254 TRAVELS ON THE RIO NEGRO. [April, 



Sao Gabriel, whence he had brought the correct date, agreed 

 with them, there was no withstanding such authority. A 

 minute examination of my diary was made, and it was then 

 found that on our first stay at Caruru we had reckoned our 

 delay there as five days instead of six. The Indians generally 

 keep accounts of the time very accurately on a voyage, by 

 cutting notches on a stick, as boys do at school on the 

 approach of the holidays. In our case, however, even they 

 were most of them wrong, for some of them agreed with me, 

 while others made a day in advance, and others again a day 

 behind us, so that we got completely confused. Sometmies 

 the traders residing at the Indian villages pass many months, 

 without seeing a person from any civilised part, and get two 

 or three days out in their reckonings. Even in more populous 

 places, where all the inhabitants depend on the priest or the 

 commandante, errors have been made, and Sundays and Saints' 

 days have been desecrated, while Mondays and common days 

 have been observed in their place, much to the horror of all 

 good Catholics. 



The next morning I took a turn round the village, — bought 

 some paroquets and parrots, and some feather ornaments and 

 small pots, of the Tushaua ; and then, having nothing to keep 

 me at Jauarite, and having vainly endeavoured to get some 

 Indians to go with me, I left for Sao Jeronymo. On arriving 

 at the first great fall of Pinupinu, we found only one Indian, 

 and were obliged to send to the village for more. That 

 afternoon they did not cnoose to come, and we lost a beautiful 

 day. The next morning, as was to be expected, commenced 

 a soaking rain ; but as the Indians arrived we went on, and 

 about noon, the rain clearing off a little, we passed the fall 

 of Panore, and arrived safely at the village of Sao Jeronymo. 

 Here we disembarked, and unloaded our canoes, taking 

 possession of the doorless " casa da nacjio," and made up our 

 minds to remain quietly till we should get men to go down 

 the river. 



The same afternoon Jesuino arrived, and the next morning 

 left, — kindly inquiring when I intended to proceed, and saying, 

 he had spoken with the Tushaua to get me Indians. In two 

 days, however, the Tushaiia also left for Barra, without giving 

 me a single Indian, notwithstanding the promises and threats 

 I had alternately employed. 



