ee; the great courbaril, the "dragon's-blood" tree, not
that celebrated tree of the East (_Draccena_), but one of a different
genus (_Crotori_), from whose white bark flows a red blood-like juice.

They saw, also, a species of cinnamon-tree (_Laurus cinnamonoides_),
though not the cinnamon of commerce; the large tree that bears the
Brazilian nutmeg (the Puxiri); and that one, also, a large forest tree,
that bears the nuts known as "Tonka beans," and which are used in the
flavouring of snuff.

But of all the trees which our travellers saw on that day, none made
such an impression upon them as the "juvia," or Brazil-nut tree
(_Bertholletia excelsa_). This tree is not one with a thick trunk; in
fact, the largest ones are not three feet in diameter, but it rises to a
height of 120 feet. Its trunk is branchless for more than half that
height, and the branches then spread out and droop, like the fronds of
the palm. They are naked near their bases, but loaded towards the top
with tufts of silvery green leaves, each two feet in length. The tree
does not blossom until its fifteenth year, and then it bears
violet-coloured flowers; although there is another species, the
"sapucaya," which has yellow ones. But it is neither the trunk, nor the
branches, nor the leaves, nor yet the flowers of this tree, that render
it such an object of curiosity. It is the great woody and spherical
pericarps that contain the nuts or fruits that are wonderful. These are
often as large as the head of a child, and as hard as the shell of the
cocoa-nut! Inside is found a large number--twenty or more--of those
triangular-shaped nuts which you may buy at any Italian warehouse under
the name of "Brazil-nuts."

CHAPTER FORTY TWO.

THE FOREST FESTIVAL.

In consequence of their having rested but poorly on the preceding night,
it was determined that they should land at an early hour; and this they
did, choosing an open place on the shore. It was a very pretty spot,
and they could see that the woods in the background were comparatively
open, as though there were some meadows or prairies between. These
openings, however, had been caused by fire. There had been a growth of
cane. It had been burned off and as yet was not grown up again, though
the young reeds were making their appearance like a field of green
wheat. Some places, and especially near the river, the ground was still
bare. This change in the landscape was quite agreeable to our
t