IV PREFACE. 



the most striking and characteristic feature. In the 

 districts which I visited they were everywhere abundant, 

 and I soon became interested in them, from their great 

 variety and beauty of form and the many uses to which 

 they are applied. I first endeavoured to familiarize 

 myself with the aspect of each species and to learn to 

 know it by its native name; but even this was not a 

 very easy matter, for I was often unable to see any dif- 

 ference between trees which the Indians assured me 

 were quite distinct, and had widely different properties 

 and uses. More close examination, however, convinced 

 me that external characters did exist by which every 

 species could be separated from those most nearly allied 

 to it, and I was soon pleased to find that I could di- 

 stinguish one palm from another, though barely visible 

 above the surrounding forest, almost as certainly as the 

 natives themselves. I then endeavoured to define the 

 peculiarities of form or structure which gave to each its 

 individual character, and made accurate sketches and 

 descriptions to impress them upon my memory. These 

 peculiarities are often very slight, though permanent : — 

 in the roots, the extent to which they appear above the 

 ground ; — in the stem, the thickness, which in each 

 species varies within very definite limits, — the swelling of 



