Palma
TOMAS ESTRADA, a Cuban statesman and soldier, called the "Franklin of Cuba"; born in Bayamo, Santiago de Cuba, July 9, 1835. He was educated at Havana and studied law at the University of Seville, Spain. In 1867 he allied himself with the patriots working for Cuban independence, became a leader and the bosom friend of Cespides and Aguilera, the first president and first vice-president. When Cespides raised the standard of revolt, Oct. 10, 1868, Palma freed his slaves and aided the movement to the utmost. He took the field and his devoted mother shared the dangers of camp life with him. During his absence one day his detachment was merce as piassava fiber, is employed in surprised by the Spanish and his mother captured. She was compelled to walk the countries in which it grows to make behind the troops till she fell from excoarse but strong and durable cables. haustion, and was abandoned in the The fruit is the well-known Coquilla nut, woods, where her son found her, two much used in turnery for the making of weeks later, starving. She died a few knobs to walking sticks and umbrellas, days later. handles to bell pulls, etc. The print of A. cohune yields from its kernel a valuable oil called cohune oil. It is a native of Honduras and the Isthmus of Panama.
The trunk, which attains the height of about 40 feet and is crowned with leaves some 30 feet long, yields by tapping a After the capture of Bayamo, Palma was elected to the Cuban assembly and became secretary of the republic under the presidency of Spoturno. On the resignation of Spoturno, the Cuban Assem sembly elected Palma president, March 29, 1876. He performed the duties of kind of palm wine. The palm oil of the office with ability, but was, through Africa is the product of the fruit of the treachery of a Cuban, Cuban, captured by Elæis guineensis. The tree is cultivated a force of Spanish soldiers while on a now in the West Indies and tropical journey. He was sent to Spain and im- South America for the sake of the oil. prisoned for a year in the castle of It is used by the natives universally as butter is in Europe. The quantity of palm oil now exported is enormous. It is employed in the manufacture of candles, toilet and common soaps, and as a lubricant of railway carriage wheels, etc.
The Coquito of Chile is Jubæa spectabilis.
From its trunk a syrup is extracted, called miel de palma, which is much esteemed by the Chileans and Europeans. Fieuras. On the subsequent surrender of the revolutionists he was set at liberty and went first to Paris, and from there to New York. Later he went to the republic of Honduras, where he began work as a schoolmaster and became postmaster-general. He there married the daughter of President Guardiola and returned to the United States, where he settled in Orange co., New York. In July, 1895, he was elected delegate or president resident of the Associated Cuban clubs in the United States, to fill the vacancy caused by the death of José Marti. In September of the same year he was made or delegate plenipotentiary abroad of the republic of Cuba. On Dec. 31, 1901, he was elected first president of the new Cuban republic, was re-elected in 1906, but resigned. He died Nov. 4, 1908.
PALMA. (1) The capital of the island of MAJORCA (q. v.) and of the Balearic Islands, on the Bay of Palma, on the S. coast. The cathedral, a Gothic edifice (1322-1601), contains the tomb of minister King Jayme II. of Aragon and a valuable collection of church ornaments. The tomb of Raymond Lully is in the church of St. Francis. There are, further, a beautiful exchange (1426-1446), an old Moorish palace, and a 16th-century town hall, with ictures. Its in- ern Africa, on the Guinea coast, lat. 4°