Chap. IV. TIC-NIC PARTY. 131 



were very vague. All said that the tree was plentiful 

 somewhere, but no one could fix on the precise locality. 

 I believe that the cedar grows, like all other forest trees, 

 in a scattered way, and not in masses anywhere. The 

 fact of its being the principal tree observed floating 

 down with the current of the Amazons is to be explained 

 by its wood being much lighter than that of the majority 

 of trees. Wlien the banks are washed away by currents, 

 trees of all species fall into the river ; but the heavier 

 ones, which are the most numerous, sink, and the 

 lighter, such as the cedar, alone float do^vn to the 

 sea. 



Mr. Leavens was told that there were cedar trees at 

 Trocara, on the opposite side of the river, near some 

 fine rounded hills covered with forest, visible from Patos ; 

 so there we went. We found here several families 

 encamped in a delightful spot. The shore sloped gi'a- 

 dually down to the water, and was shaded by a few 

 wide-spreading trees. There was no underwood. A 

 great number of hammocks were seen slung between 

 the tree-trunks, and the litter of a numerous house- 

 hold lay scattered about. AVomen, old and young, some 

 of the latter very good-looking, and a large number of 

 children, besides pet animals, enlivened the encampment. 

 They were all half-breeds, simple, well-disposed people, 

 and explained to us that they were inhabitants of 

 Cameta, who had come thus far, eighty miles, to spend 

 the summer months. ' The only motive they could give 

 for coming was, that " it was so hot in the town in the 

 verao (summer), and they were all so fond of fresh fish." 

 Thus these simple folks think nothing of leaving home 



K 2 



