164 A JOURNEY IN BRAZIL. 
surprise he had given us. The creek led by a de'tour back 
into the river, a few rods above the landing where our 
steamer lay. Our friendly boatman left us at the stair- 
way with a cordial good-by, and many thanks from us at 
parting. 
We left our landing early this morning, and at about 
half past ten turned into the main Amazons. Thus far 
we have been in what is called the Para river, and the 
branches connecting it with the Amazons proper. The pro- 
portions of everything in nature amaze one here, however 
much one may have heard or read about them. For two 
days and nights we have been following the isle of Marajo, 
which, though but an island in the mouth of the Amazons, 
is half as large as Ireland. I add here a second letter from 
Mr. Agassiz to Mr. Pimenta Bueno, giving a short summary 
of his scientific progress. 
MON CHER AMI: Je suis exte'nue de fatigue, mais je ne 
veux pas aller me reposer avant de vous avoir dcrit un 
mot. Hier soir nous avons obtenu vingt-sept especes de 
poissons a Gurupa et ce matin, cinquante-sept a Porto do 
Moz, en tout quatre-vingt-quatre especes en moins de douze 
heures et, sur ce nombre, il y en a cinquante et une nou- 
velles. C'est merveilleux. Je ne puis plus mettre en ordre 
ce qu'on m'apporte au fur et a mesure que cela arrive ; et 
quant a obtenir des dessins colories du tout, il n'en est 
plus question, a moins qu'a notre retour nous ne passions 
une semaine entiere ici. 
Tout a vous, 
L. AGASSIZ.* 
* ON THE XINGP, August 23d, 1865. 
Mr DEAR FRIEND : I am worn out with fatigue, but I will not go to rest 
before writing you a woii. Yesterday evening we obtained twenty -seven 
