876 A JOURNEY IN BRAZIL. 



pretty and attractive enough ; for it opened into a sunny 

 garden, where bananas and oranges and palm-trees were 

 growing. But the old woman who received me complained 

 bitterly of the dampness, to which, indeed, her hoarse cough 

 and rheumatism bore testimony ; and a man was lying in his 

 hammock, slung under the porch, who was worn to mere 

 skin and bone with fever. Here also we received some 

 valuable specimens, collected, since our previous visit, by 

 the subdelegado and one or two other residents. 



February 3d. On Thursday we reached Taj apuru, where 

 we were detained for two days on account of some little re 

 pair needed on the steamer. The place is interesting as 

 showing what may be done on the Amazons in a short 

 time by enterprise and industry. A settler in these regions 

 may, if he has the taste and culture to appreciate it, sur- 

 round himself with much that is attractive in civilized life. 

 Some seventeen years ago Senhor Sepeda established him- 

 self at this spot, then a complete wilderness. He has now 

 a very large and pleasant country-house, with a garden in 

 front and walks in the forest around. The interior of the 

 house is commodious and tasteful ; and we could not but 

 wish, while we enjoyed Senhor Sepeda's hospitality, that his 

 example might be followed, and that there might be many 

 such homes on the banks of the Amazons. This morning 

 we are again on our way down the river. 



February ^th. We reached Para to-day, parting, net 

 without regret, from the " Ibicuhy," on board of which we 

 have spent so many pleasant weeks. Before we left the 

 vessel, Captain Faria ordered the carpenter to take down 

 our little pavilion on deck. It had been put up for our 

 accommodation, and had served as our dining-room and 

 our working-room, our shelter from the sun, and our snug 



