Cuap. VI. A HAUNTED SPOT. 115 
sized palms decorated the water’s edge, such as the Maraja-i (Bactris, 
many species), the Ubim (Geonoma), and a few stately Bacdbas (CEno- 
carpus bacaba). The shape of this last is exceedingly elegant, the size 
of the crown being in proper proportion to the straight smooth stem. 
The leaves, down even to the bases of the glossy petioles, are of a rich 
dark-green colour, and free from spines. ‘The forest wall”—I am 
extracting from my journal—“under which we are now moving, con- 
sists, besides palms, of a great variety of ordinary forest-trees. From 
the highest branches of these down to the water sweep ribbons of 
climbing plants, of the most diverse and ornamental foliage possible. 
Creeping convolvuli and others have made use of the slender lianas and 
hanging air-roots as ladders to climb by. Now and then appears a 
Mimosa or other tree having similar fine pinnate foliage, and thick 
masses of Inga border the water, from whose branches hang long bean- 
pods, of different shape and size, according to the species, some of 
them a yard in length. Flowers there are very few. I see, now and 
then, a gorgeous crimson blossom on long spikes ornamenting the 
sombre foliage towards the summits of the forest. I suppose it to 
belong to a climber of the Combretaceous order. There are also a 
few yellow and violet Trumpet-flowers (Bignoniz). The blossoms of the 
Ingas, although not conspicuous, are delicately beautiful. The forest 
all along offers so dense a front that one never obtains a glimpse into 
the interior of the wilderness.” 
The length of the Jaburti channel is about 35 miles, allowing for 
the numerous abrupt bends which occur between the middle and the 
northern end of its course. We were three days and a half accomplish- 
ing the passage. The banks on each side seemed to be composed of 
hard river-mud, with a thick covering of vegetable mould, so that I 
should imagine this whole district originated in a gradual accumulation 
of alluvium, through which the endless labyrinths of channels have 
worked their deep and narrow beds. The flood-tide as we travelled 
northward became gradually of less assistance to us, as it caused only a 
feeble current upwards. The pressure of the waters from the Amazons 
here makes itself felt: as this is not the case lower down, I suppose the 
currents are diverted through some of the numerous channels which we 
passed on our right, and which traverse, in their course towards the sea, 
the north-western part of Marajé. In the evening of the 29th we 
arrived at a point where another channel joins the Jaburti from the 
north-east. Up this the tide was flowing ; we turned westward, and 
thus met the flood coming from the Amazons. This point is the object 
of a strange superstitious observance on the part of the canoemen. It 
is said to be haunted by a Pajé, or Indian wizard, whom it is necessary 
to propitiate, by depositing some article on the spot, if the voyager 
wishes to secure a safe return from the “serta6,” as the interior of the 
country is called. The trees were all hung with rags, shirts, straw hats, 
bunches of fruit, and so forth. Although the superstition doubtless 
originated with the aborigines, yet I observed, in both my voyages, 
that it was only the Portuguese and uneducated Brazilians who deposited 
anything. ‘The pure Indians gave nothing, and treated the whole affair 
as humbug ; but they were all civilised Tapuyos. 
