5 
R. Schombufgk^ Dr. Phil. 
the beautiful white flowers of the Ligas, next to the scarlet of 
the handsome Combretum laxum^ Aubl., and Cacoutia coccinea, 
AubL, were especially attractive, and a sure sign that the 
saline waters had nearly ceased to have any influence on the 
vegetation, although the effect of the ebb and flood tide was 
observable only with the difference that it was found to be 
about forty minutes later than in the lower part of the river, 
and showed only five and a-half hours flood and only five 
hours ebb. 
Every stroke of the oars taking us forward showed us 
the banks in a new charm, the Inga bushes changed with 
surprising iridescence with Dichonsanclra Aubletiana, Schult., 
Jasticia coccinea^ AubL, Ucriana Sumboldtii, Spreng., and 
LisiantJius coeriilescens^ Aubl. Dense masses of 8permacoce 
longifiora, AubL, formed a beautiful carpet along the banks, 
while the gorgeous flowers of the CaroUnea princeps, Lin., 
were observed already in the distance, and their branches 
were bowed down by the weight of their large heavy fruits. 
The peculiarly formed white flowers of the Marcgravia 
wmbellataj Lin., were nearly immersed in the water, and 
their congener Noranta guianensis, AubL, proudly overran, 
with its gorgeous flowers, the highest tops of the trees. A 
number of the elegant, but very prickly palm, Bactris acan- 
thocarpa, Mart., with their red fruits enhanced the lovely 
picture before us. 
In the background towered the graceful Truly palm, 
Manicaria saccifera, Gaert. Not alone is the fruit used for 
food by the Indians, but its gigantic leaves are employed as 
the best thatch by the Indians as well as the colonists, and 
forms a great and important commerce in the colony ; but it 
furnishes also the Indians with clothes. Underneath the 
outer bark of the stem is a layer of fibrous matter similar to 
coarse canvass, which is easily stripped off the stem after 
beating it with a stick. The Indians cut it to the required 
lengths, make arm holes, then sow the sleeves on, and the 
shirt is ready. 
Gigantic trees appeared, .Lecytlm parmflora Aubl., Dimorpha 
grandijiora, Willd., 8imrt%ia tomentosa, Dec., Byrsonima altiss- 
ma, Dec., Eperua falcata, Aubl., and the green heart of the 
colonists, Nectandra Rodiei, Schomb., one of the most iiseful 
timber trees which Guiana possesses. The seeds, the size of 
a walnut, possess a strong bitter, which has been extracted 
and been used with great advantage as a powerful febrifuge. 
