94 Travels and Adventures 



it is impossible to use oars except for crossing ; but 

 the labour of pushing the boat along by the sand-bank 

 is more tiring, so much so that no European would be 

 able to endure it for more than a few days. In the 

 forenoon I had excellent shooting from amongst a 

 flock of parrots and water-fowl. The banks of the 

 river were alive with the beautiful egret-cranes, and 

 the trees full of macaws, some scarlet and blue, some 

 blue and yellow. About mid-day we partook of our 

 usual rations of fish and bananas, with palm-wine. 

 The process of making the palm-wine is somewhat 

 curious. The largest of the trees are selected and cut 

 down ; then, when the tree is laid flat, the whole of 

 the leaves which fall uppermost are cut away until the 

 white young growth in the middle of the tree is laid 

 bare. Out of this part a large, square piece is cut, 

 sufficient to leave a hollow which will hold at least a 

 quart of water ; then the hollow is carefully covered 

 over and the palm-wine maker waits until next morn- 

 ing. As a rule, when he returns he finds the cavity 

 filled with a whitish liquor, having the appearance 

 and taste of lemonade, only a little sour, but very 

 refreshing and beneficial. 



About three o'clock we arrived at a small station 

 of two or three huts. Here the natives learned that 

 there was a herd of wild swine in the vicinity, so all 

 progress up the river was stopped, as the boatmen 



