

RETURN TO GOIANA. 



255 



therefore we were thankful in having a house so 

 near ; indeed, the rain continued during the 

 greatest part of the afternoon. We had de- 

 scended into a narrow and beautiful valley, 

 much of which was covered with flourishing 

 plantations of sugar-cane, looking very green 

 and luxuriant. This was not the first night that 

 I had seen the beautiful luminous insect, elaler 

 noctilucus, which is called by the Portuguese 

 cacqfogo. It is to be met with chiefly in well 

 wooded lands, and emits at intervals a strong 

 but short-lived light. 



After leaving this place the next morning, we 

 discovered that we had lost some trifles belong- 

 ing to our baggage. I sent the guide and 

 another man back to seek for them ; but they 

 returned unsuccessful. We had, it is true, sel- 

 dom taken up our lodgings in public houses, 

 but perhaps if we had done so oftener, I should 

 have had more reason to complain ; however, as 

 it is, this was the only occasion upon which I 

 lost any part of my baggage, with a suspicion of 

 theft attached to its disappearing. 



We rested at mid-day near Dous Rios, and in 

 the afternoon passed through that place, arriving 

 at Goiana about sun-set. It will be remembered 

 that I purchased some of my horses at Goiana ; 

 now on my return, two of the same animals were 

 still with me, and this alone proves that they 

 were of the best kind. When we were distant 



