ON THE AMAZON. 71 
part of stem ; fruit; and leaves of a young plant.) From the lands of 
Archibald Campbell, Esq., at Caripi, on the Bay of Marajó, Rio Para, 
S. Am. The palm from which this was cut measured 714 ft. from 
the base to the insertion of the leaves; each leaf-stalk was about 
13 ft. long, and the blade of each leaf 74 ft.; the diameter of the 
trunk 154 inches. A bunch of the fruit was a heavy load for two men. 
One of the lowest trees was selected, for the sake of obtaining the 
fruit perfect : some of the neighbouring trees must have been at least 
half as high again. 
No. 2. Mauritia vinifera, Mart. (Muriti, Bras.) (Lower part of 
stem ; fruit; leaves of a young plant.) Marshes at Caripi, Rio Para, 
S. Am. Height of trunk to insertion of leaves, 63 ft. Diameter, 
l6 in. Leaf-stalk, 13 ft. 6 in.; blade of leaf, 7 ft. 5 in. The thin 
pulp (vitellus) of the fruit of this species is edible. The trunk contains 
a small quantity of sugar. M. flexuosa possesses the same properties. 
No. 3. Euterpe edulis, Mart. (Assai or Assai-zeiro, Bras.) Marshes 
near Para, S. Am. August 1849. (Two spadices and two leaves.) 
From the very thin pulp of the fruit of this species a grateful 
beverage is prepared, which is unknown beyond the province of Para. 
It is made in this manner :—the recently gathered fruits are put in hot 
water, and allowed to steep for an hour or two, after which, by a pro- 
cess similar to kneading, the pulp, along with the skin, is separated 
from the stone, and the whole being shaken in a peculiar kind of sieve 
(called a Gurupema), the pulp passes through, leaving the stones and 
skins behind. The liquor thus obtained is insipid, but the addition 
of sugar and farinha brings out a flavour not unlike that of blackberries, 
which it resembles also in the deep purple colour. 
No. 4. Male spadix and spathe of the Tucuma palm (Astrocaryum 
Tucuma, Mart.) Banks of the Rio Para, S. Am. July 1849. 
No. 5. Bactris Maraja, Mart. (Marajà, Bras.) (3 spadices.) 
Marshes near Para, S. Am. July 1849. The ripe fruit of this palm 
is more agreeable than any other palm-fruit I have tasted. 
No. 6. Spadix, leaf, and portion of stem of a small palm in the 
forest near Para. August 1849. (Caudex 12-15 ft.) 
No. 7. Maximiliana regia, Mart. (Inajá, Bras.) (Male spadix and 
spathe.) Caripi, Rio Para, 1849. The spathe of this species is a 
ready-made basket, used by the Indians for carrying earth, clay, 
farinha, &c. It is sometimes three times as large as the specimen 
