EXCURSION ON THE RIO NEGRO. 



329 



which always encloses the stern of an Indian montaria, 

 and were safe. Even this, in the open river, would not 

 be a protection ; but, moored as the boats are in the midst 

 of a thick wood, they do not receive the full force of the 

 showers. In returning from our walk we stopped at a 

 house where an Indian was making palm-thatch from the 

 leaflets of the Curua palm. When quite young, they are 

 packed closely around the midrib. The Indians turn them 

 down, leaving them attached to the axis by a few fibres 

 only, so that, when the midrib is held up, they hang from 

 it like so many straw-colored ribands, being, at that age, 

 of a very delicate color. With these leaves they thatch 

 their walls and roofs, setting the midrib, which is strong 

 and sometimes four or five yards long, across, to serve as 

 a support, and binding down the pendent leaves. Such a 

 thatch will last for years, and is an excellent protection 

 from rain as well as sun. I should add, that, in other 

 parts of the country, different kinds of palms are used for 

 this purpose. 



On our return to the village we were met by the padre, 

 who invited us to rest at his house, stopping on the way, 

 at our request, to show us the church. The condition of 

 a settlement is generally indicated by the state of the 

 church. This one was sadly in want of repairs, the mud 

 walls being pierced with more windows than they were 

 originally intended to possess ; but the interior was neat, 

 and the altar prettier than one would expect to find in 

 so poor a place as Pedreira appears to be. Perhaps the 

 church was in better order than usual, being indeed in 

 festival trim. Christmas week was not yet over, and the 

 baby Christ lay on his green bed in a little arbor of leaves 

 and flowers, evidently made expressly for the purpose. 



