CHAPTER II. 



PARA. 



Festas — Portuguese and Brazilian Currency — M. Borlaz' Estate — Walk 

 to the Rice-mills — The Virgin Forest, its Plants and Insects — Milk- 

 tree — Saw and Rice Mills — Caripe or Pottery-tree — India-rubber-tree 

 — Flowers and Trees in Blossom — Saliba Ants, Wasps, and Chegoes — 

 Journey by Water to Magoary — The Monkeys — The Commandante 

 at Laranjeiras — Vampire Bats — The Timber-trade — Boa Constrictor 

 and Sloth. 



About a fortnight after our arrival at Para there were several 

 holidays, or "festas," as they are called. Those of the 

 " Espirito Santo " and the " Trinidade " lasted each nine days. 

 The former was held at the cathedral, the latter at one of the 

 smaller churches in the suburbs. The general character of 

 these festas is the same, some being more celebrated and more 

 attractive than others. They consist of fireworks every night 

 before the church ; Negro girls selling "doces," or sweetmeats, 

 cakes, and fruit ; processions of saints and crucifixes ; the 

 church open, with regular services ; kissing of images and 

 relics ; and a miscellaneous crowd of Negroes and Indians, all 

 dressed in white, thoroughly enjoying the fun, and the women 

 in all the glory of their massive gold chains and earrings. 

 Besides these, a number of the higher classes and foreign 

 residents grace the scene with their presence ; showy pro- 

 cessions are got up at the commencement and termination, 

 and on the last evening a grand display of fireworks takes 

 place, which is generally provided by some person who is 

 chosen or volunteers to be " Juiz da festa," or governor of the 

 feast, — a rather expensive honour among people who, not 

 content with an unlimited supply of rockets at night, amuse 

 themselves by firing off great quantities during the day for the 

 sake of the whiz and the bang that accompany them. The 



