THE 



NATUBALIST ON THE AMAZONS. 



CHAPTER I 



SANTAREM. 



Situation of Santarem — Manners and customs of the inhabitants — 

 Trade — Climate — Leprosy — Historical sketch — Grassy campos and 

 woods — Excursions to Mapiri, Mahica, and Irura, with sketches 

 of their Natural History ; Palms, wild fruit-trees, Mining Wasps, 

 Mason Wasps, Bees, Sloths, and Marmoset Monkeys — Natural 

 History of Termites or White Ants. 



I have already given a short account of the size, 

 situation, and general appearance of Santarem. Al- 

 though containing not more than 2500 inhabitants, it 

 is the most civilised and important settlement on the 

 banks of the main river from Peru to the Atlantic. The 

 pretty little town, or city as it is called, with its rows of 

 tolerably uniform, white-washed and red-tiled houses sur- 

 rounded by green gardens and woods, stands on gently 

 sloping ground on the eastern side of the Tapajos, close 

 to its point of junction with the Amazons. A small 

 eminence on which a fort has been erected, but which 

 is now in a dilapidated condition, overlooks the streets, 

 and forms the eastern limit of the mouth of the 



VOL. II. B 



