272 



FORTE DO PRINCIPE DA BEIRA. 



party, growled fiercely for some time ; we were then kept awake by the 

 musquitoes which swarmed about us. 



September 6, 1852. — Our paddles were dipped in the river at 4 in 

 the morning watch. The men get out of the channel, and often run 

 the canoe on the shoals. The thermometer dipped into the water near 

 these sand flats gives 88°, showing the difference of 1° between the 

 slack water of the river, and that in the middle of the current, which 

 varies in its speed from half to one and eight-tenths of a mile per hour. 

 The bed of this liver is very uneven, few snags, but in some places we 

 find rocks along the bank, and standing up in mid channel. At 8.30 

 a. m., thermometer, 85° ; water, 81° ; dear and calm. The foliage and 

 grasses extend down the sloping Brazil bank into the water, and the 

 palm trees loom up above the tops of other trees, while on the Bolivia 

 shore the bank breaks down perpendicularly, with a large growth of 

 forest trees. Before sundown, we came in sight of high land to the 

 southeast. We are now approaching the eastern side of the Madeira 

 Plate ; the hills appear beyond the flat country like islands at sea. 



September 1. — We are disturbed all night by musquitoes. The heavy 

 dew falls upon the crew as they are sleeping in mid-channel. Fifteen 

 of us pass the night in a space thirty-nine feet by four, which is rather 

 close stowage, with a dog in the middle. At 9 a. m. breakfasted on the 

 rocks, by the Brazil banks, upon turtle and alligator eggs, with chicken 

 gull stew. Two small creeks empty into the Itenez from the Brazils. 

 We came to rapids where the bed of the river was very rocky. There 

 are fewer fish in this stream than in the Mamore ; some of those caught 

 are very curious in appearance. 



As the men forced the canoe through the narrow rapid channel, they 

 shouted the news that Forte do Principe da Beira was in sight. We 

 could see the flag-pole and the upper bastions. Its situation was com- 

 manding. A steamer of less than six feet draught could ascend to these 

 rocks, which are four miles from the fort, but no farther at this season 

 oifrthe year. The rocks are so low that many of them are overflowed 

 during the rainy season. The crew had some difficulty in forcing the 

 canoe up among the rocks ; the current rushed through narrow channels 

 with great force. 



As we neared the fort our small American ensign was supported by 

 a Cayavabo arrow in the stern. We see soldier people rushing about 

 as though they had been suddenly awakened from sleep or surprised. 

 A canoe came down to meet us with two armed negro soldiers; one of 

 them politely gave his commander's compliments to me, with the request 

 that we would keep off. As this appeared warlike, I sent my compli- 



