ON THE AMAZON. 175 
growing by the opposite shore of the igarapé itself. This was the 
more satisfactory, as the day was already far advanced, and the mon- 
taria, which we found in the igarapé, could only take two persons at 
once, while our party consisted of six, so that there was small prospect 
of reaching the lake. We lost no time in crossing to the other side, 
where I sent a man to the outer edge of the mass of plants, while Mr. 
King and I waded into the water to cut the leaves and flowers, which 
he towed round to the landing-place. We were warned by the 
people not to go amongst the plants, as their prickles were venomous ; 
but I got both hands and feet considerably pricked without experiencing 
any ill effects. We were fortunate in finding the plant in good flower, 
but, according to the testimony of all at Santarem who have seen it, 
the leaves attain their greatest dimensions in the winter. Captain 
Hislop assures me he has seen many leaves twelve feet in diameter, 
whereas the largest we saw measured a very little above four feet across, 
and they were packed as close as they could lie. But I can easily con- 
ceive how, in the wet season, their dimensions should be considerably 
augmented, for whereas at present the plant is growing in less than 
two feet of water, in winter the igarapé will be filled to its topmost 
banks, or at least fifteen feet deeper than at present, while its breadth 
will also be greatly increased; so that the petioles of the Victoria, 
lengthening doubtless with the rise of the waters, will bring the leaves 
to a much greater surface, on which they will have room to dilate to 
above twice their present size. I cannot doubt of the fact, having the 
witness of many competent observers, but I hope one day to ascertain 
it by personal observation. I enclose a note from Dr. Campos, the Juiz 
de Dircito at Santarem, in which he alludes to the immense size which 
the leaves attain. Dr. Campos is a gentleman of remarkable acquire- 
ments for so remote a part of the world; he reads English and French 
perfectly, and, as you will see, writes the former quite intelligibly. 
The aspect of the Victoria in its native waters is so new and extraor- 
dinary, that I am at a loss to what to compare it. The image is not a 
very poetical one, but assuredly the impression the plant gave me, when 
viewed from the bank above, was that of a number of tea-trays floating, 
with here and. there a bouquet protruding between them; but when 
more closely viewed, the leaves excited the greatest admiration from _ 
their immensity and perfect symmetry. A leaf, turned up, suggests — 
some strange fabric of cast-iron, just taken out of the furnace; its — E 
