14 PALM TREES 



drical, and of a convenient lengthy it is much used for 

 fencing round yards and gardens, and in the city of 

 Barra do Rio Negro is universally employed for such 

 purposes. The want of neatness out of doors, which is 

 quite a characteristic of the Portuguese and Indian 

 settlers on the Amazon, is always apparent in these 

 fences. It is never thought worth while to cut the 

 poles all to one length, but they are set up just as they 

 are brought in from the forest ; and the space between 

 two handsome houses in the city may often be seen 

 filled up with a Jara railing of most unpicturesque 

 irregularity. 



The bright green and glossy foliage of this tree also 

 renders it suitable for another purpose. On certain 

 saints' days, little altars and green avenues are made 

 before the principal houses in Barra, the Jara palm 

 being always used to construct them ; and its graceful 

 fronds rustling in the evening breeze, fitfully reflecting 

 the light of the wax tapers which burn before the image 

 of the saint, with the blazing torches of the rustic pro- 

 cession, have a very pleasing effect. 



The reticulate covering of the stem of this and the 

 next species offers a fine station for the epiphytal 

 Orchidese to attach themselves, and the Jara palms are 

 accordingly often adorned with their curious and orna- 

 mental flowers. 



Plate II. figure 6. represents a fruit of this species 

 of the natural size. 



