Cuap. IV. ASSAI PALM. 63 
but a small portion of pulp lying between the skin and the hard kernel. 
This is made, with the addition of water, into a thick, violet-coloured 
beverage, which stains the lips like blackberries. The fruit of the 
Miriti is also a common article 
of food, although the pulp is 
sour and unpalatable, at least to 
European tastes. It is boiled, 
and then eaten with farinha. 
The Tucuma (Astrocaryum 
tucuma), and the Mucuja 
(Acromia lasiospatha), grow only 
on the mainland. Their fruits yield a yellowish, 
fibrous pulp, which the natives eat in the same 
way as the Miriti. They contain so much fatty 
matter, that vultures and dogs devour them 
greedily. 
Early on the morning of September 3rd we 
reached the right or eastern bank, which is 
here from forty to sixty feet high. ‘The houses 
were more substantially built than those we 
had hitherto seen. We succeeded in buying 
a small turtle; most of the inhabitants had a 
few of these animals, which they'kept in little 
enclosures made with stakes. The people 
were of the same class everywhere,—Mame- 
lucos. They were very civil; we were not 
able, however, to purchase much fresh food 
from them. I think this was owing to their 
really not having more than was absolutely 
required to satisfy their own needs. In these 
districts, where the people depend for animal 
food solely on fishing, there is a period of the 
year when they suffer hunger, so that they are 
disposed to prize highly a small stock when 
they have it. They generally answered in the 
negative when we asked, money in hand, 
whether they had fowls, turtles, or eggs to sell, 
“Nao ha, sinto que nao posso lhe ser bom ;” 
' or, Nad ha, meu coracad.” “ We have none: 
I am sorry I cannot oblige you;” or, ‘‘ There 
is none, my heart.” 
Sept. 3rd to 7¢#.—At half-past eight a.m. we 
arrived at Baiao, which is built on a very high 
bank, and contains about 400 inhabitants. We Assai Palm 
had to climb to the village up a ladder, which (Euterpe oleracea), 
is fixed against the bank, and on arriving at the top, took possession 
of aroom which Senhor Seixas had given orders to be prepared for us. 
He himself was away at his sitio, and would not be here until the next 
day. Wewere now quite dependent on him for men to enable us to 
continue our voyage, and so had no remedy but to wait his leisure. 


