LIFE IN TEFFE. 



229 



however, the shore consists, first of the beach, then of a 

 broad band of tall grasses, beyond which are the lower 

 shrubs and trees, leading up, by a sort of gradation, to 

 the full forest growth. During this dry season the vege- 

 tation makes an effort to recover its lost ground ; one sees 

 the little Imbauba (Cecropia) and a kind of willow-tree 

 (Salix humboldiana), the only familiar plant we met, 

 springing up on the sand, and creeping down to the 

 water's edge, only to be destroyed again with the next 

 rise of the river. While we were walking, the boatmen 

 were dragging the net, and though not with such astonish- 

 ing success as the other day, yet it landed not only an ample 

 supply of fresh fish for breakfast, but also a number of in- 

 teresting specimens. At about eleven o'clock we turned 

 from the Solimoens into the little river on which Mr. Esto- 

 lano's fishing-lodge is situated, and in a few minutes found 

 ourselves at the pretty landing, where a rough flight of steps 

 led up to the house. In this climate a very slight shelter 

 will serve as a house. Such a dwelling is indeed nothing 

 but a vast porch ; and a very airy, pleasant, and picturesque 

 abode it makes. A palm- thatched roof to shed the rain and 

 keep off the sun, covering a platform of split logs that one 

 may have a dry floor under foot ; these, with plenty of posts 

 and rafters for the swinging of hammocks, are the essentials. 

 It was somewhat after this fashion that Major Estolano's lodge 

 was built. The back part of it consisted of one very large, 

 high chamber, to which the family retired in the hottest part 

 of the day, when the sun was most scorching ; all the rest 

 was roof and platform, the latter stretching out considerably 

 beyond the former, thus leaving an open floor on one side 

 for the stretching and drying of fish. The whole structure 

 was lifted on piles about eight feet above the ground, to 



