iio A VOYAGE TO Book V 



joint which happens to be empty, the two contiguou3 

 ones have water j and this is commonly the case in 

 almost all the canes. This water is said to be an ex- 

 cellent-preservative against the ill consequence of any 

 bruises ; at least it is drunk as such by all who come 

 from the mountains, where such accidents are unavoid-* 

 able. 



The canes being cut, they are left to dry, or, as 

 they say here, tobe cured; whence they acquire such 

 a degree of strength, that they serve either for rafters, 

 beams, flooring, or even masts for balzas. Ships 

 which load with cacao are also cieled with them, to 

 preserve the timbers from the great heat of that fruit, 

 They are also used as poles for litters, and in an in- 

 finite number of other particulars. 



The vijahua is a leaf generally five feet in lengthy 

 and two and a half in breadth. They grow wild, and 

 without any* stem. The principal rib in the middle, 

 is between four and five line's in breadth, but all the 

 other parts of the leaf are perfecdy soft and smooth : 

 the under side is green, and the upper white, covered 

 with a very fine white and viscid down. Besides the 

 common use of it in covering houses, it also serves 

 for packing up salt, fish, and other goods sent to the 

 mountains j as it secures them from the rain. They 

 are also, in these desert places, of singular use for run. 

 ping up huts on any exigency. 



The bejucos are a kind of ligneous col-dage, and of 

 two kinds ; one growing from the earth, and twining 

 round trees j the other strike their roots into certain 

 trees : and from thence derive their nourishment. 

 Both kinds, after growing to a great height, incline 

 again to the earth, on which they creep till they meet 

 with another tree, to the top of which they climb as 

 before, and then again renew their inclination towards 

 the earth J and thus forna a labyrinth of ligatures. 

 Some are even seen extended from the top of one 

 tree to another, like a cord. They are so remarkably- 



fiexile. 



