406 Miscellaneous Intelligence, 



44 It was then that I experienced the most cruel agony, a thick 

 cloud obscured my eyes, and I could perceive nothing more than 

 traces of my men, and of the azure of the heavens traversed by a 

 few light vapours. I did not feel much pain, but weakness of 

 the extremest kind. Concentrated vinegar was placed near my 

 mouth and nostrils, and rubbed on my face and temples ; it re- 

 animated me a little, and then I felt the pains of death. During 

 this time, I preserved my memory perfectly, and remembered 

 all that I had said, and that had been said ; my recollections 

 agreed perfectly with the recital of a young Frenchman who had 

 accompanied me. A violent combat then passed in my mind, 

 which continued, however, for but a few instants. I triumphed 

 over my weakness, and resigned myself to death. That which 

 affected me most was the fate of my Indian Botocudo, whom I had 

 drawn from his forests, and who, I believed, would, after my death, 

 be condemned to slavery. I conjured those around me to have 

 pity on his inexperience, and to tell my friends that my last 

 thoughts had been for that unfortunate young man. I felt an 

 anxious wish to talk in my native language to the Frenchman 

 who was earnest in his cares for me, but I was unable to find a 

 single word in my memory which was not Portuguese, and I cannot 

 express the shame and contradiction I felt at this want of recol- 

 lection. I had at first endeavoured to take water and vinegar, 

 but finding no relief, I requested warm water : each time that I 

 swallowed it, I felt the cloud removed from my eyes for a few 

 moments, and I began to drink it in very large quantities. I con- 

 tinually requested a vomit of my young Frenchman, but he could 

 not find one. He searched in the cart, and I, being beneath it, 

 could not see him. I nevertheless seemed to have him before 

 my eyes, and reproached him for his slowness. This was the 

 only error into which I fell. 



44 Whilst this was passing, the chasseur had risen without my 

 perceiving it, but my ears were quickly struck with the dreadful 

 cries he uttered. I was a little better at this moment, and none 

 of his motions escaped me. He tore his clothes furiously, threw 

 them far from him, took a gun, and discharged it. The piece was 

 taken from him, and then he began to run about the place, calling 

 the Virgin to his help, and crying out that all was on fire about 

 him, that we two were abandoned, and that they w'ere going to 

 leave our portmanteaux and cart to be burnt. A Guarina man, 

 (one of my suite) having endeavoured in vain to restrain him, was 

 seized with fright, and fled. 



44 Until this time, I had had the attentions of the soldier who 

 had joined us in eating the honey, but he was now very ill ; he 

 however soon vomited, and being of a robust temperament, he 

 quickly recovered strength, though it required some time perfectly 

 to re-establish him. I have understood since, that during the 



