34 TRAVELS ON THE AMAZON. \July, 
returning, we were startled by a quiet remark that the 
tree close by us was the Seringa, or India-rubber- tree. 
We rushed to it, axe in hand, cut off a piece of bark, and 
had the satisfaction to see the extraordinary juice come 
out. Catching a little in a box I had with me, I next 
day found it genuine India-rubber, of a yellowish colour, 
but possessing all its peculiar properties. 
It being some saint’s day, in the evening a fire was 
lit in the road in front of our house, and going out 
we found Isidora and Vincente keeping it up. Several 
others were visible in the street, and there appeared to 
be a line of them reaching to the city. They seemed to 
be made quite as a matter of business, being a mark of 
respect to certain of the more illustrious saints, and, 
with rockets and processions, form the greater part of 
the religion here. The glorious southern constellations, 
with their crowded nebulae, were shining brilliantly in 
the heavens as the fire expired, and we turned into our 
hammocks well satisfied with all that we had seen during 
the day. 
July Mh . — The vegetation now improved in appear- 
ance as the dry season advanced. Plants were succes- 
sively budding and bursting their blossoms, and bright 
green leaves displaced the half- withered ones of the past 
season. The climbers were particularly remarkable, as 
much for the beauty of their foliage as for their flowers. 
Often two or three climb over one tree or shrub, min- 
gling in the most perplexing though elegant confusion, so 
that it is a matter of much difficulty to decide to which 
plant the different blossoms belong, and should they be 
high up it is impossible. A delicate white and a fine 
