409 



cognized in these signs an approaching change 

 of the weather ; and were unwilling to go far 

 from the mouth of the Cassiquiare, in the hope of 

 observing during the following night the passage 

 of some star over the meridian. We discovered 

 the Canno Daquiapo to the south, the Guacha- 

 paru to the north, and a few miles farther the 

 rapids of Cananivacari. The velocity of the cur- 

 rent being 6*3 feet in a second, we had to 

 st uggle against the turbulent waves of the 

 Randal. We went on shore, and M. Bonpland 

 discovered within a few steps of the beach an 

 almendron*, or majestic bertholletia excelsa. 

 The Indians assured us, that the existence of 

 this valuable plant of the banks of the Cassi- 

 quiare was unknown at San Francisco Solano, 

 Vasiva, and Esmeralda. They did not think, 

 that this tree, which was more than sixty feet 

 high, had been sown accidentally by some tra- 

 veller. Experiments made at San Carlos have 

 shown how rare it is, to succeed in causing the 

 bertholletia to germinate, on account of it's lig- 

 neous pericarp, and the oil contained in it's nut, 

 which so easily becomes rancid. Perhaps this 

 tree denoted the existence of a forest of berthol- 

 letia in the inland country on the east and north- 

 east. We know at least with certainty, that 

 this fine tree grows wild in the latitude of three 



Juvia. 



