IN VAUIOUS PARTS OF THE GLOBE. 173 



to the east of Albuquerque, on the right bank of the Rio 

 Mondego. The current of this river is so rapid that it took us no 

 less than sixteen days to go from the one place to the other ; the 

 vegetation of the river sides is very like that of the Rio Cuyaba 

 and other third-rate rivers of this country. Many twining plants, 

 especially some Bindweeds and a spiny-stemmed Araliad with 

 scarlet corymbs (Cipo da Raia), sometimes spread out like a 

 carpet even on the water's edge of the Rio, at others rising up 

 into domes or columns according to the nature of their support, 

 formed the vegetation of the Fantanals, Near Miranda the 

 river is fringed with large Bcmibusce (Taquara-asou), tlie clusters 

 of which had, at a distance, the appearance of a collection of 

 monstrous ferns with finely divided fronds. A new palm, the 

 Giruva, not unlike in its manner of growth the Acro(omia 

 sclerocarpa, also made its appearance as our journey drew to 

 a close. 



The environs of Miranda are very marshy ; I found there a 

 large quantity of a small NymphcEa., not very different in size 

 from our Hydrocharis, and the tubercles of which are eaten by 

 the Indians. The Victoria is, I was told, common in all this 

 part of the basin of the Pai'aguay ; the Guaycourous call it 

 Gakaure-Lodo, which signifies large Water-lily. 



On the 18th of April we left Albuquerque for the last time, 

 and made the best of our way up the Paraguay to Villa-Maria. 

 We were preceded by many canoes full of Indians, who were 

 going to collect ipecacuanha. On the 28th of August we 

 arrived at the San Lourengo, which we left on our right. We 

 there found some Guatos Indians, who alone inhabit this country, 

 and who undertook to conduct us through the innumerable net- 

 work formed by the branching of the Paraguay, and which was 

 described by early travellers as a lake (Lac Xarayes). Immense 

 Fig-trees (Gamelleiras) form one of the principal features of the 

 half-inundated forests of this part of Matto-Grosso. These trees 

 assume the most strange shapes, owing to the number and arrange- 

 ment of the adventitious roots, which form so many accessory 

 trunks, columns, or props around the central trunk. Several 

 small JBactris (Tucum), with hard, sharp spines, also abound 

 and render the woods difficult of access. I also saw a curious 

 tree, allied to the Genipa, the wood of which was white when 

 first cut, but soon became a most brilliant carmine. But no 

 plant is more common than the Inga edulis (Inga da Berada), 

 which secretes within its pods and around its seeds a large 

 quantity of sugar. Too often may be also found here the 

 Triplaris, whicli harbours in the enipty cells of its pith an ant 

 with a terrible burning bite. On the 13th of May we left this 

 damp district and regained the Campos. The next day we passed 



