Cuap. IV. INDIA-RUBBER AND CACAO. 7S 
noticed it to be employed by the aborigines. It is said that the 
Indians were first taught to make syringes of rubber by seeing natural 
tubes formed by it, when the spontaneously-flowing sap gathered round 
projecting twigs. Brazilians of all classes still use it extensively in the 
form of syringes, for injections form a great feature in the popular 
system of cures; the rubber for this purpose is made into a pear-shaped 
bottle, and a quill fixed in the long neck.* 
September 24th.—Opposite Cameta the islands are all planted with 
cacao, the tree which yields the chocolate nut. The forest is not 
cleared for the purpose, but the cacao plants are stuck in here and 
there almost at random amongst the trees. There are many houses on 
the banks of the river, all elevated above the swampy soil on wooden 
piles, and furnished with broad ladders by which to mount to the 
ground floor. As we passed by in our canoe we could see the people 
at their occupations in the open verandahs, and in one place saw a ball 
going on in broad daylight; there were fiddles and guitars hard at 
work, and a number of lads in white shirts and trousers dancing with 
brown damsels clad in showy print dresses. The cacao tree produces a 
curious impression, on account of the flowers and fruit growing directly 
out of the trunk and branches. There is a whole group of wild fruit 
trees which have the same habit in this country. In the wildernesses 
where the cacao is planted, the collecting of the fruit is dangerous from 
the number of poisonous snakes which inhabit the places. One day, 
when we were running our montaria to a landing-place, we saw a large 
serpent on the trees overhead, as we were about to brush past; the 
boat was stopped just in the nick of time, and Mr. Leavens brought the 
reptile down with a charge of shot. 
September 26th.—At length we got clear of the islands, and saw once 
more before us the sea-like expanse of waters which forms the mouth 
of the Tocantins. The river had now sunk to its lowest point, and 
numbers of fresh-water dolphins were rolling about in shoaly places. 
There are here two species, one of which was new to science when I 
sent specimens to England; it is called the Tucuxi (Steno tucuxi of 
Gray). When it comes to the surface to breathe, it rises horizontally, 
showing first its back fin ; draws an inspiration, and then dives gently 
down, head foremost. This mode of proceeding distinguishes the 
Tucuxi at once from the other species, which is called Bouto or 
porpoise by the natives (Inia Geoffroyi of Desmarets). When this 
rises, the top of the head is the part first seen; it then blows, and 
immediately afterwards dips head downwards, its back curving over, 
exposing successively the whcle dorsal ridge with its fin. It seems thus 
to pitch heels over head, but does not show the tail fin. Besides this 
peculiar motion, it is distinguished from the Tucuxi by its habit of 
generally going in pairs. Both species are exceedingly numerous 
throughout the Amazons and its larger tributaries, but they are nowhere 
* India-rubber is now one of the chief articles of export from Para, and the 
government derives a considerable revenue from it. In value it amounts to one-third 
the total sum of exports. Thus in 1857 the amount was £139,000, the total exports 
being £450,720. In 1858, the rubber exported amounted to £123,000 and the total 
exports to £356,000. : 
