CHAPTER VI. 



SPRING-TIME AND BEGINNING OF THE RAINY SEASON. 



September 29, 1883. I have been told for some time that 

 the rains would begin on September 1 5, and with marvellous 

 punctuality during the grey dawn of that morning down 

 came the first showers. The minimum that night was 56. 

 The day was a mixture of English spring and autumn. 

 By 3.30 in the afternoon, the rain was so heavy that I was 

 compelled to give up work. 



What do you think becomes of all the stamps off your 

 letters and newspapers ? They go to a Mission in China, 

 in which Vicente is interested. As you know, the people 

 there leave their children very often to die in the streets. 

 The priests buy the children from their parents, for one 

 hundred old stamps of any kind, which the people value as 

 curiosities. So in time you may furnish enough to buy a 

 child. 



The other day I had one potato brought me as a 

 present, the first since I left Rio in July ; so I prized it very 

 much, cut it up and fried it myself. 



Vicente killed a lizard, called "papavento" (i.e. wind- 

 eater), which is supposed to be dangerous. I bottled it in 

 spirits. We also found some more honey-nests. The bees, 

 which are very small and yellow, are called "jatahy " (an 



