EXCURSIONS ON THE COAST. 389 
lowing some concerted plan of action. They were descend- 
ing the trunk of a large tree in a solid phalanx about two 
handbreadths in width, and six or eight feet in length ; 
no doubt coming down to make their chrysalids in the sand. 
We returned to the steamer at ten o'clock ; and, after break- 
fast, finding our anchorage-ground somewhat rough as the 
tide came in, we went a little higher up, and entered the 
Bahia do Sul. Here again we went on shore to see the 
net drawn, this time more successfully. We should have 
had a delightful walk on the beach again, had it not been 
for hosts of minute flies which hovered about us, and had 
a power of stinging quite disproportionate to their size. On 
returning we met with an unforeseen difficulty. The tide 
had been falling during our walk, and the canoe could 
not approach the beach within several yards. The gentle- 
men plunged in, and walked out over knees in water ; 
while the boatmen made a chair of their arms and carried 
me through the surf. 
March 5th. Our excursion in the harbor closed with 
a visit to the small island of Tatuatuba, distant about 
six miles from Para. In order to examine the shores, we 
made the circuit of the island on foot. Here again the 
same geological structure presented itself; and there was 
one spot in particular where the sharp, vertical cut of tho 
bank facing the beach presented an admirable section of the 
formations so characteristic of the Amazonian Valley ; 
the red, sandy clay of the upper deposit filling in all the 
undulations and inequalities of the sandstone below, the 
surface of which was remarkably irregular. The sea is 
making great encroachments on the shore of this island. 
o o 
Senhor Figueiredo, who lives here with his family and by 
whom we were received with much hospitality, told us that 
