for them, while two armadillos and
numerous insects had already attacked the carcasses. We found that
several of those we had last killed were untouched, and each of us was
able to carry back a heavy load of joints, to turn into hams and bacon
in our smoking-house.

We had now, we found after taking stock of our provisions, a supply
sufficient to last for our voyage to Stabroek, even though it might
prove longer than we calculated on. We had jars of clay and cuja-nuts
to carry our stock of water, of which we did not require much, as we
should not be compelled to use it till we got out of the river. As the
earthen jars, however, were liable to be broken, Uncle Paul determined
to manufacture a number of indiarubber bottles. They might possibly
impart an unpleasant odour to the water, but would not render it
unwholesome; and this supply would serve in case the rest should be
exhausted. For this purpose he made a number of clay moulds, with round
sticks for the mouths, and baked them slightly. He then covered the
moulds to a sufficient thickness with the seringa juice, and dried them
in the smoke as our shoes had been. The moulds were easily broken; and
the pieces being taken out, the indiarubber bottles were completed, only
requiring corks and pieces of string to make them suitable for our
object. We were thus supplied with the chief means of supporting
existence during our voyage. We had dried fish and flesh, nuts and
preserved fruit, rice and the farinaceous produce of the palm-tree. We
were more indebted to various species of palm than to any other tree,
both for fruit, and flour to supply the place of wheat.

In a spot once apparently inhabited by Indians, but long since
abandoned, were several peach-palms,--tall and elegant trees, which rose
to the height of sixty feet, and were perfectly straight. Each tree
bore several bunches of fruit, a single bunch being as much as the
strongest of our party could carry. The fruit takes its name from the
colour of the peach, not from its flavour or nature, for it is dry and
mealy, and we agreed, when tasting it, that it was like a mixture of
chestnuts and cheese. On boiling the fruit it became nearly as mealy as
a potato. Each fruit was about the size of a large peach. We found it
very nutritious; and eight or ten were as much as one of us could eat at
a meal. The appearance of the tree is very beautiful, owing to the rich
colour of the foliage. The leaves are g