VOYAGE UP THE COAST TO PARA. 145 



these forest retreats, and go by the name of the " Peixe do 

 Ma to." 



Mr. Agassiz has not only to acknowledge the untiring 

 kindness of individuals here, but also the cordial expression 

 of sympathy from public bodies in the objects of the expe- 

 dition. A committee from the municipality of the city has 

 waited upon him to express the general satisfaction in the 

 undertaking, and he has received a public demonstration 

 of the same kind from the college. The bishop of the 

 province and his coadjutor have also been most cordial in 

 offers of assistance. Xor does the interest thus expressed 

 evaporate in empty words. Mr. Pimenta Bueno is director 

 of the Brazilian line of steamers from Para to Tabatinga.* 

 The trip to Manaos, at the mouth of the Rio Negro, is 

 generally made in five days, allowing only for stoppages 

 of an hour or two at different stations, to take or leave 

 passengers and to deposit or receive merchandise. In order 

 that we may be perfectly independent, however, and stop 

 wherever it seems desirable to make collections, the com- 

 pany places at our disposition a steamer for one month 

 between Para and Manaos. There are to be no passen- 

 gers but ourselves, and the steamer is provided with 

 everything necessary for the whole company during that 

 period, food, service, <fec. I think it may fairly be said 

 that in no part of the world could a private scientific un- 

 dertaking be greeted with more cordiality or receive a more 

 liberal hospitality than has been accorded to the present 



* The President of this line is the Baron de Maza, esteemed by his country- 

 men as a financier of great ability and a man of rare energy, perseverance, and 

 patriotism. As he was in Europe during the year of my visit to Brazil, I had 

 not the pleasure of a personal acquaintance with him, and I therefore welcome 

 this opportunity of thanking him for the liberality shown in all their dealings 



witli me by the company of which he is the moving spirit. L. A. 



7 J 



