2792 Insects. 



men were all hilarity, had got a fire on deck, and were making herb 

 tea. The wonderful transparency of the atmosphere cannot be 

 imagined in England. After enjoying the scene about an hour, I 

 turned below and slept till break of day, when they called me up to 

 see Cameta, which was yet distant on the far west bank of the 

 Tocantins. We were still bounding before the wind, and sped with 

 wonderful celerity to our landing-place, where we anchored at half- 

 past six, having been four nights and three days on the passage. 



" I stayed at Cameta until the 16th of July, spending my time 

 agreeably, and I trust profitably. I here made the acquaintance of 

 Doctor Angelo Custodio Carrea, vice-president of the province, who 

 took an interest in my errand, and procured me a beautiful country 

 house to live in — a most charming spot — at the entrance of a broad 

 grassy drive through the forest to the Indian villages. In front of the 

 house I descended a pathway through a grove, always alive with He- 

 liconias, Ageronias, Papilios, and other Diurnes, down to the beach, 

 where was a lovely little sandy bay, the landing-place of fishermen, 

 and where was charming bathing. I generally bathed before break- 

 fast, if tide permitted, and would then sit on shore on a felled palm- 

 tree, enjoying the delicious coolness at sunrise, and looking over the 

 expanse of blue waters, dotted with palm-clad islands ; but the beauty 

 of this situation is beyond description. 



" The forest round Cameta is thickly populated by civilized Indians 

 and mixed breed. Unlike Para, whose neighbourhood is mostly 

 dense and swampy ' virgin forest,' here the land is high, forest 

 partially cut, leaving a shady grove of tall trees in most places ; under 

 the shade are the palm-thatched cottages of the people. There are 

 roads all through the forest for fifteen miles or more from Cameta, 

 with houses, plantations of coffee, cocoa, &c, all the way. 



" The people are quiet, hospitable, and good-hearted, quite differ- 

 ent from the inhabitants of Para. In entomologizing, I made the ac- 

 quaintance of a great number of them ; entering the house, the first 

 thing they do is to sling a hammock for you, the young girls go back- 

 ward and make coffee, whilst the man fills you a pipe of tobacco, 

 lights it, and offers it to you to smoke. If the people are better off, 

 you get still better treated. They lead a happy life in their way. 

 The river abounds in delicious fish ; a field, a few yards square of 

 Mandioca, supplies them with bread ; they grow a few cotton bushes 

 to make hammocks ; coffee, cocoa-nuts, sweet potatoes, melons, and 

 a great variety of fruit grow without any care from them, about their 

 homes : having little work to do, they spend their time in feasts, 



