Chap. IV. EETURN" TO PARA. 165 



Pard when the things were disembarked. I tried 

 to hire a montaria and men, but was told that it 

 would be madness to cross the river in a small boat 

 with this breeze. On going to Senhor Laroque, 

 another of my Cameta friends, I was relieved of my 

 embarrassment ; I found there an English gentleman, 

 Mr. Patchett of Pernambuco, who was visiting Para 

 and its neighbourhood on his way to England, and 

 who, as he was going back to Para in a small boat 

 with four paddles, which would start at midnight, 

 kindly offered me a passage. The evening from seven 

 to ten o'clock was very stormy. About seven, the 

 night became intensely dark, and a terrific squall 

 of wind burst fort>h, which made the loose tiles fly 

 over the house tops ; to this succeeded lightning and 

 stupendous claps of thunder, both nearly simultaneous. 

 We had had several of these short and sharp storms 

 during the past month. At midnight when we em- 

 barked, all was as calm as though a ruffle had never 

 disturbed air, forest or river. The boat sped along 

 like an arrow to the rhythmic paddling of the four 

 stout youths we had with us, who enlivened the 

 passage with their wild songs. Mr. Patchett and I 

 tried to get a little sleep, but the cabin was so small 

 and encumbered with boxes placed at all sorts of 

 angles, that we found sleep impossible. I was just 

 dozing when the day dawned, and, on awaking, the first 

 object I saw was the Santa Rosa, at anchor under 

 a green island in mid-river. I preferred to make the 

 remainder of the voyage in the company of my col- 

 lections, so bade Mr. Patchett good-day. The o^ATier of 



