Travels in the Brazils. 



45 



it seems certain, according to M. sellow's opinion, that tliistree 

 does not belong to the genus of the cocoa. The green pinmilce 

 have very strong firm fibres ; when the leaf is broken, the upper 

 green skm draws off^", and the fibres hang free ; these are twisted 

 into strong fine green strings, of which particularly beautiful fishing 

 nets are made. 



This palm grows here plentifully, and bears small, hard, black 

 nuts, containing an eatable kernel. From another species they 

 take thfe inner leaf before it is unfolded, draw o-W the sheath, and 

 separate the leaves, which are adhering together by means of a 

 sticky juice, with which they cover houses ; they also make neat 

 mats with them. We found in these dark forests the ipS tree, 

 covered with deep yellow flowers, and another hi^nonia^ with 

 large white blossoms, grew in the marshes. The proud sapucaya- 

 tree (lecytJiis oUaria^ Linn.^, which towers high above the giants 

 of the woods, has small leaves and large fruit, hanging down like 

 pots, and which actually open by a lid, and pour out their large 

 edible kernel ; the monkies, especially the large red and blue ara- 

 ras ( psktacus macao and ararauna^ Linn. J are very fond of them. 

 It is,' however, difficült to obtain this fruit ; for that purpose the 

 tree is commonly cut down. The Indians climb it, particularly by 

 means of the creeping plants or cz/?o.y,which very much facilitate the 

 ascent. On another hunting excursion, we examined the blossoms 

 of a palm-tree, which, according to M. sel low's conviction, is of 

 a new genus. Its fine yellow blossom clusters hung dow^n, gently 

 curved ; the spatlia was large, of the shape of a boat, and as weil as 

 the feathered leaves, remarkably beautiful. On felling the tree, 

 we found the wood very hard, but on reaching the porous k£;rnel, 

 it fell immediately. 



On the 16th we took leave of the family of our kind host, and 

 entered on our journey to Macaht. From Tapebucu to the river 

 MaccJiL the road leads lor four lagoas through a deep sand, al- 

 most uninterruptedly, along the sea-shore ; on some rocky points, 

 projecting here and there into the sea, we discovered a great quan- 

 tity of mosses and mussels ; there was, however, little variety in 

 them. The wind was very high on this spot, and the sea broke 

 itself with great violence against the sliore. A range of hills ris- 

 ing from the sandy beach (praya) was covered with fine species of 

 trees and shrubs^ which were kept down by the v/ind, and appear- 

 ed as if they had been clipped ; among these w^e found a large 

 white-blossomed passion flower, of the square cactus, likewise 

 with white flowers. 



It was now spring, and we had hitherto found the weather ra- 

 .ther cool, and never warmer than it usually is in Germany on 

 .warm summer-days. The last 3 miles and a half of the journey led 

 •through a thick forest, where we shot tucane, arässaris and the 

 ■sinall blackish QnQkoO'(^ucuIu^ tenebrosUs). Tdany species of treeis 



