A history of the Brazil : $b comprising its geography, commerce, colonization, aboriginal inhabitants, &c. &c. &c.Henderson, James
History
A history of the Brazil : $b comprising its geography, commerce, colonization, aboriginal inhabitants, &c. &c. &c.
Henderson, James
Brazil; Brazil -- History -- To 1822
PHYTOLOGY.--This province affords a variety of timber for
the purposes of building, cabinet-work, and dying. The tree called
here _anduassu_ is nearly fifteen feet high, and two in diameter,
grows rapidly, and only in the vicinity of the sea. The Indians make
an aperient medicine from its fruit, with which they cure the dropsy.
Oil is extracted from it for burning lights, and for the composition of
blue ink, and a blue dye. The _tatagyba_, which is the _morus
tinctoria_ of Linneus, affords an excellent yellow dye, extracted
by the boiling of its wood in water, with the addition of a portion
of alum. The _grumixameira_ is a tree which produces a most
excellent fruit, similar to a cherry in appearance, but of a finer
flavour. I brought some of its seed to England, but am yet uncertain
whether it will prosper in our climate. A small tree produces a clove,
said to be superior to that of the Moluccas. The camphor tree, the
cane of Madagascar, some African grasses, and a delicate species
from Hindostan, have been recently naturalized here. Canes of such
thickness and height grow upon the margins of the Suruhy, that ladders
are made of them to hang the highest temples with decorations for
festivals. In many situations ferns are met with, not differing in the
least from those of Europe, except in the immense quantities which
grow in uncultivated grounds. In the woods adjacent to Andrahi, near
the road leading to the cascades of Tejuco, there is one which has
grown, amongst other vegetation of wild trees and brushwood, to the
perpendicular height of eighteen feet. In some woods, a sort of almond
tree is met with, with fruit almost spherical, and of the magnitude
of a hen’s egg. Cocoa trees are not very abundant, owing to an insect
which gnaws the sprout after it grows to any size, and prevents their
arrival at the perfection they otherwise would. European horticulture
succeeds better here than in the northern provinces. The mango tree is
only abundant in the suburbs of the capital, and rarely fructifies to
perfection. Oranges grow spontaneously, and consist of various sorts;
the selectas, which are large, and the tangerinas, both of the most
delicious qualities. The coffee tree, having been naturalized here,
during the government of Conde de Bobadella, by the attention and
care of a magistrate, multiplies prodigiously, and is now one great
branch of the riches of this province. The cotton tree does not prosper
universally. Apple, pear, cherry, and apricot trees do not succeed. Fig
trees grow rapidly, and produce fruit in perfection; but they have an
enemy in a little insect, which introduces itself very frequently into
the pith, and dries it up. Amongst an infinity of other productions may
be enumerated jalap, ipecacuanha, called here _poaya_, trees of
gum, of _sangue de drago_, (blood of dragon,) of oil of capaiba,
and of Peruvian balsam. The cultivation of cochineal is now little
attended to.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account