AND AMONG THE BOTOCUDOS. 



299 



only is left in the middle for canoes. The stream darts through 

 rapidly, and then falls smoothly over the rocks; this is the place 

 which is called the Cachoeirinha, or the little fall. The force of the 

 rushing mass of water has hollowed out in the rocks, in the most 

 singular manner, round openings, some of them of surprising regu- 

 larity. I had a large canoe, which was managed by two Botocudos, 

 Jukeracke and Aho, and one of my people ; but the current was so 

 rapid [here that all these were not able to push the canoe so near to 

 the fall as I wished. In going up the river, the canoes are drawn 

 over this and similar places, but coming down they are guided over 

 them by the soldiers of the Quartels, who are well acquainted with 

 the local circumstances of this country. When the water is high, the 

 boats glide almost without danger and very rapidly over the obsta- 

 cles, which, when the water is low, are often dangerous even for ex- 

 perienced boatmen. At such times, when the cliffs appear as they 

 now did, this place reminds the spectator of similar picturesque 

 scenery in Switzerland. 



Many interesting species of plants grow here : among others a 

 willow-like shrub, called by the inhabitants ciriha, probably a croton ; 

 it has very tough branches, which best serve for the boatman to hold 

 fast by, when his boat is impelled by a moderate current. This ciriba 

 appears to be the only substitute for the willow genus, on the east 

 coast of Brazil ; at least I did not find a single species of that family 

 in all the part through which I travelled. Here likewise grows a 

 shrub with white tufts of flowers, which exhale a very agreeable per- 

 fume like cloves, and another very pretty plant that appears to have 

 an affinity with the genus scabiosa, and the pink flowers of which 

 adorn the bare grey ancient rocks. Several bignonias overhung the 

 river ; they were loaded with large beautiful violet-coloured flowers 

 which appear before the leaves, and were just opening. 



No quadrupeds are seen here, nor any birds, except several species 



