FROM PARA TO MAXAOS. 175 
on the figures of the women and children as they moved 
about, and shed its glow under the thatched roof of the 
working-room, making its interior warm and ruddy ; a 
lantern in the corner of the porch threw a dim, uncertain 
light over hammocks and half-recumbent figures, and with- 
out, the moon shone over lake and forest. The mosquitoes, 
however, presently began to disturb the romance of the 
scene, and, as we were all rather tired from our broken 
rest the night before, we retired early. My own sleep, 
under an excellent mosquito-net, was very quiet and 
refreshing, but there were some of the party who had 
not provided themselves with this indispensable accompa- 
niment of a hammock, and they passed the night in 
misery, affording a repast to the voracious hordes buzzing 
about them. I was awakened shortly after daylight by 
the Indian women, bringing me a bouquet of roses and 
jessamine from the vines which grew about the cottage, 
and wishing me good morning. After such a kindly greet- 
ing, I could not refuse them the pleasure of assisting at my 
toilet, of watching the opening of my valise, and handling 
every article as it came out. 
The night fishing was unfavorable, but this morning the 
fishermen have brought in new species enough to keep 
Mr. Agassiz and his artist busy for many hours, so that 
we are likely to pass another night among these hospitable 
people. I must say that the primitive life of the better 
class of Indians on the Amazons is much more attractive 
than the so-called civilized life in the white settlements. 
Anything more bald, dreary, and uninviting than life in the 
Amazonian towns, with an attempt at the conventionalisms 
of civilization, but without one of its graces, I can hardly 
conceive. This morning my Indian frie;ids have been 
