290 NOTES OF A BOTANIST 
though its summit was forest-clad. This will serve 
to explain why he afterwards rarely ascended such 
mountains, and even made no attempt to ascend the 
great mountain of Duida on the Upper Orinoco, 
though when he left the Lower Amazon he had 
spoken of making an attempt to "rifle its botanical 
treasures." 
I print also a detailed description of a native 
Indian festival, because a large number of readers 
are interested in the customs and folklore of 
savage peoples.] 
To Mr, George Bentham 
Sao Gabriel, Rio Negro, AprHl 15, 1852. 
I found it a great advantage travelling in my 
own canoe. I had it fitted up so that I could work 
comfortably and stow away my plants when dried, 
besides being able to dry my paper on the top of 
the cabins when it was inconvenient to stop in the 
middle of the day. I was also master of my own 
movements ; could stop where and when I liked, 
save that it was necessary to keep the Indians in 
good humour. When the weather was cool they 
did not like to be interrupted in pulling, but when 
they were toiling under a hot sun they rather liked 
a stoppage now and then. Towards the end of 
the voyage they got into the habit of peering into 
the trees as we went along in the hot afternoons, 
and would call out to me — busy among my papers 
in the cabin — O patrao ! aikue potera poranga " 
(''Patron! here's a pretty flower"). I of course 
turned out to see if it was anything new, as it 
often proved to be. 
