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TEOTONI FALLS. 



where they seated themselves round. Some presents were made to 

 them in exchange for the offer of several chickens and a large partridge. 

 To the little girls we gave earrings, to supply the place of fish or beast- 

 bones ; to the boys fish-hooks ; and to the men knives. The elderly 

 women particularly fancied looking-glasses for themselves, and glass 

 beads for their babies. One very unattractive woman requested me to 

 make her an additional present of a looking-glass. A knife had been 

 offered, which she particularly requested. She received the refusal with 

 such a savage side-glance, that the damage was repaired at once, and 

 the men ordered into the boat. Her sister used paint. Her forehead 

 was besmeared with a red color, and her lips blackened. We presented 

 her with a large looking-glass, which she used for examining as far 

 down her throat as possible. Pedro nad a slight difficulty with one of 

 the savages, who he said had stolen his knife from the boat. I replaced 

 it, and we went on without being disturbed, though, as we afterwards 

 learnt, these fellows not long since robbed two Brazilians on the river, 

 who escaped down stream in one of the bark canoes of the savages, 

 leaving their own boat behind. At 3 p. m., thermometer, 91°; water, 

 85°; river one mile wide, interspersed with islands and rocks, twenty- five 

 fathoms depth. On the east side a small stream of clear water flows in. 

 The water of these small side-streams are often 6° Fahrenheit cooler 

 than the main river water. We bottle it, as the river water is un- 

 pleasantly warm for drinking. A man fully comprehends the blessing 

 of ice by gliding down this river. The current is fast one hour and 

 slow the next few minutes. The men pull when they feel like it, and 

 rest when they wish. We are moving along, more or less, all the time 

 during the day. The river is not very winding. 



September 30. — About twenty-five miles on a northeasterly course 

 brought us to " Doz Morrinhos " rapids. The difference of level here is 

 slight, though the passes are difficult. A part of the baggage was 

 handed over the rocks, which proved a prudent plan, as the boat was 

 nearly swamped. The country is quite uneven and thickly wooded. 

 At midday we had a light shower of rain, accompanied by thunder, 

 without wind. At 3 p. m., thermometer, 87°; water, 85°; with a strong 

 southwest wind. At the foot of these falls we sounded with five hundred 

 and ten feet, and no bottom. 



At a late hour in the afternoon we arrived at the head of u Teotoni " 

 falls, the most terrific of them all. Here I was attacked with a severe 

 bilious fever, which brought me at once on my back. The pain in my 

 left breast was somewhat like that described by those who have suffered 

 with the " Chagres fever." We were all worn out, thin, and haggard. 



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