65 
cover a tree that only a splendid mass of purple or red was 
visible. Many fragrant flowers occurred and in such abundance 
as to perfume the whole surrounding forest. 
San Buena Ventura is just outside the last foothills extending 
from the great table-land to the westward, and eastward is an 
almost unbroken forest reaching to the Atlantic. There are oc- 
casional openings near the foothills that gradually increase in size 
and frequency southward till they join the pampas of the Argen- 
Fic. 7. River balsa of Cork-wood on Mapiri River. 
tine, but in central Bolivia they are not extensive, often only a 
mile or two across. These open places are known as pajonales 
and often have more or less standing watey over their surface with 
luxuriant grasses and sedges everywhere. Occasionally some 
round-topped tree grows out from the circling forest, and low hills 
of sand.rise here and there overgrown with brush, while hand- 
some flowers peep out between tufts of grass and along the borders 
of the woods, the whole making a delightful change after riding 
