302 MR. SPRUCE's EXCURSION ON THE AMAZON. 
on the plea of buying materials for clothing; the consequence was 
that they all got a thorough lining of cashaca, and the pilot was 
worse intoxicated than any of the rest. Embarked at half-past eleven, 
in the face of a strong wind and heavy swell. Storms are more 
dreaded in this part of the Amazon than in any other. 
January 6.—Yesterday our tipsy men allowed one of the moveable 
toldas to be carried away by the wind—then the sail broke loose—we 
shipped some seas and were nearly upset. Still, by tacking from one 
side of the river to the other, and aided by the strong current, we 
made excellent headway, and kept going all night. A little after one 
A.M. a tremendous trovoido arose—the wind swept furiously over the 
water, and soon lashed old Amazon into a tempest. We were in the 
middle of the river, and ran for the island of Marimaritiiba, which has 
a low shore with a praya, now covered by water. Upon this we 
grounded, took down our sail, and lay thumping about among willows, 
until the force of the storm had passed. 
This morning we landed on the isle of Marimaritüba to gather the 
Arrow-plant (4rvore de frécha, Portug., 'U^yoa, Bras.), one of the 
most magnificent of grasses, whether growing singly or in masses. It 
grows erect to the height of from fifteen to twenty feet, and sends 
forth about five arched buttresses on each side, the uppermost leaving 
the stem at about three feet from the ground, and rooting at the same 
distance. The leaves, which occur only in the upper third of the 
stem, are distichous, sometimes so closely placed as to be equitant. 
The panicle is often four or five feet long, with myriads of minute 
flowers of purple and silver, turned to one side, slightly drooping, and 
waving gracefully with every breath of wind. 
We reached Santarem at half-past six P. m., having been only thirty- 
one hours in coming from Obidos, although with unfavourable winds 
throughout. But the Amazon, which it sometimes costs so much to 
ascend, can with ease be descended, at any season of the year, and 
especially after the rains have set in. 
(To be continued.) 
