The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-07-04
Oxen are much used for hauling in Para.

seem to he very skilful in accomplish
ing this result, The work must all be
done the same day, including the
gathering the tubers. washing and
rating them. pressing out the water
aud roasting what is grated TO make
We mand.oCa flour. Some cnterpris-
ing breakfast food" man will some
Gay exploit mandioca In our country
and make a fortune therefrom.
The cotton and sugar plantations
received a setback when slavery was
abolished in 1858, but they are now
prospecting again. 1t is by black labor
that these products are raised to-day,
hut such labor is not very dependable,
The blacks are contentcd with work
ing just enough TO provide themselves
with the actual n~cCessaries Of life. In
this industry II is certainly true, as is
said of South America as a whole.
there is no problem Of the unem-
p.oyed"
In considering especially the worlds
supply OF cotton and the interest
which is 10 being directed 10y the
Brazilian Government to sections
where cotton is grow on trees it may
be news e some readers hat Brazil
has two species OF cotton bearing
trees that merit attention. The first.
known as the barragunda, has a barrel
shaped trunk and reaches from % to
35 feet in height; the second, or I'M
birussa, which produces n kind OF
brownish cotton. is regarded as a finer
grade. Both species are Indigenous 10
the country and grow Wild. think
that cotton growing may present an
opportunity for making money in
Brazil.
Paraguay is the especial home Of
'he plant called yerba mate. or Para
quay tea, but it is grown largely in
the southern provinces of Brazil. Those
who drink this beverage tell me that
it has all the stimulating and nour-
ishing qualities of the tea We use hut
none of its injurious effects. II has
much in common with other tea and
with coffee, as 1t contains both tan
min and caffeine. OF tannin there is
less in mate than in other teas and in
coffee; OF caffeine. there Is less than
in tea, but about the same amount as
in coffee. II is claimed therefore, that
the caffeine gives to Paraguay tea its
sustaining quality, while the small
amount present accounts for its de-
cided virtues, II does not i~rritate but
soothes the system, and this
is the reason for its past and present
use among all classes of people.
The name mate" really refers to
the cup from which the natives drink
rather than to the herb itself. This
cup Is n dried Gourd, followed out.
with an aperture whore the stem used
TO he into which the crushed leaves
are placed before boiling water is
poured on them. From this cup the
decoction Is then sucked through a
tube called a bombilla 0ittle pump.
Formerly this was made OF a reed or
bone, and is sometimes now SO found:
but usually 1t is fashioned from metal
with n perforated spoon shaped expan-
sion at the lower extremity. The tea
may he drunk e.thcr cold or hot, NJ
meals or between meals. 1t is reported
that in England n company has been
formed TO extend its use. Returning
settlers and soldiers from South
America insist on importing It for
their W use, as they become very
fond Of Il.
The plant itself is the South Ameri-
can holly and IL found In the four
Brazilian States Of Parana, Santa
Catherine. Rio Grnnde do Sui and
Matte Crosse, also in tho northeastern
region NJ Argentina and especially In
the eastern . rcntral Darts Of Para