LIFE IN TEFFE". 231 
by its own foliage, but the branches were covered with para- 
sites, and with soft, dark inoss, in contrast with which the 
lighter green, glossy fruit seemed to gain new lustre. I call 
it a gourd- tree, simply from the use to which the fruit is 
put. But it goes here by the name of the Cuieira-tree 
(Crescentia Cajeput), the cup made from the fruit being 
called a Cuia. The fruit is spherical, of a light green, 
shiny surface, and grows from the size of an apple to that 
of the largest melon. It is filled with a soft, white pulp, 
easily removed when the fruit is cut in halves ; the rind is 
then allowed to dry. Very pretty cups and basins, of 
many sizes, are made in this way ; and the Indians, who 
understand how to prepare a variety of very brilliant colors, 
are very skilful in painting them. It would seem that the 
art of making colors is of ancient date among the Ama- 
zonian Indians, for in the account of Francisco Orellana's 
journey down the Amazons in 1541, " the two fathers of the 
expedition declare that in this voyage they found all the 
people to be both intelligent and ingenious, which was shown 
by the works which they performed in sculpture and painting 
in bright colors." * Their paints are prepared from a par- 
ticular kind of clay and from the juices of several plants 
which have coloring properties. In an Amazonian cottage 
one hardly sees any utensils for the table except such as the 
Indians have prepared and ornamented themselves from the 
fruits of the Cuieira-tree. I longed to extend my walk into 
the woods which surrounded us on all sides ; but the forest 
is very tantalizing here, so tempting and so impenetrable. 
The ladies told me there were no paths cut in the neigh- 
borhood of the house. 
* See " Expeditions into the Valley of the Amazons," published by the 
llakluyt Society. 
