RETURN TO MANAOS. 259 
barge with its white awning, the gay canoe, and two or 
three Indian montarias. After breakfast our party dis- 
persed, some to rest in their hammocks, others to hunt 
or fish, while Mr. Agassiz was fully engaged in examining 
a large basket of fish, Tucanares (Cichla), Acaras (Heros 
and other genera), Curimatas (Anodus), Surubims (Pla- 
tystoma), &c., just brought up from the lake for his in- 
spection, and showing again, what every investigation dem- 
onstrates afresh, namely, the distinct localization of species 
in each different water basin, be it river, lake, igarape, or 
forest pool. 
One does not see much of the world between one o'clock 
and four, in this climate. These are the hottest hours of 
the day, and there are few who can resist the temptation 
of the cool, swinging hammock, slung in some shady spot 
within doors or without. After a little talk with our 
Indian hostess and her daughter, I found a quiet retreat 
by the lake-shore, where, though I had a book in my 
hand, the wind in the trees overhead, the water rippling 
softly around the montarias moored at my side, lulled 
me into that mood of mind when one may be lazy with- 
out remorse or ennui. The highest duty seems then to 
be to do nothing. The monotonous notes of a " Viola ' 
o 
came to me from a group of trees at a little distance, 
where our boatmen were resting in the shade, the red 
fringes of their hammocks giving to the landscape just 
the bit of color which it needed ; occasionally a rustling 
flight of parroquets or ciganas overhead startled me for 
a moment, or a large pirarucu plashed out of the water, 
but except for these sounds nature was still, and animals 
as well as men seemed to pause in the heat and seek 
shelter. Dinner brought us all together again at the 
