Cuap., V. LAND LAWS. IOI 
and the breadth of the water is the same. The tides are extremely 
intricate throughout all the infinite channels and creeks which intersect 
the lands of the Amazons delta. The moon now broke forth and 
lighted up the trunks of colossal trees, the leaves of monstrous Jupatt 
palms which arched over the creek, and revealed groups of arborescent 
arums standing like rows of spectres on its banks. We had a glimpse 
now and then into the black depths of the forest, where all was silent 
except the shrill stridulation of wood-crickets. Now and then a sudden 
plunge in the water ahead would startle us, caused by heavy fruit or 
some nocturnal animal dropping from the trees. The two Indians here 
rested on their paddles, and allowed the canoe to drift with the tide. 
A pleasant perfume came from the forest, which Raimundo said pro- 
ceeded from a cane-field. He told me that all this land was owned by 
large proprietors at Pard, who had received grants from time to time 
from the Government for political services. Raimundo was quite in a 
talkative humour; he related to me many incidents of the time of the 
“ Cabanagem,” as the revolutionary days of 1835-6 are popularly called. 
He said he had been much suspected himself of being a rebel, but 
declared that the suspicion was unfounded. The only complaint he 
had to make against the white man was that he monopolised the land 
without having any intention or prospect of cultivating it. He had 
been turned out of one place where he had squatted and cleared a 
large piece of forest. I believe the law of Brazil at this time was that 
the new lands should become the property of those who cleared and 
cultivated them, if their right was not disputed within a given term of 
years by some one who claimed the proprietorship. ‘This land-law has 
since been repealed, and a new one adopted, founded on that of the 
United States. Raimundo spoke of his race as the red-skins, “pelle 
vermelho ”; they meant well to the whites, and only begged to be let 
alone. ‘‘ God,” he said, “had given room enough for us all.” It was 
pleasant to hear the shrewd good-natured fellow talkin this strain. Our 
companion, Joaquim, had fallen asleep ; the night air was cool, and the 
moonlight lit up the features of Raimundo, revealing a more animated 
expression than is usually observable in Indian countenances. I 
always noticed that Indians were more cheerful on a voyage, especially 
in the cool hours of night and morning, than when ashore. There is 
something in their constitution of body which makes them feel ex- 
cessively depressed in the hot hours of the day, especially inside their 
houses. Their skin is always hot to the touch. They certainly do not 
endure the heat of their own climate so well as the whites. The 
negroes are totally different in this respect: the heat of mid-day has 
very little effect on them, and they dislike the cold nights on the 
river. 
We arrived at our hunting-ground about half-past four. The channel 
was here broader, and presented several ramifications. It yet wanted 
an hour and a half to daybreak, so Raimundo recommended me to have 
anap. We both stretched ourselves on the benches of the canoe and 
fell asleep, letting the boat drift with the tide, which was now slack. I 
slept well, considering the hardness of our bed, and when I awoke, in 
the middle of a dream about home-scenes, the day was beginning to 
