CHIEF CITIZENS 



does not necessarily result from the mixture of white 

 and Indian blood. The Cametaenses boast, as they have 

 a right to do, of theirs being the only large town which 

 resisted successfully the anarchists in the great rebellion 

 of 1835-6. Whilst the whites of Para were submitting 

 to the rule of half-savage revolutionists, the mamelucos 

 of Cameta placed themselves under the leadership of a 

 courageous priest, named Prudencio ; armed themselves, 

 fortified the place, and repulsed the large forces which 

 the insurgents of Para sent to attack the place. The 

 town not only became the refuge for all loyal subjects, 

 but was a centre whence large parties of volunteers 

 sallied forth repeatedly to attack the anarchists in their 

 various strongholds. 



The forest behind Cameta is traversed by several 

 broad roads, which lead over undulating ground many 

 miles into the interior. They pass generally under shade, 

 and part of the way through groves of coffee and orange 

 trees, fragrant plantations of cacao, and tracts of second- 

 growth woods. The narrow brook-watered valleys, with 

 which the land is intersected, alone have remained clothed 

 with primaeval forest, at least near the town. The houses 

 along these beautiful roads belong chiefly to mameluco, 

 mulatto, and Indian families, each of which has its own 

 small plantation. There are only a few planters with 

 larger establishments and these have seldom more than a 

 dozen slaves. Besides the main roads, there are endless 

 bye-paths which thread the forest, and communicate 

 with isolated houses. Along these the traveller may 

 wander day after day without leaving the shade, and 

 everywhere meet with cheerful, simple, and hospitable 

 people. 



Soon after landing I was introduced to the most dis- 

 tinguished citizen of the place. Dr. Angelo Custodio 

 Correia, whom I have already mentioned. This excellent 

 man was a favourable specimen of the highest class of 

 native Brazilians. He had been educated in Europe, 

 v/as now a member of the Brazilian Parliament, and had 

 been twice President of his native province. His manners 

 were less formal, and his goodness more thoroughly 

 genuine, perhaps, than is the rule generally with Brazilians. 

 He was admired and loved, as I had ample opportunity 

 of observing, throughout all Amazonia. He sacrificed 

 his life in 1855, for the good of his fellow-townsmen, when 



