424 NOTES OF A BOTANIST 
At the very mouth, and especially on the opposite 
shore of the Casiquiari, a long range of lofty moun- 
tains is visible (Aracamuni). It was not until the 
2nd of February that we again caught sight of it. 
Towards evening of the fifth day (January 31) we 
reached the lower or principal mouth of the Baria, 
a large cano coming in from the south, from which the 
Cauabon's may be reached by a short portage. . . . 
As far as the mouth of the Baria, and for a day's 
journey above it, the forest is all low (30 to 50 feet), 
and generally inundated for a great breadth, so that 
it is difficult to find a piece of dry ground whereon 
to cook ; and we went one day till after midday ere 
we could prepare our breakfast, having started con- 
siderably before daybreak. Higher up there is land 
not inundated, and higher forest, but still caatinga 
predominates. 
At the time of my ascent nearly everything was out of 
flower. . . . 
The vegetation was very similar to that of the Guainia, and 
almost identical with that of the Vasiva, as nearly all the plants of 
the Vasiva were repeated on the Pacimoni. Perhaps nothing was 
more abundant on all three than a large-leaved Terminalia, not 
yet seen in good flower or fruit. Parkia americana (Mimoseae) 
was exceedingly frequent, always hanging over the water's edge, 
and very ornamental from its large pendulous crimson tassels. I 
only saw one palm to above the mouth of the Baria, viz. J.ara, 
apparently the species common in the islands of the Rio Negro. . . . 
At the wide mouths of the lagoons were beds of Palo de Balsa 
and clustered Jara. No doubt these are left dry when there is a 
regular summer. 
On February 2 I met the first nutmeg, with slender acuminate 
leaves. Palms appeared simultaneously with nutmegs — Bacaba, 
Inaja, Assai. In the caatinga I saw only Jara. Both palms and 
nutmegs are signals of better soil, the forest is loftier, and there 
is little gapo. Up to this place there was no soil suitable for 
Yuca. On the 3rd and 4th we passed three cunucos, the owners 
of which reside in Santa Cruz. 
