A BLOW ON THE BEARD. 291 



rain poured down incessantly; but we formed our beds by 

 dragging up the earth into oblong mounds, somewhat like 

 graves in a country churchyard, and then placing grass 

 upon them. The rain continuing to deluge us, we were 

 unable to leave for two days; but as soon as it became fair 

 we continued our march. The heavy dew upon the high 

 grass was so cold as to cause shivering, and I was forced 

 to lie by for eight days, tossing and groaning with violent 

 pain in the head. This was the most severe attack I had 

 endured. It made me quite unfit to move, or even know 

 what was passing outside my little tent. Senhor Pascoal, 

 who had been detained by the severe rain at a better spot, 

 at last came up, and, knowing that leeches abounded in 

 the rivulets, procured a number, and applied some dozens 

 to the nape of the neck and the loins. This partially 

 relieved the pain. He was then obliged to move forward, 

 in order to purchase food for his large party. After many 

 days, I began to recover, and wished to move on, but my 

 men objected to the attempt on account of my weakness. 

 When Senhor Pascoal had been some time at the village in 

 front, as he had received instructions from his employer, 

 Captain Neves, to aid me as much as possible, and being 

 himself a kindly-disposed person, he sent back two mes- 

 sengers to invite me to come on, if practicable. 



It happened that the head-man of the village where I 

 had lain twenty-two days, while bargaining and quarrelling 

 in my camp for a piece of meat, had been struck on the 

 n:outh by one of my men. My principal men paid five 

 pieces of cloth and a gun as an atonement; but the more 

 they yielded the more exorbitant he became, and he sent 

 word to all the surrounding villages to aid him in avenging 

 the affront of a blow on the beard. As their courage 

 usually rises with success, I resolved to yield no more, and 

 departed. In passing through a forest in the country 

 beyond, we were startled by a body of men rushing after 

 us. They began by knocking down the burdens of the 

 Undermost of my men, and several shots were fired, each 



