RETUEN TO MANAOS. 257 
time when tlie banks of the Amazons will teem with a 
population more active and vigorous than any it has yet 
seen, when all civilized nations will share in its wealth, 
when the twin continents will shake hands and Americans 
of the North come to help Americans of the South in 
developing its resources, when it will be navigated from 
north to south as well as from east to west, and small 
steamers will run up to the head-quarters of all its tribu- 
taries, while we were speculating on these things, we 
were approaching the end of our journey ; and as we 
neared the lake, there issued from its entrance a small 
two-masted canoe, evidently bound on some official mis- 
sion, for it carried the Brazilian flag, and was adorned 
with many brightly-colored streamers. As it drew near 
we heard music, and a salvo of rockets, the favorite Bra- 
zilian artillery on all festive occasions, whether by day 
or night, shot up into the air. Our arrival had been 
announced by Dr. Canavaro, of Manaos, who had come 
out the day before to make some preparations for our 
reception, and this was a welcome to the President on 
his first visit to the Indian village. When they came 
within speaking distance, a succession of hearty cheers 
went up for the President, for Tavares Bastos, whose 
character as the political advocate of the Amazons makes 
him especially welcome here, for Major Coutinho, already 
well known from his former explorations in this region, 
and for the strangers within their gates, for the Professor 
and his party. After this reception they fell into line be- 
hind our boat, and so we came into the little port with 
something of state and ceremony. 
This pretty Indian village is hardly recognized as a 
village at once, for it consists of a number of sitios 
Q 
