EGG-HUNTERS. 305 



sand where eg£s were deposited, although they are not wise enough to 

 understand the boiling process their eggs had undergone, yet, some- 

 thing was known to be wrong, and placing no faith in that sand bank, 

 every one deserted it, and made use of an island they would not have 

 chosen had they been let alone. There the oil man continues to follow 

 them. These turtle are called by the Brazilians " Tortaruga Grande." 

 There are said to be four other kinds in the Madeira river, viz., " Cabe- 

 cuda," " Trocaja," "Pitehu," and "Mata-mata." The Tortaruga Grande 

 is the best for eating and for oil ; they are also in greater abundance than 

 the others. 



Huts are built in the sand for the protection of the hunters against 

 the great heats of the sun in the day, and the rains. The men, who are 

 of Amazon Indian blood, have their wives with them. There are few 

 negroes at this business. Brazilians, of Portuguese descent, gather a 

 band of adventurers, or fishermen, who are willing to leave their homes 

 for this wild country, and seek their fortunes among the sands, where no 

 diamonds have yet been found. The life is a hard one ; the exposure on 

 the voyage, and .after they arrive on the ground, is great. Many of 

 them have fevers, their provisions get short, the water is warm, and 

 unless the work is carried on at a rapid rate, the young^turtles begin to 

 form in the egg, which impairs the quality of the oil — to say nothing of 

 the butter. Great quantities of rum are consumed on these expeditions. 

 The Portuguese set up shop where rum is sold, and a debtor and credit 

 account is opened with the Indian workmen ; in rfte same way the Creole 

 miner does with those of the Andes, making profit, while he pays the 

 workmen's monthly wages — from three to five dollars — with provisions. 



The workmen soon get tired and want to return. The employer 

 takes out a passport for them all at the last military post as he ascends ; 

 they are forbidden to travel about the country without one. The work- 

 man is held to his promise to remain during the season, good treatment 

 or bad, by retaining his passport. Our crew became intoxicated among 

 their countrymen, and danced part of the night with Amazonian girls, 

 to the tune of violins, in the huts, while heavy rain poured down in 

 large drops, accompanied with thunder and sharp lightning. Wind 

 blowing fresh from northeast. 



October 3. — The crew wished to remain among these greasy people, 

 but as we preferred floating on by the current, to laying by the side of 

 the oil canoes and hot sand bank, we pushed off with a mail on board. 

 As we descend, the river stretches out in long bends towards the north- 

 east. Twenty-five fathoms sounding and no bottom. The width varies 

 20 



