An Account of the Abipones, an Equestrian People of Paraguay, (1 of 3)Dobrizhoffer, Martin
History
An Account of the Abipones, an Equestrian People of Paraguay, (1 of 3)
Dobrizhoffer, Martin
Abipon Indians; Jesuits -- Missions; Paraguay -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800
alfaroba, which appears little different from the acacia. It has very
hard, dark, red wood, is clothed with the same sort of leaves as the
other alfarobas, and bears small yellow flowers, growing in clusters,
and exhaling an aromatic smell. The rind of the pods is thick and black.
The seeds, inclosed in the pods, are like pulse, but harder. The pods,
with their pulp, are resinous, of a sharp, bitter taste, and fit neither
to be eaten nor drunk. The fruit is used by the people of Cordoba, and
St. Iago, to dye wood, and cotton of a black colour, with the addition
of alum, and copperas. This tree exudes rosin like gum Arabic. To it you
may add a fourth species of alfaroba, a small tree, the pods of which
are of a dark red colour, and taste neither sweet nor bitter. Of this
the natives make a potion which is remarkably sudorific, and which,
according to Thomas Falconer, will cure many persons who, in Europe,
could not be restored to health without the aid of salivation.
VARIOUS KINDS OF PALMS.
Palms alone would afford subject for a bulky volume, if the names,
forms, properties, and uses of all the different species were to be
described. Palms supply the Americans with meat, drink, medicine, arms,
lodging, and clothing. Out of the numbers that I have seen in Paraguay,
I will describe a few.
THE CARANDAỸ.
The tall palm, carandaỹ, expands its leaves like an open fan, and bears
sweet dates, which are not disliked by Europeans even. The bark of the
trunk, which is very hard, when cut with an axe, and deprived of the
pith, which consists of sharp thorns, is used to roof the houses in some
cities, and even to build cottages with. If the palms be cut when the
moon is in the wane, their bark will bear age. This also is certain,
that the carandaỹ palms create the richest and most wholesome pasture
for cattle; for the rain-water, flowing to the ground from their leaves,
contracts a kind of saltness, which generates saliva, and is the best
and most agreeable seasoning of the grass for beasts.
THE PINDÒ.
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