CHAPTER III. 



ITAPARICA, BAHIA. 



During the three cruises of the " Valhalla," 

 we made two visits to Bahia. On the first occasion 

 we landed on 26th December, 1902, Christmas 

 Day having been spent in sight of the coast of 

 Brazil, while on the second we dropped anchor 

 in the Bay of All Saints on 10th December, 1905. 



Some six miles from the town lies Itaparica, a 

 large island inhabited by about 30,000 people, 

 and it was here that most of our time (a fortnight 

 on each occasion) was spent. During our first 

 visit some time was occupied in finding the most 

 suitable places for landing on this island, and also 

 in searching for the best spots for collecting birds, 

 butterflies, and other specimens. What we learnt 

 on this occasion, however, proved of the greatest 

 assistance during our second visit, as we were then 

 able to find the passage through the reef with 

 little difficulty, and go at once to our old collecting 

 grounds. 



Before describing our doings at Bahia, I must 

 refer in detail to an important incident which 



