236 



TABATINGA. 



company ; but rather that they shall lend them all the facilities they 

 may need, for the better prosecution of their enterprise. 



For which purpose I have caused to be issued this passport, which I 

 sign and seal with the seal of my arms. 



Imperial Legation of Brazil, in Washington, 



February 27, 1851. 

 [seal.] SERGIO TEIXEIRA DE MACEDO. 

 By order of his Excellency : 



ANTO. ZE DUARDE GONDIM, 



Secretary of Legation. 



As soon as my rank was ascertained, (which appeared to be that of a 

 captain in the Brazilian army,) I was saluted with seven guns. The 

 commandant used much stately ceremony towards me, but never left 

 me a moment to myself until he saw me safely in bed on board my 

 boat. I did not know, at first, whether this was polite attention or a 

 watch upon me ; but I think it was the latter, for, upon my giving him 

 the slip, and walking over towards the old fort, he joined me within 

 five minutes ; and when we returned to his house he brought a dic- 

 tionary, and, pointing with a cunning expression to the verb tra$ar, (to 

 draw,) asked me to read it. I did so, and handed the book back to him, 

 when he pointed out to me the verb delinhar. I was a little fretted, for 

 I thought he might as well ask me at once, and told him that I had no 

 intention of making any drawings whatever, and had merely intended 

 to take a walk. He treated me with ^great civility, and entertained me 

 at his table, giving me roast-beef, which was a great treat. 



It was quite pleasant, after coming from the Peruvian villages, which 

 are all nearly hidden in the woods, to see that Tabatinga had the forest 

 cleared away from about it, for a space of forty or fifty acres ; was 

 covered with green grass ; and had a grove of orange-trees in its midst, 

 though they were now old and past bearing. There are few houses to 

 be seen, for those of the Ticunas are still in the woods. Those that are 

 visible are the soldiers' quarters, and the residences of a few whites that 

 live here — white, however, in contradistinction to the Indian; for I think 

 the only pure white man in the place was a Frenchman, who has 

 resided a long time in Brazil, and has a large Brazilian family. The 

 post is garrisoned by twenty soldiers, commanded by Illustrissimo 

 Benhor Tenente Jose Virisimo dos Santos Lima, a cadet, a sergeant, 

 and a corporal. The population of Tabatinga is about two hundred ; 

 mostly Indians of the Ticuna tribe. It is well situated for a frontier 

 post, having all the river in front, only about half a inile wide, and 



