MANGROVE. 165 



tract of land; but, contrary to the nature of every 

 other forest tree, they require a soil which is con- 

 tinually overflowed. The shores of Terra Firma 

 are therefore covered with them in many parts, and 

 they even extend far inland. Shallow and rapid 

 rivers also are often concealed from the eye by 

 their thickly-interwoven branches, some of which 

 spread almost horizontally, while others rise to the 

 height of eighteen or twenty feet, and so closely 

 are they entwined, and so firm a footing is made by 

 their interlacing boughs, that were it possible to 

 force a way between them, a traveller might safely 

 step from branch to branch across the stream. It is 

 curious to watch the progress of a mangrove forest, 

 the citadel of innumerable monkeys. No sooner 

 does a tree appear above the ground, than knotty 

 and distorted branches rapidly spring forth, and 

 from each knot arises a multitude of others, which 

 form an impenetrable thicket. Nor is it possible, 

 long to discern the shoots belonging to the principal 

 branches, for those of the fifth and sixth production 

 are equal in magnitude to those of the first, each of 

 which are generally an inch and a half, or two inches 

 in diameter, and so closely are they often entwined, 

 that the only method of severing them is by means 

 of some edged tool. The bark is tough and thick, 

 and the leaves of a pale green; but the wood is 

 solid, and so heavy that it sinks in water, and when 

 used for building ships is extremely durable. 



Armadilloes belong to the southern regions of 

 America, to Brazil, Paraguay, and Guiana. D'Azara 

 mentions eight species of this extraordinary family; 



