Chap. VII. DAILY LIFE ON BOARD. 271 



many yards out into the river at this season of the year. 

 The strong current at a distance of thirty or forty yards 

 from the coast steadied the cuberta head to stream, and 

 kept us from drifting ashore. We all slept in the open 

 air, as the heat of the cabins was stifling in the early 

 part of the night. Penna, Senhora Katita, and I slung 

 our hammocks in triangle between the mainmast and 

 two stout poles fixed in the raised deck. A sheet was 

 the only covering required, besides our regular clothing ; 

 for the decrease of temperature at night on the Amazons 

 is never so great as to be felt otherwise than as a 

 delightful coolness after the sweltering heat of the 

 afternoons. We used to rise when the first gleam of 

 da^\^l showed itself above the long, dark line of forest. 

 Our clothes and hammocks were then generally soaked 

 with dew, but this was not felt to be an inconvenience. 

 The Indian Manoel used to revive himself by a plunge 

 in the river, under the bows of the vessel. It is the 

 habit of all Indians, male and female, to bathe early 

 in the morning ; they do it sometimes for warmth's 

 sake, the temperature of the water being often con- 

 siderably higher than that of the air. Penna and I 

 lolled in our hammocks, whilst Katita prepared the 

 indispensable cup of strong coffee, which she did with 

 wonderful celerity, smoking meanwhile her early morn- 

 ing pipe of tobacco. Liberal owners of river craft allow 

 a cup of coffee sweetened with molasses, or a ration of 

 casha9a, to each man of their crews ; Penna gave them 

 coffee. When all were served, the day's work began. 

 There was seldom any wind at this early hour ; so if 

 there was a remanso along the shore the men rowed, if 



