ASSAI, a beverage very much used at Para and other places on the Amazon, and which is prepared from the fruit of certain species of palm nearly allied to the cabbage palm of the West Indies. See ARECA and CABBAGE PALM. The A. palms are remark ably slender trees; the most common species (euterpe oleracea of Martins) rising to the height of 60 or 80 ft., with a smooth stem only about 4 in. in diameter. The fruit is small, in size and color resembling sloes, but is produced- in great quantity upon branched spa dices, which are thrown out horizontally beneath the crown of leaves. It consists of a hard seed, with a very thin covering of a firm pulp or flesh. The tree grows iu swamps flooded by the high tides. Boys climb the trees for the fruit, upon which warm water is poured, and by rubbing and kneading, a liquid is procured, con sisting simply of the pulp of the fruit and water, which is constantly vended in the streets of Para, and of which the inhabitants are extremely fond. This is A. It is a thick,
creamy liquid, of a purplish c6lor,and a flavor like that of a freshly gathered nut. It is com monly used along with the bread made from manioc (q.v.), called furinha, and either with or without sugar. Half the population of Para make a daily meal of A. and farinlia; and upon this hundreds are said chiefly to subsist.—The stern of the A. palm is sometimes used for poles arid rafters, and its terminal bud as a cabbage or as a'salad with oil and vinegar; but it is too much va_ upon account of its fruit to be often cut down for these purposes. — Another species, euterpe Catinga, is found in forests of a thy sandy soil and very peculiar vegetation, known as catinga forests. The beverage made from it is sweeter than the common kind, but the produce of the tree is much smaller.