Chap. IV. SONGS OF CAN'OE-MEN: 151 



"Mother, Mother," with a long drawl on the second 

 word. The stanzas are very variable ; the best wit on 

 board starts the verse, improvising as he goes on, and 

 the others join in the chorus. They all relate to the 

 lonely river life and the events of the voyage ; the 

 shoals, the wind ; how far they shall go before they stop 

 to sleep, and so forth. The sonorous native names of 

 places, Goajara, Tucumanduba, &c., add greatly to the 

 charm of the wild music. Sometimes they bring in 

 the stars thus : — 



A lua esta sahindo, 



Mai, Mai ! 

 A lua esta saliindo, 



Mai, Mai ! 

 As sete estrellas estao cliorando, 



Mai, ]\Iai ! 

 Por s'acliarem desamparados, 



Mai, Mai ! 



The moon is rising, 



Mother, Mother t 

 The moon is rising, 



Mother, mother ! 

 The seven stars (Pleiades) are weeping, 



Mother, Mother ! 

 To find themselves forsaken. 



Mother, mother ! 



I fell asleep about ten o'clock, but at four in the 

 morning John Mendez woke me, to enjoy the sight of 

 the little schooner tearinof throuo^h the waves before a 

 spanking breeze. The night was transparently clear 

 and almost cold, the moon appeared sharply defined 

 against the dark blue sky, and a ridge of foam marked 

 where the prow of the vessel was cleaving its way 

 through the water. The men had made a fire in the 



