Chap. IV. 



ASSAl PALM. 



123 



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formed with it a great expanse of water, 

 here seem to form 

 two pretty regu- 

 lar Hnes, dividing 

 the great river 

 into three chan- 

 nels. As we pro- 

 gressed slowly, we took the 

 montaria, and went ashore, 

 from time to time, to the 

 houses, which were numerous 

 on the river banks as well as 

 on the larger islands. In low 

 situations they had a very unfi- 

 nished appearance, being mere 

 frameworks raised high on 

 wooden piles, and thatched 

 with the leaves of the XJbussu 

 palm. In their construction 

 another palm-tree is made much 

 use of, viz., the Assai (Euterpe 

 oleracea). The outer part of 

 the stem of this species is 

 hard and tough as horn ; it is 

 split into narrow planks, and 

 these form a great portion of 

 the walls and flooring. The 

 residents told us that the west- 

 ern channel becomes nearly dry 

 in the middle of the fine season, 

 but that at high water, in April 



The islands 



;sv*^;^ 



Assai Palm (Euterpe oleracea). 



