"IN MEMORIAM" 291 



" Barra, March 15, 1850. 



Dear Sir, 



" A lodge is gained at last. Here we are in a 



Barra ! 



" Here we work with Net and Trigger, 

 By the famous river Nigger, 



on whose midnight waters never is heard the hum of the 

 sanguinary carapana, 1 where ' sleep which knits up the ravelled 

 sleave of care,' hath no intruder. By the bye, talking of sleep 

 reminds me of redes. 2 All the redes in Barra possess a title. 

 Why? Because they are Barra-nets. This you may think 

 far-fetched. Well ! I will own 'tis rather distant ; perhaps 

 you would like one a little nearer ? Good. As we left Obydos, 

 remarking the woody declivity on our right, the following 

 sublime comparative similitude burst forth spontaneously. 

 Why is this hill like a dead body running? Because, says I — ■ 

 but no ! you must really try to guess it ; however, I will enclose 

 the answer to refer to in case of failure. (See p. 292.) 



" With best wishes for your health and success, and kind 

 remembrances to Mr. King and Santarem friends 



" I remain, yours respectfully 



" Edward Wallace." 



" Serpa, December 29, 1850. 



" Dear Sir, 



" I have just returned from a month's excursion 

 among the lakes and byways of the mighty Amazon, and 

 whilst reposing my weary limbs amid the luxurious folds of 

 a rede, drinking a fragrant cup of the sober beverage, and 

 meditating (but cheerfully) upon the miseries of human 

 nature, I received notice of your arrival in the Barra. 



" So you have at last gained that ' lodge ' so long pictured 

 in the vista of imagination. You are at last in that Promised 



1 Carapana is the native name of the mosquito. 



2 "Rede or net, the local name for " hammock." 



