7 
cane prevents their dead booty from sinking in the water. Their nets and hammocks of the fibre of an Agave'*' 
are very well wrought; so are their baskets, w’hich they colour with their native dye-woods. For his 
nourishment an Indian wants but a few Plantains (Musa paradisiaca"*^), Cocos palms (Cocos nuciferat), Yuccas 
(Manihot Aipi) ; occasionally he grows some Oranges, Papayas and other refreshing fruit-trees around his hut, 
which is generally shaded by mighty Ceybas (Bombax Ceyba) (Bombacineae),' by Hura crepitans^ (Euphorbiaceae), 
and Persea cinnamomifoliat (Laurineae)^ Maize and Sugar-cane, which latter is generally consumed in a raw 
state, he cultivates according to his wants, and he exchanges the produce of his chase and of his field for the 
most necessary articles of dress, straw-mats, tobacco and some earthenware, brought to him by river-faring 
tradesmen. 
The Indians either dwell in detached huts on the banks of the Magdalena, in the profoundest solitude of 
primeval forest, or they live together in small villages. They never cut out more of the forest than is just 
wanted for their huts and their small plantations, which is very little if compared to the space wanted by a man 
in northern climes to grow his necessary food. 
Shrubs of Bunchosia Hartwegiana (Malpighiaceee), Amyris sylvatica (Amyrideae), Guazuma tomentosa 
(Biittneriaceae),^ Psychotria acuminata (Cinchonaceae), Tabernemontana grandiflora (Apocyneae),^ Callicarpa 
(Verbenaceae) and the creeping Smilax officinalis grow exuberantly into the plantations, as also the Luzula 
gigantea, Juncus prolifera and J. microcephalus (J uncaceae),’ Melanthera Linnaei (Compositae),® Sida althaeifolia 
(Malvaceae),' Cuphea spicata (Lythrarieae), Callisia ciliata (Commelinem),® Artanthe appendiculata (Piperaceae), 
and, having originally been planted, but now growing wild. Cassia occidentalis (Caesalpineae) whose seeds, when 
ripe, are gathered, roasted and used in Nare as a stomach-strengthening beverage (according to General 
O’Leary “ wild Coffea”). Indies bravos, i. e, wild Indians, still live in the deepest forest, but the traveller 
does not come into contact with them. The Indians who are met with in the settlements on the Magdalena, 
speak Spanish, dress in cotton, and — call themselves Christians ; but their faith is nothing but a superstitious 
worship of saints. 
Ad fol. 10. 
The forest of S. Agnes near Puerto de Ocaha. 
The Magdalena receives the waters of many tributary rivers from both Cordilleras. Where they enter 
the plain, the vegetation is mostly particularly vigorous. The strong evaporation of the, as yet, cool mountain- 
stream, as it descends into the warmer regions, and the heat of the sun, reflected by the sides of the opening 
valley, produce a pressing-hot atmosphere, highly saturated with moisture, which is most favourable for the 
development of plants and insects, but noxious and almost insupportable to men. The forest, here, bears 
distinct traces of the periodical inundations. The underwood is almost wholly wanting close to the water ; at 
a greater distance off are found: Eugenia ruscifolia (Myrtaceae), Psychotria Carthaginensis, P. lupulina, 
Faramea odoratissima (Cinchonaccce), Hirtella mollicoma (Chrysobalaneae),® Inga Humboldtiana (Mimoseae), 
Pauletia picta (Caesalpineae),'® yEgiphila laeta (Verbenaceae)," the arborescent Buena (Cosmibuena, Ruiz and 
Pavon) latifolia (Cinchonaceae), and Ardisia ferruginea (Myrsineae).'^ The fall of the river is still very rapid 
here, and by the destruction all around one may judge of the power, with which the swollen river effuses its 
waters over the banks. Powerful trees and mighty trunks of the Palma real (Cocos butyracea'*') are strewn 
about in wild confusion, torn from their roots, and, here and there, barring up the river. 
This Palma real is a most stately tree. Its trunk is rather stout, but its great beauty consists in the 
abundance and exuberance of its fronds, which are about twenty-five feet long and closely garnished with long 
and narrow pinnae. The rhachis is strong and elastic, without being stiff and its gradual tapering towards the 
extremity causes a graceful nodding of the frond in the slightest wind. Monkeys venture a leap from great 
heights down on the top of these fronds, which being laid hold of by them, bends low down. It is too elastic 
and yielding to hurt them. Sometimes the whole trunk is covered with creepers, rising pyramidally from the 
ground. In many places the trunk is encircled by Caulotretus scandens"*" (a Caesalpinea, called Matapalo or 
tree-killer by the natives), which winds its strong branches serpent-like round other trees, and gradually kills 
them. Another ornament of the Palma real is a small Fern, which takes root generally immediately beneath 
the crown, in the remains of the withered fronds, and forms there a lovely fresh-green wreath, contrasting 
beautifully with the darker and more subdued tint of the Palm fronds. 
A slender Fan-palm (Lepidocaryum^) grows here. Orchids and large Aroideae cover the branches of 
Spondias lutea^ (Terebinthaceae), which is overgrown with Bomarea formosissima (Amaryllideae), Passiflora 
^ Kunth, Synops. pi. voL iv. p. 387. ^ Ibid. p. 363. ^ Ibid. p. 387* ^ Ibid, p. 373. ^ Ibid, p. 353. ^ Ibid. p. 377* ^ Ibid* 
p. 386. « Ibid. p. 354. ^ p. 393. Ibid. p. 394. Ibid. p. 366. Ibid. p. 373. 
