Chap. II. HOUSES CONCEALED IN FOREST. 87 



was a tract of level, densely-wooded country, through 

 which flowed the winding rivulet, or creek, which gives 

 its name to a small scattered settlement hidden in the 

 wilderness ; the hills here receding two or three miles 

 towards the interior. A large portion of the forest 

 was flooded, the trunks of the very high trees near the 

 mouth of the creek standing 18 feet deep in water. 

 We lost two hours working our way with poles through 

 the inundated woods in search of the port. Every inlet 

 we tried ended in a labyrinth choked up with bushes, 

 but we were at length guided to the right place by the 

 crowing of cocks. On shouting for a montaria an 

 Indian boy made his appearance, guiding one through 

 the gloomy thickets ; but he was so alarmed, I suppose 

 at the apparition of a strange-looking white man in 

 spectacles bawling from the prow of the vessel, that he 

 shot back quickly into the bushes. He returned when 

 Manoel spoke, and we went ashore : the montaria wind- 

 ing along a gloomy overshadowed water-path, made by 

 cutting away the lower branches and underwood. The 

 foot-road to the houses was a narrow, sandy alley, bor- 

 dered by trees of stupendous height, overrun with 

 creepers, and having an unusual number of long air- 

 roots dangling from the epiphytes on their branches. 



After passing one low smoky little hut, half-buried in 

 foliage, the path branched off in various directions, and 

 the boy having left us we took the wrong turn. We 

 were brought to a stand soon after by the barking of 

 dogs ; and on shouting, as is customary on approaching 

 a dwelling, "0 da casa!" (Oh of the house!) a dark- 

 skinned native, a Cafuzo, with a most unpleasant ex- 



