256 



hundred and ten feet high. Their trunks throw- 

 ing out branches only toward the summit, we 

 had some trouble in procuring at the same time 

 leaves and flowers. The latter were frequently 

 strewed upon the ground at the foot of the trees ; 

 but, the plants of different families being grouped 

 together in these forests, and every tree being 

 covered with lianas, it appeared dangerous to 

 rely on the sole authority of the natives, when 

 they assured us, that a flower belonged to such 

 or such a tree. Amid these riches of nature, 

 herborizations caused us more chagrin than sa- 

 tisfaction. What we could gather appeared to 

 us little interesting, compared to what we could 

 not reach. It rained unceasingly during several 

 months, and Mr. Bonpland lost the greater part 

 of the specimens, which he had been compelled 

 to dry by artificial heat. Our Indians named 

 the trees, as usual, on chewing the wood. They 

 distinguished the leaves better than the corollae 

 or the fruit. Occupied in seeking timber for 

 building (trunks for canoes), they are little at- 

 tentive to the flowers. "All those great trees 

 bear neither flowers nor fruits," the Indians re^ 

 peated unceasingly. Like the botanists of an- 

 tiquity, they denied what they had not taken 

 the trouble to observe. They were tired with our 

 questions, and exhausted our patience in turn. 



We have mentioned above, that, the same 

 chemical properties being sometimes found in 



