REPORT ON THE CAOUTCHOUC OP COMMERCE. 
7 
were six fair days ; in March, the most rainy month, hut one ; and 
to April 18th three days of fine weather. During March the highest 
temperature was 84J 0 , many days it not reaching as high as 80°. 
On the Solimoens or Upper Amazons the sea breeze is not felt, 
and it is therefore more stagnant and sultry. The whole of the 
country along its banks is covered with one uniform, lofty, im- 
pervious, and humid forest. The soil nowhere sandy, but always 
either a stiff clay, alluvium, or vegetable mould. The vegetation is 
very prolific and the atmosphere densely vaporous. At Ega the 
year is divided according to the rise and fall of the river. The 
great annual rise begins about the end of February and continues to 
the middle of June, and the rain falls very heavily at times. About 
the first week in June the flood is at its highest, being over 40 feet 
above its lowest point. Towards the middle of July the banks 
begin to reappear. Erom the middle of October to the beginning 
of January the second or lesser wet season prevails, and the second 
dry season comes on in January and lasts throughout Eebruary 
(Bates). 
Eorests of the Amazons. Dr. Spruce gives five distinct series of 
vegetation : — 
1. The Biparial Eorests (or gapos), which with their scrub lie 
submerged for many months of the year ; 
2. The Decent Eorests ; 
3. The Low or White Eorests [caa-tingas ?], the remains of an 
ancient and highly interesting vegetation, which are now 
being encroached upon by a sturdier growth ; 
4. The Virgin or Great Eorests, which clothe the fertile lands 
beyond the reach of inundations ; and lastly, 
5. The Campos or Savannahs, regions of grassy and scrubby 
knolls, glades, and hollows. 4 
Mr. Wallace (1. c.) gives the forest distribution of this part of 
South America. He says that if a line be drawn from the mouth 
of the Pariaiba (long. 41° 30' W.) due west towards Guayaquil, it 
will cut the boundary of the great forest in long. 78° 30', and for 
the whole 2,600 miles will have passed through the centre of it, 
dividing it into two nearly equal portions. Eor the first 1,000 
miles, or as far as 56° W. long., the width of the forest from north to 
south is about 400 miles ; it then stretches out both to north and 
south, so that in long. 67° W. it extends from 7° N. on the banks of 
the Orinoco to 18° S., on the northern slope of the Andes of Bolivia, 
