270 MR. SPRUCE’S BOTANICAL EXCURSION 
ciently appreciated by historians; but the nature of such a tree might 
indeed account for much intercourse, and many an early migration, 
which, under other circumstances, may almost appear inexplicable. 
The wool of various Sterculiacee, the Balsa (Ochroma Lagopus, Swartz), 
Ceiba (Eriodendron Samauma, Mart.), and Barrigon (Bombax Barrigon, 
Seem.), is employed for stuffing pillows, cushions, &c. Hedges are 
made of the Ortiga (Urtica baccifera, Linn.), Poroporo (Cochlospermum 
hibiscoides, H. B. et Kth.), Pitajaya (Cereus Pitajaya, De Cand.), and 
Pinnuela (Bromelia sp.). The hard shells of the Crescentia cunejfolia, 
Gardn., C. Cujuta, Linn., and C. cucurbitacea, Linn., are turned into 
bottles, sieves, pails, spoons, and various other household articles. In 
catching fish by stupefaction, the natives avail themselves of the juice 
of the Manzanillo de playa (Hippomane Mancinella, Linn.), the bark of 
the Æspavè (Anacardium Rhinocarpus, De Cand.), and the leaves of the 
Barbasco (Piper sp.). Oil is obtained from the fruit of the Corozo 
colorado (Elaïs melanococea, Gærtn.), and wine, vinegar, food, habita- 
tions, clothing, and numerous other necessaries of life, from the different 
palms which inhabit the country. The leaves of the Chumico (Oura- 
tella Americana, Linn.), and Chumico bijuco (Tetracera volubilis, Linn.), 
are used for cleaning iron, polishing and scouring wood ; indeed, they 
serve all the purposes of sand-paper. 
(To be continued.) 
Journal of a Voyage from SANTAREM to the BARRA DO Rio NEGRO; 
by RICHARD SPRUCE, Esq. 
We left Santarem for the Barra do Rio Negro, on Tuesday the 8th 
of October (1850), in an igarité belonging to Mons. Gouzennes, à 
French gentleman, who has been many years established at Santarem, 
and is in the habit of sending several small vessels up the Amazon 
every year, to procure pirarucü, turtle-oil, castanhas, &c. Our vessel 
was a very small one, of little more than 300 arrobas burden, and my 
baggage half-filled it. For want of room we were put to much incon- 
venience in drying our plants; and what was still worse, the palm-leaf 
tolda was so ill-constructed that every heavy rain penetrated it, and 
gave us afterwards much trouble in drying our soaked clothes and paper. 
However, there was no remedy, and for this conveyance, wretched as 
it was, I had waited nearly three months. 
