This river is in Brazil. Brazil is
far south of us.
[Illustration: Amazon Indians.]
There are great forests along the banks of this river. They run back
from the river for hundreds of miles. They are the largest forests in
the world.
A great many kinds of trees grow in these forests. Some of the trees
are very high. Often the trees are covered with vines on which
beautiful flowers grow.
Wax-palm trees, breadfruit trees, and rubber trees are found in these
forests. Wax is taken from the leaves of the wax palm.
We make rubber from the rubber tree. A cut is made in the side of the
tree with a knife. From this cut a white juice flows. This juice is
like milk. It is caught in a cup. After a while the juice gets hard.
Then it is rubber.
A great many strange animals and birds are found in these forests.
There is the sloth, which lives in the trees. It has hooked claws for
holding on to the branches. It hangs on to a branch with its back
downward. When it goes to sleep, it rolls itself up like a ball. It
moves very slowly, and that is why it is called the sloth.
[Illustration: A Sloth.]
These forests are full of monkeys and parrots. Perhaps you have seen a
parrot.
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