Chap. IV. THE TOCANTINS AND CAMETA. 113 



we at first intended to be away ; procure tlie necessary 

 passports ; and, lastly, engage a crew. Mr. Leavens, 

 having had much experience in the country, managed 

 all these matters. He brought two Indians from the 

 rice-mills, and these induced another to enrol himself. 

 We, on our parts, took our cook Isidore, and a young 

 Indian lad, named Antonio, who had attached himself to 

 lis in the course of our residence at Nazareth. Our prin- 

 cipal man was Alexandre, one of Mr. Leavens's Indians. 

 He was an intelligent and well-disposed young Tapuyo, 

 an expert sailor, and an indefatigable hunter. To his 

 fidelity we were indebted for being enabled to carry 

 out any of the objects of our voyage. Being a native 

 of a district near the capital, Alexandre was a 

 civilized Tapuyo, a citizen as free as his white neigh- 

 bours. He spoke only Portuguese. He was a spare- 

 built man, rather under the middle height, with fine 

 regular features, and, what was unusual in Indians, 

 the upper lip decorated with a moustache. Three years 

 afterwards I saw him at Para in the uniform of the 

 National Guard, and he called on me often to talk 

 about old times. I esteemed him as a quiet, sensible, 

 manly young feUow. 



We set sail in the evening, after waiting several 

 hours in vain for one of our crew. It was soon dark, 

 the wind blew stiffly, and the tide rushed along with 

 great rapidity, carrying us swiftly past the crowd of 

 vessels which were anchored in the port. The canoe 

 rolled a good deal. After we had made five or six 

 miles of way the tide turned, and we were obHged 

 to cast anchor. Not long after, we lay ourselves dowTi 



VOL. I. I 



