Cuap. VII. A FESTIVAL. 155 
they are attached, are very feeble in comparison with the wide extent 
and weight of the wings ; but the large expanse of these members doubt- 
less assists the insects in maintaining their aérial course. Morphos are 
amongst the most conspicuous of the insect denizens of ‘Tropical 
American forests, and the broad glades of the Villa Nova woods seemed 
especially suited to them, for I noticed here six species. The largest 
specimens of Morpho Cisseis measure seven inches and a, half in 
expanse. Another smaller kind, which I.could not capture, was of a 
pale silvery-blue colour, and the polished surface of its wings flashed 
like a silver speculum, as the insect flapped its wings at a great elevation 
in the sunlight. 
To resume our voyage. We left Villa Nova on the 4th of December. 
A light wind on the 5th carried us across to the opposite shore, and past 
the mouth of the Parana-mirim do arco, or “ the little river of the bow,” 
so called on account of its being a short arm of the main river, of a 
curved shape, rejoining the Amazons a little below Villa Nova. On the 
6th, after passing a large island in mid-river, we arrived at a place where a 
line of perpendicular clay cliffs, called the Barreiros Cararauct, diverts 
slightly the course of the main stream, as at Obydos. A little below 
these cliffs were a few settlers’ houses: here Penna remained ten days 
to trade, a delay which I turned to good account in augmenting very 
considerably my collections. 
At the first house a festival was going forward. We anchored at 
some distance from the shore, on account of the water being shoaly, and 
early in the morning three canoes put off, laden with salt fish, oil of 
manatee, fowls and bananas, wares which the owners wished to exchange 
for different articles required for the festa. Soon after I went ashore. 
The head man was a tall, well-made, civilised Tapuyo, named Marcellino, 
who, with his wife, a thin, active, wiry old squaw, did the honours of 
their house, I thought, admirably. The company consisted of 50 or 60 
Indians and Mamelucos ; some of them knew Portuguese, but the Tupi 
language was the only one used amongst themselves. The festival was 
in honour of our Lady of Conception ; and when the people learnt that 
Penna had on board an image of the saint handsomer than their own, 
they put off in their canoes to borrow it ; Marcellino taking charge of 
the doll, covering it carefully with a neatly-bordered white towel. 
On landing with the image, a procession was formed from the port to 
the house, and salutes fired from a couple of lazarino guns, the saint 
being afterwards carefully deposited in the family oratorio. After a 
litany and hymn were sung in the evening, all assembled to supper 
around a large mat spread on a smooth terrace-like space in front of the 
house. The meal consisted of a large boiled Pirarect, which had been 
harpooned for the purpose in the morning, stewed and roasted turtle, 
piles of mandioca-meal and bananas. The old lady, with two young 
girls, showed the greatest activity in waiting on the guests, Marcellino 
standing gravely by, observing what was wanted and giving the neces- 
sary orders to his wife. When all was done, hard drinking began, and 
soon after there was a dance, to which Penna andI were invited. The 
liquor served was chiefly a spirit distilled by the people themselves from 
mandioca cakes. The dances were all of the same class—namely, 
