Ascent of the Ilamikipang. 
341 
027. I possessed the Chasmarhynchus and Rupicola: I only wanted 
now the 8 tryclmos toxifera which, according to the statement of the 
Indians, is said to grow only upon Ilamikipang, one of the rooky heights 
on the western spur of the Canuku Range. My guides to Nappi also 
wanted to accompany me there. As this trip would occupy several days, 
I left Stöckle behind with my collections. On the evening before leaving, 
one of the Indians killed a fox ( Canis Azarae) which had let its pen- 
chant for the numbers of tame parrots and hens far exceed its discretion. 
Judging from the carcase it is somewhat smaller than our fox, the brush 
appearing not so hairy by far: but it differs mostly in colour. Azaia and 
Prince von Neuwied have already accurately described the beast which, 
accordingly, seems to be spread all over South America. 
92S. At sunrise w r e made a start. After we had crossed the little 
Curassawaka stream, we turned to the south west and intersected the 
dense virgin forest that repeatedly varied in the character of its vegeta- 
tion. Irregularly heaped boulder-rubble, in amongst which huge granite 
needles often made their appearance, now showed me that om route must 
just at present be running along the base of the mountain system. [The 
thickly interwoven branches and twigs also refused every sunbeam a pas- 
sage, which it only found where the storm had thrown down one of the 
huge giants, together with all its neighbours joined to it by bush-rope, 
and thus cleared away an immense space. In such situations the warming 
sunbeams had called forth an immense quantity of legume-like growths 
and other plants. The deeper swampy spots were generally occupied with 
palms; Oenocarpus Bacaba and 0. Bataua grew up in company with Maxi- 
miliana Regia and luxuriant Aroideae, amongst which I was particularly 
struck by a Dracontium on account of the curious pattern of its leaf 
stalk, wherein it quite resembled the terrible snake Trigonocephalus 
atrox. As several specimens reached Berlin alive, it was shown by the 
blossoms in the Botanical Gardens to be a new species which Professor 
Kunth named Dracontium dubium. The plant proved of still further 
interest, in that I found the belief generally spread that the squashed 
leaf stalk and root, when laid on the bite caused by that snake, is an 
excellent antidote against its effects, a property Nature bad wanted 
ns it w r ere to indicate to man in its conformation. Between the thick 
foliage of the trees and large leafy fringe that, had shot out from the 
mould of fallen leaves in between the rubble and was 3 vanning with 
innumerable flies and insects, wrn had thus covered a distance of several 
hours, when the sudden clearing and the beaten paths that several 
times crossed one another let us presume the proximity of a settlement, 
which soon came into view ahead as four miserable houses situate on 
a hill devoid of forest. In vain, however, did we look around for a 
living being, — yes, even the husky yelping of the dogs, which otherwise 
make their presence known on the slightest noise, w T as not to be heard : 
the village must be abandoned. 
929. Though the Indian is anything but intimately attached t> 
the soil which he happens to occupy, and where perhaps he was born, 
quite a trifling cause often induces him to pack up his hunting-kit as 
well as all his other belongings and seek some other place of residence, 
