2 TRAVELS ON THE AMAZON. [May, 



passing with their motley crews of Negroes and Indians, the 

 vultures soaring overhead or walking lazily about the beach, 

 and the crowds of swallows on the churches and house-tops, 

 all served to occupy our attention till the Custom-house officers 

 visited us, and we were allowed to go on shore. 



Para contains about 15,000 inhabitants, and does not cover 

 a great extent of ground ; yet it is the largest city on the 

 greatest river in the world, the Amazon, and is the capital of a 

 province equal in extent to all Western Europe. It is the 

 residence of a President appointed by the Emperor of Brazil, 

 and of a Bishop whose see extends two thousand miles into 

 the interior, over a country peopled by countless tribes of uncon- 

 verted Indians. The province of Para is the most northern 

 portion of Brazil, and though it is naturally the richest part of 

 that vast empire, it is the least known, and at present of the 

 least commercial importance. 



The appearance of the city from the river, which is the best 

 view that can be obtained of it, is not more foreign than that 

 of Calais or Boulogne. The houses are generally white, and 

 several handsome churches and public buildings raise their 

 towers and domes above them. The vigour of vegetation is 

 everywhere apparent. The ledges and mouldings support a 

 growth of small plants, and from the wall-tops and window- 

 openings of the churches often spring luxuriant weeds and 

 sometimes small trees. Above and below and behind the city, 

 as far as the eye can reach, extends the unbroken forest ; all 

 the small islands in the river are wooded to the water's edge, 

 and many sandbanks flooded at high-water are covered with 

 shrubs and small trees, whose tops only now appeared above 

 the surface. The general aspect of the trees was not different 

 from those of Europe, except where the " feathery palm-trees " 

 raised their graceful forms ; but our imaginations were busy 

 picturing the wonderful scenes to be beheld in their dark 

 recesses, and we longed for the time when we should be at 

 liberty to explore them. 



On landing, we proceeded to the house of Mr. Miller, the 

 consignee of our vessel, by whom we were most kindly 

 received, and invited to remain till we could settle ourselves 

 as we should find most convenient. We were here introduced 

 to most of the English and American residents, who are all 

 engaged in trade, and are few in number. For the four 



