In the little Atures church we were shown remains of the Jesuits' wealth. A heavy silver lamp lay half buried in sand. This object did not tempt the Indians; the Orinoco natives are not thieves, and have a great respect for property. They do not even steal food, hooks or axes. At Maypures and Atures locks on doors are unknown.

Even when nature does not produce the same species in analogous climates, either in the plains of isothermal parallels or on tablelands whose temperature resembles that of places nearer the poles, (73) we still noticed a striking resemblance of appearance and physiognomy in the vegetation of the most distant countries. This phenomenon is one of the most curious in the history of organic forms. I say history, for reason cannot stop man forming hypotheses on the origin of things; he will always puzzle himself with insoluble problems relating to the distribution of beings.