126 KENNEDY^S EXPEDITION. 



spines — and long tendrils growing out of the stem 

 alternately with the leaves, many of them twenty 

 feet long, covered with strong spines slightly curved 

 downward, by which the shoots are supported in 

 their rambling growth. They lay hold of the sur- 

 rounding bushes and branches of trees, often covering 

 the tops of the tallest, and turning in all directions. 

 The seed is a small hard nut, with a thin scaly 

 covering, and is produced in great abundance. 



The shoots, which are remarkably tough, I after- 

 wards found were used by the natives in making 

 their canoes. These canoes are small, and con- 

 structed of bark, with a small sapling on each side 

 to strengthen them, the ends of which are tied 

 together with these shoots. 



The growth of this plant forms one of the greatest 

 obstacles to travelling in the bush in this district. 

 It forms a dense thicket, into which it is impossible 

 to penetrate without first cutting it away, and a 

 person once entangled in its long tendrils has much 

 difficulty in extricating himself, as they lay hold of 

 everything they touch. On entering the swamp to 

 examine plants, I was caught by them, and became 

 so much entangled before I was aware of it, that it 

 took me nearly an hour to get clear, although I had 

 entered but a few yards. No sooner did I cut one 

 tendi'il, than two or three others clung- around me 

 at the first attempt to move, and where they once 

 clasp they are very difficult to unloose. Abundance 

 of the shoots, fi-om fifteen to twenty feet long-, free 



