RETURN TO MANAOS. 253 
again. This morning Mr. Agassiz received the official 
document placing the steamer at his disposition, and also 
a visit from her commander, Captain Faria. 
October 2Qth. Yesterday morning at six o'clock we 
made our first excursion to a pretty spot much talked 
of in Manaos on account of its attractions for bathing, 
picnics, and country enjoyments of all sorts. It is called 
the " little cascade," to distinguish it from a larger and, 
it is said, a much more picturesque fall, half a league from 
the city on the other side. Half an hour's row through a 
winding river brings you to a rocky causeway, over which 
the water comes brawling down in a shallow rapid. Here 
you land, and a path through the trees leads along the 
edge of the igarape to a succession of " banheiras," as 
they call them here ; and they are indeed woodland bathing- 
pools fit for Diana and her nymphs, completely surrounded 
by trees, and so separated from each other by leafy screens, 
that a number of persons may bathe in perfect seclusion. 
The water rushes through them with a delicious freshness, 
forming: a little cascade in each. The inhabitants make the 
o 
most of this forest bathing establishment while it lasts ; 
the rise of the river during the rainy season overflows 
and effaces it completely for half the year. While we were 
bathing, the boatmen had lighted a fire, and when we re- 
turned to the landing we found a pot of coffee simmering 
very temptingly over the embers. Thus refreshed, we re- 
turned to town just as the heat of the day was beginning to 
be oppressive. 
October 28th.- -Yesterday morning, at about half past 
six o'clock, we left Manaos on an excursion to the Lake 
of Hyanuary on the western side of the Rio Negro. The 
morning was unusually fresh for these latitudes, and a 
