2IO A VOYAGE TO Book V. 



joint which happens to be empty, the two contiguous 

 ones have water j and this is commonly the cafe in 

 almoft all the canes. This water is faid to be an ex- 

 cellent prefervative againft the ill confequence of any 

 bruifes ; at leafl: it is drunk as fuch by all who come 

 from the mountains, where fuch accidents are unavoid- 

 able. - . 



The canes being cut, they are left to dry, or, as 

 they fay here, to be cured •, whence they acquire fuch 

 a degree of itrength, that they ferve either for rafters, 

 beams, flooring, or even mails for balzas. Ships 

 -which load with cacao are alfo cieled with them,, to 

 preferve the timbers from the great heat of that fruits 

 They are alfo ufed as poles for litters, and in an in- 

 finite number of other particulars. 



The vijahua is a leaf generally five feet in lengthy 

 and two and a half in breadth. They grow wild, and 

 without any ftem. The principal rib in the middle^ 

 is between four or five lines in breadth, but all the 

 other parts of the leaf are perfedlly foft and fmooth : 

 the under fide is green, and the upper white, covered 

 with a very fine white and vifcid down. Befides the 

 common ufe of it in coverino- houfes, it alfo ferves 

 for packing up fak, fiili, and other goods fent to the 

 mountains : as it fecures them from the rain. They 

 are alfo, in thefe defert places, of fmgular ufe for run- 

 iiing up huts on any exigency. 



The bejucos are a kind of ligneous cordage, and of 

 two kinds ; one growing from the earth, and twining 

 round trees the other ilrike their roots into certain 

 trees : and from thence derive their nourilhmenr. 

 Both kinds, after growing to a great height, incline 

 again to the earth, on which they creep till they meet 

 with another tree, to the top of which they climb as 

 before, and then again renew their inclination towards 

 the earth ^ and thus form a labyrinth of ligatures. 

 Some are even feen extended from the top of one tree 

 to another^ like a cord. They are fo remarkably 



ficxile. 



