LIFE AT MANAOS. 187 
September Qth. We have passed such quiet days here, so 
far as any variety of incident is concerned, that there is little 
to record. Work has gone on as usual ; the whole collec- 
tion of fishes, made since we left Para, has been so re- 
packed as to leave it in readiness to be shipped for that port. 
Our companions have rejoined us on their return from the 
Tapajoz, bringing with them considerable collections from 
that river also. They seem to have enjoyed their excursion 
greatly, and describe the river as scarcely inferior to the 
Amazons itself in breadth and grandeur, having wide sand- 
beaches where the waves roll in, when the wind is high, 
almost as upon a sea-shore. Mr. Agassiz has done nothing 
in the way of collecting here, with the exception of securing 
such fishes as are to be had in the immediate neighborhood ; 
he reserves his voyage on the Rio Negro for our return. 
And, by the way, we are met here by another practical 
evidence of the good-will of the Brazilian government. 
On leaving Rio, the Emperor had offered Mr. Agassiz the 
use of a small government steamer to make explorations 
on the Negro and Madeira rivers. On our arrival at Para 
he was told that the steamer had been found to be so much 
out of repair that she was considered unsafe. Under these 
circumstances, he supposed that we should be obliged to 
resort to the small boats generally used. But to-day an 
official communication informs him that, as the Piraja is 
found not to be serviceable, another steamer will be fur- 
nished, which will meet us at Manaos on our return from 
the Upper Amazons. The following letter, acknowledging 
this favor, to the President of Para, through whom it was 
received, contains some account of the scientific results thus 
far, and may not be uninteresting. 
