The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-06-24

The juice being at length entirely expressed
the pulp il placed on large eafthenware pans,
aud stirred over hot lire until II graduates it
is then put up in baskets for use. The manner
in which the natives eat the farina is very anus
ing, and is besides perfectly inmliable- Taking
a quantity oft 10 one of their hands, by skill
full motion of their arm they toss every particle
of Il into their mouths, aud il seldom happens
that any is wasted in this manner. have FREE
quently attempted to initiate them, but found
that the feat required more legerdemaln 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.
TAi1ocA.
A milk white substance is deposited by the
Juice of the mandioca root, which being collec-
ted, and hardened by exposure 10 the sun, con-
stitutes the article 40 we'll known AZ tapoca,
from which such wholesome and delicious pud-
dings are made. SO very poisonous is the root
in It's natural state that il has been found to oc
casion death in few minutes when administered
experimentally 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 ascertaiued by dissection that this poison
operates by means of the nervous system, pro-
ducing immediate commissions and exquisite tor
ments, as soon as It is introduced into the stom-
ach In some instances it has been used In the
executions Of criminals, 10 which cases death in
variably ensued within from five TO ten minutes
after its ambition. The fatal principle appears
to exist in certain gases, which are dissipated by
heat. This is concusively proved; from the
harmlessness and highly nutritious properties of
the farina, when the process of its manufacture
has been completed
I has haan et,fat On p,od ni,fhoritu hat
single acre ofand planted with the mandioca
root, will afford nourishment to more persons
than six acres Of wheat planted in the same
manner, and my own observation fully justifies
this assertion. Concerning the value of this
plant, Southey remarks with trq.h, that " II Cc-
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
sngularity of their forms and the splendor Of
their plumage, as well as the enormous and APP
parently disproportionate sze of their beaks
On account Of their natural timidty, 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'
Gamphastos BrasiHensis) is the largest in size
Yhe bird when full grown is about twenty
seven inches in length, from the tip of its belk
to the extremity of its tail Its bill alone is full
nine inches long, and in the live specimen is of
surprising delicacy and elegance. This pro-
digious member is extremely thin and cellular,
and is much lighter than its appearance would
Indicate Being vascular, tits 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 tints fade shortly after The death Of The
bird. No art fetal means have as 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 forts tenderness
and exquisite flavor.
The foucans subsist for the most part upon
fruit, but when in stlte 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 mastcation. They
confne themselves mostly to lofty trees, and
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, 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 is remarkably acute. Unless
the hunter is aware Of this circumstance, he will
find it almost impossible to get shot at them.
They make their nests in the hollow of old
trees, which are accessible by means of nall
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 effectually to repel all
assaiants, in the form of monkeys, serpents, or
other reptiles, who may be disposed to invade
her sacred premises.
BRAZIL nut TREE.
The Brazil nut tree (Bertholletia ercelsa)
may Justly command the attention of the enthu-
sastic naturalist This tree thrives we'll in the
province and immense quantities of its delicious
fruit are annually exported to foreign countries
1t 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 ia its
natural condition resembles a cocoa-nut, being
extremely hard. and of about the size of
child'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 it is dangerous to 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 achigoe" or jigger This insect is so
extremely diminutive that it is seldom observed
Having pierced the lesh of person, it deposits
its eggs (Which are contained in q little sac,)
and there leaves them to their natural develop
meut. The sac rapidly increases in size, until
it becomes as large as a common pea, when il
begins to occasion sensible degree of pain.
On first feeling this dsagreeable sensation, the