re used by the Indians to
make the arrows of their "blow-guns," of which more hereafter. From the
fruits of this palm a most delicious drink is manufactured with very
little trouble. The fruit itself is about the size of a plum, but of an
oval shape and deep violet colour. It grows in large clusters just
under the leaves. To make the drink, the fruits are thrown into a
vessel of hot water, where they remain for a few minutes until the pulp
becomes soft. The hot water is next poured off, and cold water is
substituted. In this the fruits are crushed and rubbed with the hands
until all the pulp is washed from the stones. The liquid is then
strained so as to separate the stones and other substances, when it is
ready for use, and a most luxurious beverage it is,--in its taste
bearing some resemblance to filberts and cream.

A palm called the "assai" has a small sloe-like fruit which produces a
similar beverage--thick and creamy, and of a fine plum colour. In all
the Portuguese settlements the "assai" is a favourite drink, and is
taken along with cassava bread, as we use milk or coffee.

It was not on account of its fruit, however, that Don Pablo rejoiced at
beholding the "patawa" palms. Perhaps Leon thought more about the rich
clusters of oval plums, but his father looked only to the straight
smooth stems which were designed for corner-posts, beams, and the
heavier woodwork of the house.

In a few minutes Guapo was busy with his axe, and one after another fell
the princely trunks of the "patawa" until enough were cut down for their
purpose.

Don Pablo next looked out for some palm of a more slender trunk for the
rafters and joists.

This was soon found in the "catinga," which is a species of the "assai"
palm (_Euterpe_), the one of which we have just spoken as producing the
"assai wine." The catinga was the very thing for the rafters. It is
tall, nearly forty feet high, but quite slender. It is one of the
smooth palms, with pinnate leaves, not unlike those of the "patawa."
There is a peculiarity about its top,--that is, there is a column or
sheath of several feet in length, out of which the leaves spring, and,
at the lower end of this column, and not immediately at the root of the
leaves, the fruit clusters grow. This sheathing column is of a red
colour, which gives the tree a strange look. Another peculiarity of the
catinga is that its roots grow out of the ground, and from a little cone
from the top of