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VEGETATION OF 
Pitch — exudes from a forest tree. 
Cacao, the seeds of TJieohroma Cacao and other species. 
Cravo, from an unknown tree. 
Canella, the bark of Canella alha. 
Vanilla, the fruits of various species of Vanilla. 
Guarana, a preparation from a fruit, grated in water, 
to form an agreeable and medicinal drink. 
Piassaba, the fibres from the petioles of a palm, Leo- 
poldinia n. s. 
Balsam Capivi, from the Copaifera officinalis. 
Silk cotton, from various species of Bomhaoc. 
In many parts of my Journal, I have expressed an 
opinion that travellers have exaggerated the beauty and 
brilliancy of tropical vegetation, and on a calm review of 
all I have seen in the districts I have visited, I must re- 
peat it. 
There is grandeur and solemnity in the tropical fo- 
rest, but little of beauty or brilliancy of colour. The 
huge buttress trees, the fissured trunks, the extraordi- 
nary air roots, the twisted and wrinkled climbers, and 
the elegant palms, are what strike the attention and fill 
the mind with admiration and surprise and awe. But 
all is gloomy and solemn, and one feels a relief on 
again seeing the blue sky, and feeling the scorching rays 
of the sun. 
It is on the roadside and on the rivers’ banks, that 
we see all the beauty of the tropical vegetation. There 
we find a mass of bushes and shrubs and trees of 
every height, rising over one another, all exposed to 
the bright light and the fresh air ; and putting forth, 
