PALMS. 



301 



dwelling are formed by the straight cylindrical stems of the 

 Jara Palm; the roof is thatched with large triangular 

 leaves neatly arranged in regular alternate rows, and hound 

 to the roof with forest creepers : the leaves are those of the 

 Carana' Palm. The door of his house is a framework of 

 thin hard strips of wood neatly thatched over with the split 

 stems of a species of Palm. In one corner stands a heavy 

 harpoon for catching fish, made of the black wood of the 

 Pasliiuba variegata. By its side is a blowpipe ten or twelve 

 feet long, and hanging near it a little quiverful of small 

 poisoned arrows, with which the Indian brings down birds 

 for his food, or for the sake of their gay feathers, or even 

 slays the wild Hog or Tapir ; it is from the fierce spines of 

 two species of Palm that they are made. His great bassoon- 

 like musical instruments are made of Palm stems ; the cloth 

 in which he wraps his most valued feather ornaments is a 

 fibrous Palm spathe ; and the rude chest in which he keeps 

 his treasures is woven from Palm leaves. His hammock^ 

 his bow-string, and his fishing-line are from the fibres of 

 leaves which he obtains from diflTerent Palm trees, according 

 to the qualities he requires in them. The comb which he 

 wears on his head is ingeniously constructed of the hard 

 bark of a Palm ; and he makes fish-hooks of the spines, or 

 uses them to puncture on his skin the peculiar markings of 

 his tribe. His children eat the red and golden fruit of the 

 Peach Palm, and from another species he prepares a 

 favourite drink which he offers you to taste. The carefully 

 suspended gourd contains oil which he has extracted from 

 the fruit of another species. The plaited cylinder used for 

 squeezing dry the pulp that makes his bread is made of the 

 bark of one of the singular climbing Palms. 



What veneration this man must have for the noble 

 family of Palms, which not only furnishes him with manv 

 comforts and conveniences, but affords him a choice, so 

 that he nicely selects the kinds that best suit his wants. 

 Should we wonder if Palm worship were a common creed on 

 the Eio Negro ? At least let us hope that they never kneel 

 down to a carved idol while such living benefactors as 

 those generous Palms are to be found! These manifold 



