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xvn TARAPOTO TO CANELOS 131
Spruce found there only two Indians, from whom
he was able to buy some fowls and other provisions
to complete what was needful for the long journey
through the forests. Here all the elaborate pack-
ing of the baggage by the Indian carriers had to
be done, and the straps carefully arranged in a
peculiar manner, so as to be suitable for a route
where they are liable to be entangled by creepers
overhead and other difficulties. Then there was
food for the whole party of sixteen persons to
be carried by the boys and girls brought by
the Indians themselves, so that they were not
ready till late the next day. Then a heavy
storm came on which caused the actual start to
be put off till the morning of the i4th, at which
date the Journal continues the story in the next
chapter.
The region described by Spruce in the last three
chapters is characterised by the presence
of the
singular plant usually called the Vegetable Ivory
but which is now considered to form a distinct
palm,
natural order intermediate between true palms and
Cycads. Its very hard albuminous seeds, nearly
the size of hen's eggs, are contained in compound
fruits as large as a man's head, which are concealed
among the leaves close to the ground. These
seeds are largely exported and used to make buttons,
umbrella handles, and other small objects. The
plants occur thinly scattered from the mouth of the
Napo to Tarapoto and the Forest of Canelos on the
lower slopes of the mountains up to about 2500 feet,
and on the river-banks.
Spruce only once collected ripe fruits, and then
unfortunately lost them, as he describes in his