Maraeen Balsam. 
5 
that had steadily kept ahead with the Indians, reached Pirara mouth. 
Many of those left behind only came in late at night, while the remainder, 
and this was the greater number of negroes and Germans, only arrived on 
the following morning. We had done seventeen miles which, under a tem- 
perature of 125 — 130" F. and over a savannali without any shelter, was 
far from being so insignificant as it might seem . 
9. The widely spreading branches and densely-foliaged top of a large 
Mararen tree {Co pa if era Jacqiiini Desf.) Avhieli stood at a short distance 
from Pirara mouth, but quite close to its bank, and on the monstrous 
trunk of which the numerous scars, old and new, showed how often its 
gum had been taken possession of, while the ground cleared of all under- 
growth indicated how generally it must have been used for a landing 
stage — likewise promised us the wished-for .shelter, and we immediately 
picked it for our camp . 
10 . While Pirara was in possession of the Brazilians, there was active 
communication between them and the people on the Rio Branco and Fort 
Sao Joaquim : this was interrupted only dui'ing the diy season owing to 
the want of water in the Pirara, becatise at this time of the year t]ie folk 
on the Bio Branco cannot bring their Ing corials further than here. 
11. To collect Mararen balsam the Indians hack a deep cut halfway 
round the lower portion of the trunk, till it reaches down to the core. In 
certain months, particularly Feliruary and Marcli. the resinous sap floAvs 
out in quantity and fills the cavity out of which it is drained from time 
to time. We also found the cuts filled, and innumerable Avasps and flies 
collected around. Could the former, per-haps, l)e using the balsam as a 
binding-material for their nests? Except for wounds and for anointing 
the body and hair, the Indians do not use the balsam for anything fur- 
ther, because all tliose devastating diseases in the healing of whicli it was 
previously generally employed are still foreign to them : they only collect 
it at the present time because it has become known as an article of barter 
that is enquired for and easily obtained. In the immediate vicinity of our 
camp several Tonfelia trees equally interested me from the very first on 
nreount of the rich coloun'ng of their flowers. On subsequent investiga- 
tion they turned out to l)e new species, and Toni r] in f/iiianrnHs Klotzsch 
was my first find on the Pirara.. The opposite bank of the river rose 
perpendicularly to a height of 20 to 30 feet. 
12. Although during the course of the following day two small corials 
were found by the Indians under the shrub along the riverside, they 
seemed in such a miserable condition that we would not have trusted 
even our less valuable baggage in them Avithout previous substantial 
repairs. These could l>e effected at our leisure as three days' rest at 
least Avere required to see Avhat effect the land transport had exercised 
on both chronometers, which were kept in a small tin canister, that had 
been carried by the most relialde of tlM^ Germans, one Reiter, liy means 
of a strap over his shoulder. The corials could consequently be repaired 
by the time we made a fresh start, and as the Cnratella americana on 
account of its crooked groAvth, supplied us with most excellent "knee" 
timbers, it was without any great trouble that we were able to give the 
vessels the necessary stahility. The uniformly crooked branchef? of thii^ 
