'^18 THE DOG. 



the current, a guide is requisite, that advantage 

 may be taken of the shallowest parts. The 

 Sertanejos have a curious contrivance for cross- 

 ing rivers, which is formed of three pieces of 

 wood, and upon this they paddle themselves to 

 the opposite side. I heard it often spoken of 

 by the name of cavalete ; but as I did not see 

 any of them, I cannot pretend to give an exact 

 description. * 



The men soon left us to arrange the loads, 

 which we were doing with all possible expedi- 

 tion, when, on turning round, I saw Mimoza 

 running up to me, half crouched and half 

 afraid. I had often wished to purchase this 

 animal, but nothing would induce her master to 

 part with her ; he said that he had had her from 

 a whelp, and added, that if he put the pot upon 

 the fire, and then went out with her, he was 

 sure to return by the time it boiled, bringing 

 something with which to fill it. He did not 

 mean that this was literally the case ; but thus 

 quaintly he wished to impress the idea of her 

 great expertness in hunting. She followed us, 

 as she found that she was well received. We 

 advanced, and halted at St. Ursula, zjazenda, 

 distant from A911 one league and a half, and 



* There is a print in Barlaeus which represents the Por- 

 tuguese crossing the river St. Francisco upon rafts or logs of 

 timber; these must, I think, have been similar to those 

 which are at present used in the Sertam. 



