MARACA-UASSU 



and smooth pale bark. The leaves are similar in shape 

 to those of the horse-chestnut, but immensely larger ; 

 beneath they are white, and when the welcome trade- 

 wind blows they show their silvery undersides — a pleasant 

 signal to the weary canoe traveller. The mode of growth 

 of this tree is curious : the branches are emitted at nearly 

 right angles with the stem, the branchlets in minor whorls 

 around these, and so forth, the leaves growing at their 

 extremities ; so that the total appearance is that of a 

 huge candelabrum. Cecropiae of different species are 

 characteristic of Brazilian forest scenery ; the kind of 

 which I am speaking grows in great numbers ever^^where 

 on the banks of the Amazons where the land is low. In 

 the same places the curious Monguba tree (Bombax ceiba) 

 is also plentiful ; the dark green bark of its huge tapering 

 trunk, scored with gray, forming a conspicuous object. 

 The principal palm-tree on the low lands is the Jauari 

 (Astryocaryum Jauari), whose stem, surrounded by whorls 

 of spines, shoots up to a great height. On the borders 

 of the island were large tracts of arrow-grass (Gynerium 

 saccharoides), which bears elegant plumes of flowers, like 

 those of the reed, and grows to a height of twenty feet, 

 the leaves arranged in a fan-shaped figure near the middle 

 of the stem. I was surprised to find on the higher parts 

 of the sand-bank the familiar foliage of a willow (Salix 

 Humboldtiana). It is a dwarf species, and grows in 

 patches resembling beds of osiers ; as in the English 

 willows, the leaves were peopled by small chrysomelideous 

 beetles. In wandering about, many features reminded 

 me of the seashore. FJocks of white gulls were flying 

 overhead, uttering their well-known cry, and sandpipers 

 coursed along the edge of the water. Here and there 

 lonely wading-birds were stalking about ; one of these, 

 the Curicaca (Ibis melanopis), flew up with a loud cackling 

 noise, and was soon joined by a unicorn bird (Palamedea 

 cornuta), which I startled up from amidst the bushes, 

 whose harsh screams, resembling the bray of a jackass, 

 but shriller, disturbed unpleasantly the solitude of the 

 place. Amongst the willow bushes were flocks of a 

 handsome bird belonging to the Icteridse or troupali 

 family, adorned with a rich plumage of black and saffron- 

 yellow. I spent some time watching an assemblage of a 

 species of bird called by the natives Tamburi-para, on 

 the Cecropia trees. It is the Monasa nigrifrons of orni- 



