LIFE IN TEFFE. 215 



dining-room, with a large closet leading out of it, used 

 as a storage-place for alcohol, and serving at this moment 

 as a prison-house for two live alligators who are awaiting 

 execution there. The news of our arrival has already 

 gone abroad, and the fishermen and boys of the village 

 are bringing in specimens of all sorts, alligators, turtles, 

 fish, insects, birds. Enough is already gathered to show 

 what a rich harvest may be expected in this neighborhood. 



September 28th. Yesterday afternoon, between sunset 

 and moonlight, our neighbor Dr. Romualdo invited us to go 

 with him and his friend Senhor Joao da Cunha on a fishing 

 excursion into one of the pretty bayous that open out to the 

 lake. As our canoe entered it, lazy alligators were lying 

 about in the still glassy water, with their heads just resting 

 above the surface ; a tall, gray heron stood on the shore, 

 as if watching his reflection, almost as distinct as himself, 

 and a variety of water-birds sailed over our heads as we 

 intruded upon their haunts. When we had reached a 

 certain point, the Indians sprang up to their necks in the 

 water, (which was, by the way, unpleasantly warm,) and 

 stretched the net. After a few minutes, they dragged it 

 into shore with a load of fish, which seemed almost as 

 wonderful as Peter's miraculous draught. As the net was 

 landed the fish broke from it in hundreds, springing through 

 the meshes and over the edges, and literally covering the 

 beach. The Indians are very skilful in drawing the net, 

 going before it and lashing the water with long rods to 

 frighten the fish and drive them in. Senhor da Cunha, 

 who is a very ardent lover of the sport, worked as hard 

 as any of the boatmen, plunging into the water to lend 

 a hand at the net or drive in the fish, and, when the 

 draught was landed on the beach, rushing about in the 



