270 THE LOWER AMAZONS. Chap. VII. 



grown in other parts of tropical America. The Amazons 

 region is the original home of the principal species of 

 chocolate tree, the Theobroma cacao ; and it grows in 

 abundance in the forests of the upper river. The culti- 

 vated crop appears to be a precarious one ; little or no 

 care, however, is bestowed on the trees, and even weed- 

 ing is done very inefficiently. The plantations are 

 generally old, and have been made on the low ground 

 near the river, which renders them liable to inundation 

 when this rises a few inches more than the average. 

 There is plenty of higher land quite suitable to the tree, 

 but it is uncleared, and the want of labour and enter- 

 prise prevents the establishment of new plantations.* 



We passed the last houses in the Obydos district on 

 the 20th, and the river scenery then resumed its usual 

 wild and solitary character, which the scattered human 

 habitations relieved, although in a small degree. We 

 soon fell into a regular mode of life on board our little 

 ark. Penna would not travel by night ; indeed, our small 

 crew, wearied by the day's labour, required rest, and we 

 very rarely had wind in the night. We used to moor the 

 vessel to a tree, giving out plenty of cable, so as to sleep 

 at a distance from the banks and free of mosquitoes, 

 which although swarming in the forest, rarely came 



* Next to india-rul)ber, cacao is the chief article of exportation from 

 Para. The yield, however, varies greatly in different years. The 

 price also fluctuates considerably, and does not follow the abundance or 

 scarcity of the crop. The following valuation of exports of the article 

 is taken from an official statement of exports, given me by Mr. Bailey, 

 U. S. Consul at Para. In 1856, £99,247 7s. 9d ; 1857, £208,926 ; 

 1858, £133,013 8.s. The quantity in weight exported was in 1856, 

 4,343,1361b. ; in 1857, 7,428,4801b. 



