CIIxVPTER XXII. 



THE LOWEK AMAZOXS. 



Departure from Manaos— Our Steamer.— Monkeys.— Madeira Kivcr.— Kise 

 and Fall of tlie Amazons.— Flooded Forest.— Igarapes.— Victoria 

 Tlcgia. — VillaBella.— Mountain Scenery.— Straits of Obidos. — Tides.— 

 Santarem.— Breaks in tlie Great Forest.— Oceanic Eiver.— Natural 

 Canals.— Forest.— Para Estuary.— Para.— Commerce of the Amazons.- 

 Settlement of the Valley.— A Pleasant Meeting.— Farewell to tlic 

 Tropics. 



Just at evening on tlic 20tli of December we stepped 

 aboard the steamer, and started for Para. We were 

 now upon the last thousand-mile stretch of the Great 

 Itircr. The " Tapajos," our steamer, abounded with mon- 

 keys, turtles, anacondas, and other denizens of the forest, 

 presenting the appearance of a floating menagerie. The 

 most observed and observing of all were the monkeys, of 

 which we had a large number aboard ; some promenaded 

 the deck with freedom, or climbed tlie rigging, now and 

 then engaging in sportive play vrith the passengers, or 

 picking a quarrel with their more unfortunate anthro- 

 .pomorphous companions. One large, serious fellow, al- 

 lowed the run of the boat, took infinite satisfaction in 

 noting the approach of meal-times ; then in stationing 

 himself above in some unobserved position, and, upon 

 the appearance of the steward, bearing upon his head food 

 for the table, in helping himself. Once tlie dish contained 

 hot soup, which he could not so rcadil}^ appropriate, and he 



