284 A JOURNEY IN BRAZIL. 
The day was most propitious ; a rain during the night 
had cooled the air, and a slightly overcast sky, combined 
with the freshness of the atmosphere, gave just the con- 
ditions most desirable for any such excursion in this 
climate. When we reached the beach from which we 
were to leave, people were beginning to assemble, and a 
number of canoes were already on their way, looking 
very gay with their white awnings above and the bright 
dresses inside. Twenty minutes' row brought us to our 
destination. The scene was very pretty ; the path from 
the landing to the main house was lined with flags and 
character. Unfortunately, I cannot always do full justice to the kindness 
shown Mr. Agassiz throughout our journey, or to the general appreciation 
of his scientific objects, without introducing testimonials into this narrative 
which it would perhaps be more becoming in me to suppress. But I do not 
know how otherwise to acknowledge our obligations, and I trust it will be 
attributed, by candid readers, to the true motive, to gratitude and not to 
egotism. 
" The scientific labors undertaken at this time by the learned and illustrious 
Professor Agassiz in this Province, merit from the Amazonenses the most 
sincere gratitude and acknowledgment, and elicit on our part a manifestation 
by which we seek to show due appreciation of his high intellectual merit. 
I wish that for this object I could dispose of more abundant resources, or 
that the Province had in readiness better means of showing the veneration 
and cordial esteem we all bear to him, the respect and admiration we feel 
for his scientific explorations. But the uncertainty of his stay among us 
obliges me to offer at once some proof, however insignificant, of our profound 
esteem for this most deserving American. 
" To this end, the accomplishment of which I cannot longer dofer, I invite all 
to join me in offering to Professor Agassiz and to his wife, in the name of the 
Province 'of the Amazonas, a modest rural breakfast (almoco campcstre) in the 
Casa dos Educandos, on Sunday, the 18th of this month, at 11 o'clock in the 
morning. I hereby invite you and your family to be present, in order that this 
festival, great in the earnestness of our intentions, however small as compared 
with the importance of those to whom it is offered, should be gay and brilliant. 
" AXTOXIO EPAMINONDAS DE MELLO. 
"Palace of the Government at Manaos, 13 November, 1865." 
