94 THE GREEN-TAILED SYLPH. 



shaped fruit is also eaten, and the sap is 

 made into a sweet wine. 



At times, when the great river Orinoco 

 overflows its banks, and inundates the 

 dwelHngs of the Indians, they have re- 

 course to the pahn as to a place of refuge. 



They climb nimbly up its branches with 

 the agiUty of monkeys. Here they are 

 often obliofed to remain for some time ; 

 and they suspend their mats in the boughs, 

 and take up their abode literally with the 

 monkeys. 



And a curious sight it is, to those on 

 board some vessel sailing up the river, to 

 behold the twinklinsf of lig^hts in the 

 tree-tops. The lights are kindled by the 

 Indians in their aerial dwellings. 



Another palm grows in the territory of 

 New Granada, that is of equal service to 

 man. 



Its leaves are very large, and are used 



