336 Ascent cf the Curassawaka. 
and lime-juice are the measures which, taken at tbe beginning, prove to 
be the best* 
91S. After these more general remarks let me turn once more to my par- 
ticular surroundings. At Nappi 1 had hit upon an especially favourable 
held for collecting, and was soon in possession of a considerable number of 
birds, but the Rupicola awrantia and the Chasmarhynchus carunculatu* 
were yet always wanting: 1 still had to search for the former in its 
haunts in the very mountain itself, but this I almost missed doing, 
because none of the villagers of Aappi wanted to escort me on account of 
its being the home of the worst of the evil spirits. My promises finally 
prevailed upon live of them to accompany me on this hazardous enter- 
prise: I got away with them one morning as quickly as possible. The 
unusually large amount of dew that had fallen during the night gave me 
an opportunity of learning its signification on the part of the Macusis: 
the latter call it Star-spittle (Siriko-itaku), while the Caribs designate 
it as Star-urine. The thick virgin forest in the immediate environs of 
Xappi consisted for the most part of resin-producing trees, amongst 
which I will only mention the Humirium floribundum Mart,, the Amyris 
ambrosiaca Linn., and II ymcnaca Gourbaril Linn. The Hymenaea looks 
uncommonly like our elm. Another extremely interesting tree, on 
account of its exquisite timber, Piratinera guianensis Aubl. ( Brosimum 
A. ablet i Poep. End!.), the local letter-wood. I had got acquainted with 
already on the previous trips. The heart of this tree belongs indisputably 
to the most excellent cabinet woods, not only on account of its solidity, 
fineness, and power of taking a polish, but particularly also on account 
of its dark red colour and the deep black spots. It is a pity that the heart, 
even in a fully grown tree, has but a diameter of from five to seven 
inches. The Sidcroxylon i nenne, likewise indigenous here, offers a similar 
t imber. 
919. Only owing to the beds of certain torrents being devoid of water 
was it possible for us in several places to make headway in the vegetation 
that, was so bound up and entangld with thick growths of bush-rope. 
Certain trees were overrun with a complete network, whilst others 
seemed covered with mosses, lichens, ferns and orchids, and several 
species of Bignoniac and Passiflorae] entwined themselves up them like 
lovely branches of ivy. Though I now and again heard the enchanting 
note of the Chasmarhynchus, my eyes nevertheless in vain smght for it 
in this dense foliage. 
920. After continuing on our way for ä time with the help of these 
by-paths, and shooting several liokko hens and a beautiful species of 
Picas, the pecking of which continually resounded through the forest, 
the latter itself became clearer. We found ourselves apparently in an 
abandoned provision field now run wild, upon which a ruined house still 
remained. Its former owner, Pureka, was one of the men who accom- 
panied me. Upon this neglected piece of ground, the Musa sapientium 
* The symptom of “ constant inclination to sleep ” is puzzling. Of course sleeping 
sickness would not run so acute a course, nor would one expect violent dysentery, etc. 
Probably dullness leading to coma is meant, in which case the reference might be to 
sub-tertian Malaria, with gastro intestinal or cerebral symptoms, or perhaps to Acute 
Dysentery. (F.G.R.) 
