334 NOTES OF A BOTANIST 
there is but one^ partial flood, which the people call 
the Boia-assii, and are accustomed to look for in 
November or December ; but this season, as is 
seen above, there were three partial floods, viz. — 
From Nov. 20 to Dec. 5. 
„ Dec. 19 „ Dec. 31. 
„ Feb. 5 „ Feb. 15. 
So that no one could say to which of these the 
term Boia-assii should be applied. . . . 
[The following notes from the Journal and letters 
of the characteristic features of the vegetation 
observed on the shores of the Uaupes will be of 
interest to botanists.] 
To M7^. George Bentham 
San Carlos, Venezuela, /z^/?^ 25, 1853. 
You will find a great many interesting things in the collection, 
especially among Triuridese, Burmanniacese, and Voyrieae. I 
hope you will be satisfied with Triuridese, which sometimes exceed 
4 feet in height ! I do not know whether any one has seen an 
affinity of these plants with figs. To me it seems striking, but I 
have not time to specify the reasons on which my opinion is 
based. I got at least five distinct species on the Uaupes. The 
Burmanniacese are more numerous, but the individuals (like those 
of Triuridese) grew widely and rarely dispersed through the forest, 
and some of them were gathered by only two or three specimens 
at a time : only two species could be called common. When 
growing they are easily distinguished, notwithstanding their 
minuteness, by their colour and by the notchings of the perianth, 
and on examination good characters are found in the structure of 
the anthers and stigmas, especially in the tail-like appendages 
of the latter (wanting in some species). The species of one- 
flowered Voyrias seem almost endless, but some of them were 
very scarce. 
By means of fish-hooks, Jew's harps, and beads I was able to 
enlist a troop of little Indians in the search for these plants, and 
they were a great help to me, especially when I could go into the 
forest with them and point out what I wanted. They were also 
