272 THE LOWER AMAZONS. Chap. VII. 



not there was no way of progressing but by espia. In 

 some places the currents ran with great force close to 

 the banks, especially where these receded to form long 

 bays or enseadas, as they are called, and then we made 

 very little headway. In such places the banks consist 

 of loose earth, a rich crumbly vegetable mould, sup- 

 porting a growth of most luxuriant forest, of which 

 the currents almost daily carry away large portions, 

 so that the stream for several yards out is encumbered 

 with fallen trees, whose branches quiver in the current. 

 When projecting points of land were encountered, it 

 was impossible, with our weak crew, to pull the cuberta 

 against the whirling torrents which set round them; 

 and in such cases we had to cross the river, drifting 

 often with the current, a mile or two lower down on the 

 opposite shore. There generally sprung a light wind as 

 the day advanced, and then we took down our ham- 

 mocks, hoisted all sail, and bowled away merrily. Penna 

 generally preferred to cook the dinner ashore, when 

 there was little or no wind. About midday on these 

 calm days we used to look out for a nice shady nook in 

 the forest, with cleared space sufficient to make a fire 

 upon. I then had an hour's hunting in the neighbour- 

 ing wilderness, and was always rewarded by the dis- 

 covery of some new species. During the greater part of 

 our voyage, however, we stopped at the house of some 

 settler, and made our fire in the port. Just before 

 dinner it was our habit to take a bath in the river, and 

 then, according to the universal custom on the Amazons, 

 where it seems to be suitable on account of the weak 

 fish diet, we each took hnlf a tea-cup full of neat 



