of
| the farina, when the process of its manufacture
has been completed
It has been stated on good authority, that u
single acre Of land planted with the mandoca
root, will afford nourishment to more persons
than six acres of wheat planted in the same
manner, and my own observation fully justifes
this assertion. Concerning the value of this
plant Southey remarks with trq,h, that :" If Co.
res deserved place in the mythology of Greece,
far more might the dedication Of that person
have been expected who instructed his fellows
in the use Of mandioca.
THE ToUcAN.
These birds are alike distinguished for the
singularity of their forms and the splendor of
their plumage, as we'll as the enormous and APP
parently disproportionate size of their beaks
On account of their natural timidity, and the
solitude of their haunts, they have been until of
late years but little known to naturalists.
| The genus includes not less than twenty-five
species, of which the white breasted toucan"
(ramphastos Brasiliensis) is the largest in size.
The bird when full grown is about twenty
seven inches in length, from the tip of its beak
to the extremity of its tail. Its bill alone is full
nine inches long, and in the live specimen is of
surprising delcacy and elegance. This pro-
digious member is extremely thin and cellular,
and is much lighter than its appearance would
Indicate Being vascular, it is supposed to be of
Importance to the bird in giving an extraordinary
development to the organs of smell This,
however is but mere conjecture. The plumage
is of shining black, while the feathers of the
throat are Of the finest texture and purest
white. The bill itself is of vermillion and yell
low, beautifully blended together; but these
splendid ints fade shortly after The death of the
bird No art fetal means have Us yet been de.
vised for preserving them. This species is found
abundantly at certain seasons of the year. on the
island of Marajo, and is eagerly sought after by
the natives, who prize its flesh forits tenderness
and exquisite flavor.
The foucans subsist for the most part upon
fruit, but when in a state of captivity they learn
to eat flesh of all kinds. Their favorite food is
the assahy herrp, and their method of eating it
is very remarkable. They first seize the fruit
in the extremity of their beak, and by sudden
twitch throw it up several feet into the air; as
it falls they catch it and swallow it entire, with
out the slightest attempt at mastication. They
may be seen sitting on the topmost branches
with their beaks pointed directly towards the
wind, thus by instinct overcoming power which,
if exerted on their broadside, might considerably
disturb their comfort and equanimity.
On account of the peculiar con ,truction of
their eyes, as well as the enormous size of their
beaks, they are not able to discern objects we'll
which are Immediately before them, yet their
vision on the side j. remarkably acute. Unless
the hunter is aware Of this circumstance, he will
find il almost impossible to get shot at them.
They make. their nests in the hollow of old
trees, which are accessible BY means of snail
circular opening in 'front.' The female lays but
two eggs, on which shs site, and with her from.
liable beak protruding from the portfolio Of
her fortress, she is able effectualy to repel all
assailants, in the form Of monkeys, serpents, or
other reptiles, who may be disposed 10 invade
her sacred premises.
BRAZIL NUT TREE.
The Brazil nut tree (Bsrthollelia ercelsa)
may Justly command the attention Of the enthu-
siastic naturalist. This tree thrives we'll in the
province, and immense quantities Of its delicious
fruit are annually exported TO foreign countries
II grows to the height of from fifty to eighty
feet and in appearance is one Of the mos ma
jestic ornaments Of the forest. The fruit In its
UhluTal cODuluOH TesetUDleS u cOCOa-nut, Delng
extremely hard. and of about the size Of n
cbild's head. Each one Of these shells contains
from twelve to twenty Of the three-cornered
nuts, nicely packed together. During the
season Of their falling, 1t is dangerous 10 enter
the groves where they abound, as the force Of
their descent is sufficient to capsze the strongest
man. The natives, however, provide them
selves with wooden bucklers, which they hold
over their heads while collecting the fruit from
the ground. In this manner they are perfectly
secure from injury.
cHfGoEs.
The "chigoe" or iigger. This insect is SO
extremely diminutive that il is seldom observed
Having pierced the Ilesh Of person, II deposits
its eggs (Which are contained in little sac, }
and there leaves them to theirzuatural develop.
ment The sac rapidly increases in size, until
il becomes as large as a common pea, when it
begins TO occasion sensible degree of pain
On first feeling this disagreeable sensation, the
bag ought TO be carefully extracted, otherwise
a. 4 =. 4