LIFE IN TEFFE". 243 
of very brilliant plumage, not to speak of the less showy 
water-birds. He has been often in the woods shooting, 
with Mr. Hunnewell and Mr. Thayer, and has employed 
several sportsmen of the place to assist him. Turtles, 
jacares, and snakes are also largely represented in the 
collections ; and Mr. Agassiz has obtained, by purchase, 
a large and well-preserved collection of insects, made by 
a Frenchman during a several years' residence in this 
little town. In Teffe and its neighborhood we constantly 
tread in the footsteps of the English naturalist, Mr. Bates, 
" Senhor Henrique," as the people call him here, whose 
charming book, " The Naturalist on the Amazons," has 
been a very pleasant companion to us in our wanderings.* 
* As from the beginning our arrangements were made to stay at least a 
month in Teffe, it became possible to lay out our work in a more systematic 
form than during our rambling travels. It was here that I secured the largest 
number of fish skeletons and had several of the larger animals of the country 
prepared for the Museum; such as Manatees, Porpoises, Pirarucus, Sorubims, 
and the like. I also undertook here, for the first time, a regular search for the 
young of all the species of fishes that could be obtained. Here again my 
neighbors, and indeed all the inhabitants of the place, vied with one another 
in their efforts to procure specimens for me. Senhor Joao da Cunha and 
Dr. Romualdo made frequent fishing excursions for my benefit ; and when I 
could not accompany them, a boatful of fish was nevertheless moored to the 
shore, in the evening, from which I could select whatever was useful or interest- 
ing. The grocer of the place, Mr. Pedro Mendez, who employed a skilful fish- 
erman daily to supply his large family, gave directions that all the fishes caught 
should be brought in, and before the kitchen received its provisions, I had my 
choice of everything. This was a great favor, especially since the Indian fish- 
erman, Jose, whom I had engaged in Manaos to accompany me through the 
rest of my journey, was now at Tabatinga, assisting Mr. Bourget, who had 
been left there when I returned to Teffe'. An old Passe Indian, who was as 
familiar with the fishes of the waters as with the animals of the forest, and 
whom Major Coutinho had befriended for many years, rendeied also great 
service in hunting particular kinds of fishes and reptiles, the haunts of which he 
alone seemed to know. The schoolmaster and his boys, in short, everybody 
