226 



From tlie summit there is a magnificent view over an immense area 

 of country, the whole Monte-Alegre-Erere highlands and the great 

 Devonian plain being distinctly seen. I have reproduced from my 

 note-book a little sketch of the Erere hills taken from the top of 

 Tauajuri, because it shows a line of hills extending westward be- 

 yond Aracuri, apparently forming parts of the same outcrop. 



The Devonian plain and serras of Erere from the Serra of Tauajuri. 



To the northward of the zone of highlands bordering the Erere 

 plain on the north and west, the country is low, somewhat irregu- 

 lar, though with but few hills, and uniformly covered with forest. 

 Along the horizon, on the north-west, high, table-topped hills 

 stretch along for many miles like a cordilheira. To the east of 

 Tauajuri the country is low, but still considerably higher than the 

 Amazonian bottom. Just east of the Monte- Alegre highlands these 

 higher grounds do not come down to the river, but their margin, 

 once an old shore-line, describes a strong curve forming a sort of bay 

 which has been silted up and converted into alluvial grassy campos, 

 while, skirting the old shore, is a long, narrow, crescent-shaped 

 lake, once a side-channel of the river. This alluvial bay and lake 

 put one in mind of the campos and parana-merins of Taperinha, 

 of which I hope to speak in another paper. 



From what I have seen of the Amazonian valley in the province 

 of Para, I am of the opinion that the greater part of the country 



gourd, or fruit of the Crescentia Cuyete (kuia-et6=CMia j9a?' excellence) is cut in two and the inside 

 pulp removed. When the rind is dry it is carefully scraped, both inside and out, and polished 

 with the sandpaper-like leaves of the caimb6 tree (Curaiella). A little charcoal of the wood of 

 the pao de Boia or Mututi is then scraped into the cuia, and, having been mixed with a few 

 drops of the cumat6, is rubbed over the surface of the vessel. Over this the cumat6 is applied 

 three or more times, and on being allowed to dry, forms a sort of purplish varnish. The cuias 

 are then inverted over sand on which stale urine has been sprinkled, but some persons fill them 

 with the urine and allow them to stand. The cumat6 varnish, probably affected by ammonia 

 fumes, soon turns jet black and forms a hard, brilliaut, durable lacquer, not affected by hot 

 water or rum. The cuias of Monte-Alegre are often painted in color, with very tasty and often 

 elaborate designs, by the Indian women. 



