Chap. II. CEDAR-AVOOD. 85 



which is named cedar on account of the similarity of 

 its aroma to that of the tnie cedars, is not, of course, a 

 coniferous tree, as no member of that class is found in 

 equatorial America, at least in the Amazons region. It 

 is, according to Von Martius, the Cedrela odorata, an 

 exogen belonging to the same order as the mahogany 

 tree. The wood is light, and the tree is therefore, 

 on falling into the water, floated down with the river 

 cuiTents. It must gi'ow in great quantities somewhere 

 in the interior, to judge from the number of uprooted 

 trees annually carried to the sea, and as the wood is 

 much esteemed for cabinet work and canoe buildinof, it 

 is of some importance to learn where a regular supply 

 can be obtained. We were glad, of course, to arrange 

 with Mr. Leavens, who was familiar with the language, 

 •and an adept in river-navigation ; so we returned to 

 Para to ship our collections for England, and prepare 

 for the journey to a new region. 



