CHAPTER VII 



THE LOWER AMAZONS— OBYDOS TO MANAOS, OR THE 

 BAREA OF THE RIO NEGRO. 



Departure from Obydos — River banks and by-cliannels — Cacao planters 

 — Daily life on board our vessel — Great storm — Sand-island and its 

 birds — Hill of Parentins — Negro trader and Mauhes Indians— Villa 

 Nova, its inhabitants, climate, forest, and animal productions — 

 Cararaucii — A rustic festival — Lake of Cararaucii — Motiica flies — 

 Serpa — Christmas holidays — River Madeira — A mameluco farmer 

 — Mura Indians — Rio Negro — Description of Barra — Descent to 

 Para — Yellow fever, 



A TRADER of Obydos, named Penna, was about pro- 

 ceeding in a cuberta laden with merchandise to the Rio 

 Negro, intending to stop frequently on the road ; so I 

 bargained with him for a passage. He gave up a part 

 of the toldo, or fore-cabin as it may be called, and here 

 I slung my hammock and arranged my boxes, so as to 

 be able to work as we went along. The stoppages 1 

 thought would be an advantage, as I could collect in 

 the woods whilst he traded, and thus acquire a know- 

 ledge of the productions of many places on the river 

 which in a direct voyage it would be impossible to do. 

 I provided a stock of groceries for two months' con- 

 sumption ; and, after the usual amount of unnecessary 

 fuss and delay on the part of the owner, we started on 



