PIC-NIC PARTY 



87 



of wages to go on such an expedition. The reports as 

 to the existence of cedar were very vague. All said that 

 the tree was plentiful somewhere, but no one could fix 

 on the precise locaUty. 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. When 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 down 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 en- 

 camped in a delightful spot. The shore sloped gradually 

 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 household lay scattered about. 

 Women, 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 eomc 

 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 and business to 

 come on a three months' pic-nic. It is the annual custom 

 of this class of people throughout the province to spend a 

 few months of the fine season in the wilder parts of the 

 country. They carry with them all the farinha they can 

 scrape together, this being the only article of food 

 necessary to provide. The men hunt and fish for the day's 

 wants, and sometimes collect a little India-rubber, 

 sarsaparilla, or copaiba oil, to sell to traders on their re- 

 turn ; the women assist in paddling the canoes, do the 

 cooking, and sometimes fish with rod and line. The 

 weather is enjoyable the whole time, and so days and 

 weeks pass happily away. 



