246 The Andes akd the Amazon. 



reception-room, ^vitll the four chairs for visitors set in two 

 lines at right angles to the chair of state, promised cold 

 etiquette ; but he addressed us with considerable familiar- 

 ity and evident good-will. AVe found, however, that his 

 authority was quite limited, for a written order which he 

 gave us for a subordinate did not receive the slightest con- 

 sideration. At the house of a Jew named Lev}^ we met a 

 party of Southerners, Captains Mallory, Jones, Sandedge, 

 and Winn, commanded by Dr. Dowsing, who, since " the 

 late onpleasantness," as Nasby calls it, have determined to 

 settle in this country. The government grants them twen- 

 ty square leagues of land on any tributary, on condition 

 that they will colonize it. They were about to start for 

 the Eio Branco on an exploring tour. 



