EXCURSION ON THE RIO NEGRO. 329 
which always encloses the stern of an Indian montaria, 
and were safe. Even this, in the open river, would not 
be a protection ; but, moored as the boats are in the midst 
of a thick wood, they do not receive the full force of the 
showers. In returning from our walk we stopped at a 
house where an Indian was making palm-thatch from the 
leaflets of the Curua palm. When quite young, they are 
packed closely around the midrib. The Indians turn them 
down, leaving them attached to the axis by a few fibres 
only, so that, when the midrib is held up, they hang from 
it like so many straw-colored ribands, being, at that age, 
of a very delicate color. With these leaves they thatch 
their walls and roofs, setting the midrib, which is strong 
and sometimes four or five yards long, across, to serve as 
a support, and binding down the pendent leaves. Such a 
thatch will last for years, and is an excellent protection 
from rain as well as sun. I should add, that, in other 
parts of the country, different kinds of palms are used for 
this purpose. 
On our return to the village we were met by the padre, 
who invited us to rest at his house, stopping on the way, 
at our request, to show us the church. The condition of 
a settlement is generally indicated by the state of the 
church. This one was sadly in want of repairs, the mud 
walls being pierced with more windows than they were 
originally intended to possess ; but the interior was neat, 
and the altar prettier than one would expect to find in 
so poor a place as Pedreira appears to be. Perhaps the 
church was in better order than usual, being indeed in 
festival trim. Christmas week was not yet over, and the 
baby Christ lay on his green bed in a little arbor of leaves 
and flowers, evidently made expressly for the purpose. 
