74 PARA. Chap. II. 



destination, the last mile or two having been again 

 through second-growth forest. The mills formed a large 

 pile of buildings, pleasantly situated in a cleared tract 

 of land, many acres in extent, and everywhere sur- 

 rounded by the perpetual forest. We were received in 

 the kindest manner by the overseer, Mr. Leavens, who 

 showed us all that was interesting about the place, and 

 took us to the best spots in the neighbourhood for birds 

 and insects. The mills were built a long time ago by a 

 wealthy Brazilian. They had belonged to Mr. Upton for 

 many years. I was told that when the dark-skinned 

 revolutionists were preparing for their attack on Para, 

 they occupied the place, but not the slightest injury was 

 done to the machinery or building, for the leaders said 

 it was against the Portuguese and their party that they 

 were at war, not against the other foreigners. 



The creek Iritiri at the mills is only a few yards 

 wide ; it winds about between two lofty walls of forest 

 for some distance, then becomes much broader, and 

 finally joins the Magoary. There are many other rami- 

 fications, creeks or channels, which lead to retired 

 hamlets and scattered houses, inhabited by people of 

 mixed white, Indian, and negi'o descent. Many of them 

 did business with Mr. Leavens, bringing for sale their 

 little harvests of rice, or a few logs of timber. It was 

 interesting to see them in their little, heavily-laden 

 montarias. Sometimes the boats were managed by 

 handsome, healthy young lads, loosely clad in straw 

 hat, white shirt, and dark blue trousers, turned up to the 

 knee. They steered, paddled, and managed the varejaO 

 (the boating pole), with much grace and dexterity. 



