54 SANTAREM. Chap. I. 



perstitious fancies. She said gold was contained in the 

 bed of the brook, and that the murmur of the water 

 over the little cascades was the voice of the " water- 

 mother " revealing the hidden treasure. A narrow pass 

 between two hill sides was the portao or gate, and all 

 within, along the wooded banks of the stream, was 

 enchanted ground. The hill underneath which we 

 were encamped was the enchanter's abode, and she 

 gravely told us she often had long conversations with 

 him. These myths were of her own invention, and in 

 the same way an endless number of other similar ones 

 have originated in the childish imaginations of the poor 

 Indian and half-breed inhabitants of different parts of 

 the country. It is to be remarked, however, that the 

 Indian men all become sceptics after a little intercourse 

 with the whites. The witchcraft of poor Cecilia was 

 of a very weak quality. It consisted in throwing 

 pinches of powdered bark of a certain tree and other 

 substances into the fire whilst muttering a spell — a 

 prayer repeated backwards — and adding the name of the 

 person on whom she wished the incantation to operate. 

 Some of the feiticeiras, however, play more dangerous 

 tricks than this harmless mummery. They are ac- 

 quainted with many poisonous plants, and although 

 they seldom have the courage to administer a fatal 

 dose, sometimes contrive to convey to their victim suf- 

 ficient to cause serious illness. The motive by which 

 they are actuated is usually jealousy of other women in 

 love matters. Whilst I resided in Santarem a case of 

 what was called witchcraft was tried by the sub-delegado, 

 in which a highly respectable white lady was the com- 



