FROM PARA TO MANAOS. 177 
care as his small plantation requires, this is his only occupa- 
tion. An Indian is never seen to do any of the work of the 
house, not even to bring wood or water or lift the heavy 
burdens, and as the fishing is done chiefly at certain seasons, 
he is a very idle fellow for a great part of the time. The 
women are said, on the contrary, to be very industrious ; and 
certainly those whom we have an opportunity of seeing here 
justify this reputation. Esperanca is always busy at some 
household work or other, grating mandioca, drying farin- 
ha. packing tobacco, cooking or sweeping. Her children are 
active and obedient, the older ones making themselves use- 
ful in bringing water from the lake, in washing the mandi- 
oca, or in taking care of the younger ones. Esperanca can 
hardly be called pretty, but she has a pleasant smile and a 
remarkably sweet voice, with a kind of child-like intonation, 
which is very winning ; and when sometimes, after her work 
is over, she puts on her white chemise, falling loose from 
her brown shoulders, her dark skirt, and a rose or a sprig 
of white jessamine in her jetty hair, she is by no means 
unattractive in her personal appearance, though I must 
confess that the pipe which she is apt to smoke in the 
evening injures the general effect. Her husband looks 
somewhat sombre ; but his hearty laugh occasionally, and 
his enjoyment of the glass of cachaca which rewards him 
when he brings in a new lot of specimens, shows that he 
has his bright side. He is greatly amused at the value 
Mr. Agassiz attaches to the fishes, especially the little 
ones, which appear to him only fit to throw away. It 
seems that the other family who have been about here 
since our arrival are neighbors, who have come in to help 
in the making of mandioca. They come in the morning 
with all their children and remain through the day. The 
8* L 
