Information respecting Botanical Travellers, 335 



days I go to Barra de Jardim, 1 6 leagues to the south, where I mean 

 to spend three or four weeks, according as I find it to be a good or 

 bad botanizing ground. Thence I return to this place, in order to 

 await the setting in of the rainy season, when it is my intention to 

 proceed to the city of Oeiras, 400 miles to the west, the capital of 

 Piauhy. Since my arrival here I have gained better information re- 

 specting the road, which is said to be utterly impracticable at this 

 season, for want of grass and water for the horses. But this will 

 make little difference to me on my arrival there, as I shall have to 

 remain in Oeiras till the end of May, when the rains cease. On my re- 

 turn from Barra de Jardim I will again make a few more excursions 

 in this neighbourhood, and before starting will send you what I may 

 have collected : — ^perhaps about the end of January. At Barra de 

 Jardim there is a large deposit of fossil fish, and it is probable I shall 

 send a box of them also. It is still my plan to make my way to 

 Para via, the Rio Tocantius ; but on this subject I shall write to you 

 more fully from Oeiras, where I expect to obtain fuller information 

 respecting the route. 



Since coming here I have enjoyed excellent health, except for 

 eight days, during which I was confined to the house from a slight 

 attack of ophthalmia, a very common malady in this neighbourhood. 

 I have been visited by many persons suffering from the disease in 

 a chronic state, and have gained no little reputation from having 

 either cured or much alleviated the symptoms in all those whom I 

 treated, even when the complaint has been of long standing. The 

 people among whom I am now thrown are far from being a good set. 

 They are remarkably revengeful, and their frequent quarrels are com- 

 monly settled by the treacherous use of the long sharp knife {faca de 

 pontd), which every one carries at his side. My servant, my man 

 Friday as I call him, a negro of very superior character and abilities, 

 had a narrow escape the other day ; for having involved himself, I 

 know not how, in a dispute with a fellow who was in a house whi- 

 ther he had gone for the inoffensive purpose of getting his hair cut, 

 his opponent drew his knife and attempted to stab him. My servant 

 fortunately caught the blade in the hand which he had raised to 

 ward off the blow, by which he prevented his body from being struck, 

 but nearly lost two of his fingers. The assassin fled, leaving his wea- 

 pon behind him, and has not since been heard of. For my own part 

 I find it necessary to be very cautious as to what I say or do among 

 them. They scarcely know what to make of me, or to imagine to 

 what purpose I intend to apply the *' many leaves," as they call them, 

 which I am collecting. Those ** who still would seem the wisest,'* 



