70 PALM TREES 



had not been sufficient to tear asunder the tough 

 fibrous sheath. 



The "bussu" produces the largest entire leaves of 

 any known palm, and for this reason, as well as on 

 account of their firm and rigid texture, they form the 

 very best and most durable thatch. The leaves are 

 split down the midrib and the halves laid obliquely on 

 the rafters, so that the furrows formed by the veins lie 

 in a nearly vertical direction and serve as so many 

 little gutters to carry off the water more rapidly. A 

 well-made thatch of "bussii" will last ten or twelve 

 years, and an Indian will often take a week's voyage 

 in order to get a canoe-load of the leaves to cover his 

 house. 



The spathe too is much valued by the Indian, fur- 

 nishing him with an excellent and durable cloth. 

 Taken off entire it forms bags in which he keeps the 

 red paint for his toilet or the silk cotton for his arrows, 

 or he even stretches out the larger ones to make him- 

 self a cap, — cunningly woven by nature without seam 

 or joining. When cut open longitudinally and pressed 

 flat, it is used to preserve his delicate feather orna- 

 ments and gala dresses, which are kept in a chest of 

 plaited palm leaves between layers of the smooth 

 "bussu" cloth. 



This species inhabits the tidal swamps of the Lower 

 Amazon. A palm called "bussu" is also found on 

 the Rio Negro and Upper Amazon, but it is of a 

 smaller size and is probably a distinct species. 



