ON THE AMAZON. E 85 
‘was no other chance for the Barra this season, and I therefore reverted 
to my original project of visiting Obidos and the Rio Trombétas (the 
execution of which you will find detailed in the accompanying sheets), 
and afterwards of making Santarem my head-quarters for the winter. 
I have now in contemplation two principal excursions during the rainy 
season; the first a little way up this river, the Tapajoz, and the second 
to Monte Alegre, in April or May, when the vegetation is said to be 
most luxuriant, 
Santarem is much the pleasantest place on the Amazon, and superior 
even to Para in the matter of eatables;—good milk and fresh beef 
every day—the latter cheap, but the former quite as dear as in London. 
There are three English residents, from whom we receive much civility, 
but they are none of them in that flourishing state to enable them to 
afford us any assistance in the way of diminishing our expenses. In 
fact, there are (between ourselves) only two Englishmen in the province 
. of Pará—Arch. Campbell and .Miller—who have not great difficulty 
in keeping straight their finances. Poor Captain Hislop complains 
bitterly of the difficulty he finds in getting any sort of payment for the 
numerous debts that are owing to him: long credit, and slow or no 
payment, is the way of doing business here. 
lam anxious to learn in what state my sendings from Pará by the 
George Glen reached you and Mr. Bentham. I took great pains to 
have them dry and drily packed, but those little bothering vessels of 
Singlehurst's I am very much afraid of; even when I was by to take 
care of my goods I had great difficulty to keep them from spoiling. 
You will see that I have anticipated some of your queries and 
wishes. I sent a Mandiocca-strainer,—specimens, &e., of the Pottery- 
tree, —and some other things you ask about, from Pará. Iwanted no - 
incitement to look closely for Podostemeæ, but it is only lately that I — 
have come to a country where they can possibly grow: you will see — 
I found two up the Trombétas. I hope to send you painted cuyas t. 
and colours used in painting, from Monte Alegre, which is the famed 
lace. ie. 
: I expect you will keep your Victorias. I fear ere this the seed of | 
the Victoria has fallen in this neighbourhood. I commissioned a 
person to procure some for me during my absence, but he has disap- 
pointed me; I intend, however, shortly to revisit the place, if it be 
only to see for myself whether the plants attain that enormous mag- 
nitude they are said to do. prda 
