FROM PARA TO MANAOS. 171 
shore to-day that it has been easy to make geological 
observations from the deck. For a considerable distance 
above Santarem we have followed drift cliffs, resting upon 
sandstone ; the drift of the same reddish color, and pasty, 
clayey consistence, and the sandstone seemingly the same 
in character, as that of Monte Alegre. 
August 21th, Villa Bella. Last evening we stopped 
to w^ood at the town of Obydos, but without landing ; 
keeping straight on to this port, on the southern side of the 
river, at the mouth of the river Tupinambaranas. Here we 
were very cordially received by Dr. Marcus, an old corre- 
spondent of Mr. Agassiz, who has several times sent speci- 
mens from the Amazons to the Cambridge Museum. To- 
nio-ht we are to start in canoes on an excursion to some 
O 
of the lakes in the neighborhood of this port. 
August 2Sth. In the porch of an Indian house on the 
lake Jose Assu. We passed a pleasant day yesterday at 
the house of Dr. Marcus, keeping the Sabbath rather after 
the Jewish than the Christian rule, as a veritable day of 
rest, lounging in hammocks, and the gentlemen smoking. 
We returned to the steamer at five o'clock, intending to 
start at six, in order to have the benefit of the night fishing, 
said to be always the most successful. But a violent thun- 
der-storm, with heavy rain, lasting almost till midnight, 
delayed our departure. We loaded the boats, however, 
before night, that we might be ready to start whenever 
the weather should clear. We have two canoes, in one 
of which Mr. Agassiz, myself, and Mr. Burkhardt have 
our quarters, while Major Coutinho, Dr. Marcus, who 
accompanies us, and Mr. Thayer occupy the other. The 
former, which is rather the larger of the two, has a tiny 
cabin at one end, some three feet high and six feet long, 
