w 



216 



CROSS THE RIVER ACU. 



never gave us any trouble, until the long con- 

 tinuance of the journey wearied it out, and then 

 I was obliged to make room for it in one of the 

 panniers ; in this manner it travelled for a day 

 or two at a time. The armadillo was Gonveyed 

 in a small bag, and only on one occasion gave 

 us any trouble ; when we released it at our 

 resting-places, it usually remained among the 

 packages, either feeding or rolled up. It was 

 with some difficulty that Mimoza was prevented 

 from annoying it ; but latterly she and the 

 armadillo were very good friends. At Acu I 

 changed one of my horses for another that was 

 in better condition, and gave about the value 

 of a guinea to-boot. 



Our friends, the saddler and the owner of 

 the house which we had inhabited in going, 

 received us very cordially, and offered to assist 

 us in crossing the river, which was full ; but 

 they advised me to wait for a decrease of the 

 depth and rapidity of the stream ; however I 

 was anxious to advance, and my people made 

 no objection. Here I discharged the young 

 man whom I had taken from hence as a guide 

 to Aracati. We crossed the smaller branch of 

 the river with the water reaching to the flaps of 

 the saddles. When we arrived at the second 

 and principal branch, it was discovered that a 

 jangada would be necessary to convey the bag- 

 gage across. Several of the inhabitants of the 



