FROM PARA TO MANAOS. 173 
behind, and, after calling at two or three Indian houses 
to see if we could supply the deficiency, we were obliged 
to send back to Villa Bella for it. In the mean time 
we moored our boats at the foot of a little hill, on which 
stands an Indian house, where we stopped to breakfast, 
and where we are still waiting for the return of our 
messengers. I must say, that a near view of Arcadia tends 
to dispel illusions ; but it should be added, that this speci- 
men is by no means a favorable one. The houses at Taja- 
puru were far more attractive, and the appearance of their 
inhabitants much neater and more respectable, than those 
of our friends here. Yet at this moment the scene is 
not altogether uninviting. Some of the party are loung- 
ing in the hammocks, which we have slung imcler the 
great porch, as we are to pass several hours here ; an 
improvised rustic table, consisting of a board resting on 
forked sticks, stands at one side ; the boatmen are clearing 
away the remains of our late repast ; the Indian women, 
dirty, half clad, with their hair hanging uncombed around 
their faces, are tending their naked children, or kneading 
the mandioca in a huge trough. The men of the house 
have just returned from fishing, the morning having been 
more successful in that respect than was expected, and 
are now fitting up a rough forge, in which they are re- 
pairing some of their iron instruments. In the mean 
time Science has its sacred corner, where Mr. Agassiz is 
investigating new species, the result of the morning's fish- 
ing, while Mr. Burkhardt is drawing them. 
August 23th.- -Finding yesterday that our shelter grew 
more uncomfortable as the day wore on, and being obliged 
to wait for the night fishing, we determined to cross the 
lake to a " Sitio" (as the inhabitants call their plantations) 
