Cm. L south AMERICA. . 209 



these forests are also terribly infested with snakes and 

 monkeys, particularly a kind called marimondas, 

 which are so very large, thatj when standing on their 

 hind legs, they are little less than six feet high. They 

 are black, and, in every respect, very ugly; but easily 

 tamed. None of the forests are without them; but 

 they seem most common in those of Guayaquil. 



Among the vegetable productions, I shall select 

 three, which to me seemed worthy of a particular dé-» 

 scription; namely, the cana, vijahua, and the bejuco; 

 as they are not only the materials of which the houses 

 in the jurisdiction of Guayaquil are built, but also ap- 

 plied to various other uses. 



The canas, or canes, are remarkable both for theif 

 length and thickness, and the water contained in their 

 tubes. Their usual length is between six and eight 

 toises; and though there is a difference in their sizej 

 the largest do not exceed six inches diameter. The 

 wood or side of the tube is about six lines in diameter; 

 so that, when the cana is opened, it forms a board near 

 a foot and a half in breadth ; and hence it will not 

 appear strange, that houses should be built of such 

 materials. From the time of their first appearance, 

 till they attain their full perfection, when they are 

 either cut down, or of themselves begin to dry, most 

 of their tubes contain a quantity of water; but with 

 this remarkable difference, that at full moon they are 

 entirely, or very nearly, full ; and with the decrease 

 of the moon the water ebbs, till at the conjunction 

 little or none is to be found. 1 have myself cut them 

 at all seasons, so that I here advance nothing but what 

 I know to be true from frequent experience. I have 

 also observed that the water during its decrease ap- 

 pears turbid, but about the time of the full moon it 

 is as clear as crystal. The Indians add another par- 

 ticular, that the water is not found in all the joints, 

 one having wa-ter,- and another not, alternately. AH 

 I can say to this singularity is, that on opening a 



Vol. I. P joint 



