THE VEGETATION OF THE VIRGIN-FOREST.
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Plants making jRopes, Coeds, &c.
Piassaba (Attalea funifera.   Mart.)
Curua (Attalea spectabilis.   Mart.)
Murity (Mauritia vimfera.    Mart.)
Tucum (Astrocaryum tuouma. Mart.) i
Carnaiiba (Copernicia oerifera. Mart.)
Javary (Astrocaryum Javary.   Mart.))
Castanlieira (Bertholletia excelsa. Huml.)
Tatajuba (Madura ? )
Turury (Couratari legalis.    Mart.)
Tauary   ( ? )
Curaua   (Bromelia),   giving  a very fine
and glossy fibre. Munguba (Erythrina). Xury ( ? )
Sapuoaia (Lecythis ollaria.     Velloso.) Mata-mata (Lecythis coriacea). Acapurana    (Wullschlaegelia.        Mart.)
Eutacea.
Uaicima Guaxima (Urena lobata).
Piriquita ( ? )
Ourumicaa (?)
Carapato (?)
Beriba (Anona ? )
Itua ( ? )
Mamao-rana (?)
Carapicho (Urena sinuata).
Cipo (liane) ambe (?)
pixuna (?)
timbotitica (Cissus).
page ( ? )
assii (?)
preto (?)
rei ( ? )
titara ( ? )
tie cerca (?)
Notwithstanding the fertility of tropical vegetation, I doubt whether any other part of the world, in the same latitude, can offer as great a number of useful plants as does the Amazon Valley; and now, when all-transforming steam is about to open up to us this rich emporium, European industry should take advantage of the hitherto neglected treasures. What might not be done with the fibres—some of which surpass our hemp and flax in all respects ? The curaua, for example, a sort of wild pine-apple, gives a delicate transparent flax of a silky lustre, such as is used in the Philippine Islands, on a large scale, it appears. It is sold under the name of palha at Eio de Janeiro. The tucum and the javary would make excellent ropes, cords, nets, &c, well calculated to resist moisture and rot ; and the piassaba, the murity, &c, would readily supply solid brushes, brooms, hammocks, hats, baskets, mats; while the snow-white bast of others would give excellent paper.
The lianas, or cipos of these countries are, besides their minor uses, quite indispensable to the half-civilised natives for the construction of their light cottages; taking the place (as they do) of our nails and cramp-irons, beams, posts, and rafters. The whole palm-leaf roof is fastened, and artificially interwoven and intertwined, with tough creepers of nearly an inch thickness.
According to a widespread proverb, the Jesuits, on first settling in Brazil,  demanded of the  Portuguese   Government, as  a  compensation