Chap. IV. NICKNAMES. 285 



previously), we struck off across the praia towards 

 the encampment. An obstacle here presented itself 

 on which we had not counted. The sun had shone all 

 day through a cloudless sky untempered by a breath of 

 wind, and the sands had become heated by it to a degree 

 that rendered walking over them with our bare feet im- 

 possible. The most hardened footsoles of the party 

 could not endure the burning soil. We made several 

 attempts ; we tried running : wrapped the cool leaves 

 of Heliconise round our feet, but in no way could we step 

 forward many yards. There was no means of getting 

 back to our friends before night, except going round the 

 praia, a circuit of about four miles, and walking through 

 the water or on the moist sand. To get to the water- 

 side from the place where we then stood was not diffi- 

 cult, as a thick bed of a flowering shrub, called tintarana, 

 an infusion of the leaves of which is used to dye black, lay 

 on that side of the sand-bank. Footsore and wearied, 

 burthened with our guns, and walking for miles through 

 the tepid shallow water under the brain-scorching vertical 

 sun, we had, as may be imagined, anything but a pleasant 

 time of it. I did not, however, feel any inconvenience 

 afterwards. Every one enjoys the most lusty health 

 whilst living this free and wild life on the rivers. 



The other hunting trip which I have alluded to was 

 undertaken in company with three friendly young half- 

 castes. Two of them were brothers, namely, Joao (John) 

 and Zephyrino Jabuti : Jabuti, or tortoise, being a nick- 

 name which their father had earned for his slow gait, 

 and which, as is usual in this country, had descended 



