242 THE LOWER AMAZONS. Chap. YL 



to 20 feet, the sugar-yielding part of the stem being 

 about 8 feet in length and 3 inches in diameter. The 

 land for miles around the establishment is rich alluvial 

 soil, and as level as a bowling-green. Beyond the belt 

 of forest which runs along the banks of the river, there 

 is a large tract of soft green meadow with patches of 

 woodland and scattered trees, combining to form a land- 

 scape like that of an English park. But a meadow on 

 the banks of the Amazons is a very different thing from 

 what it is in a temperate climate : the vegetation is rank 

 and monotonous, and there are absolutely no flowers. 

 The old gentleman had built a pretty little chapel on 

 his estate, on the occasion of a visit from the Bishop of 

 Para, who sometimes travels through his diocese, and I 

 slept in the Bishop's room attached to the building. The 

 abundance of mosquitoes is a great drawback to the rich 

 agricultural country on this side of the river. A little 

 before night sets in, the inhabitants are obliged to close 

 the doors and windows of their sleeping apartments ; and 

 it is singular that this simple means of keeping out the 

 pests seems to be pretty successful. On the Upper 

 Amazons the precaution is of no use^ and every one is 

 obliged to sling his hammock under a mosquito tent. 

 The whole of this coast, as well as the banks of the 

 many inlets which intersect it, is inhabited by scattered 

 settlers. Tlic population of the municipal district of 

 Obydos, which comprises about twenty miles of river 

 frontage, is estimated at 12,000 souls. 



I made a large collection in the neighbourhood of 

 Obydos, chiefly of insects. The forest is more varied 



