146 
TRAVELS ON THE AMAZON. [September, 
miles were several fine rocky mountains, on one of wkicli 
was a curious and conspicuous pillar of rock, witli a fiat 
overhanging cap, something like a tall mushroom. The 
cactus before mentioned was everywhere abundant, and 
often in the most magnificent and lofty masses. Pine- 
apples were found growing wild in large beds in the 
thickets, and the cashew was also general. On the 
rocky slopes above the river were numerous springs 
gushing out, where on the moistened rock grew curious 
ferns and mosses and pretty creeping plants. In these 
shady groves was our best collecting-ground for insects. 
Here we first found the beautiful indigo-blue butterfly, 
the Callithea Leprieurii, sitting on leaves in the shade, 
and afterwards more abundantly on stems from which a 
black gummy sap was exuding. Here were also many 
trogons and jacamars, and a curious creeper, with a long 
sickle-shaped bill {Bendrocolaptes sp.). I 
We much wished to visit the serras, which daily seemed 
more inviting ; and the account we had heard of the Indian 
picture-writings which exist there increased our curiosity. 1 
We accordingly borrowed a small montaria of Senhor 
Nunez, as we had to go five or six miles by water to a | 
cattle estate situated at the foot of the mountain. Our 
canoe was furnished with a mat sail, made of strips of ' 
the bark of a large water-plant, and as soon as we got 
away from the village we hoisted it and were carried I 
briskly along : it was rather nervous work at times, as||j 
the sail was far too heavy for the canoe, and rendered it ^ 
very unsteady whenever there came a little extra puff of ' 
wind. Numerous divers and darters were swimming in ^ 
the river or seated upon trees on its banks. We triefiyj| 
