LIFE IN TEFFE. 2l!9 
however, the shore consists, first of the beach, then of a 
broad band of tall grasses, beyond which are the lower 
shrubs and trees, leading up, by a sort of gradation, to 
the full forest growth. During this dry season the vege- 
tation makes an effort to recover its lost ground ; one sees 
the little Imbauba (Cecropia) and a kind of willow-tree 
(Salix hurnboldiana), the only familiar plant we met, 
springing tip on the sand, and creeping down to the 
water's edge, only to be destroyed again with the next 
rise of the river. While we were walking, the boatmen 
were dragging the net, and though not with such astonish- 
ing success as the other day, yet it landed not only an ample 
supply of fresh fish for breakfast, but also a number of in- 
teresting specimens. At about eleven o'clock we turned 
from the Solimoens into the little river on which Mr. Esto- 
lano's fishing-lodge is situated, and in a few minutes found 
ourselves at the pretty landing, where a rough flight of steps 
led up to the house. In this climate a very slight shelter 
will serve as a house. Such a dwelling is indeed nothing 
but a vast porch ; and a very airy, pleasant, and picturesque 
abode it makes. A palm- thatched roof to shed the rain and 
keep off the sun, covering a platform of split logs that one 
may have a dry floor under foot ; these, with plenty of posts 
and rafters for the swinging of hammocks, are the essentials. 
It was somewhat after this fashion that Major Estolano's lodge 
was built. The back part of it consisted of one very large, 
high chamber, to which the family retired in the hottest part 
of the day, when the sun was most scorching ; all the rest 
was roof and platform, the latter stretching out considerably 
beyond the former, thus leaving an open floor on one side 
for the stretching and drying of fish. The whole structure 
was lifted on piles about eight feet above the ground, to 
