MONKEYS 



109 



species, and heard that there were many so kept, and 

 that they were esteemed as choice treasures. The one 

 I saw was full-grown, but it measured only seven inches 

 in length of body. It was covered with long, white, 

 silky hairs, the tail was blackish, and the face nearly 

 naked and flesh-coloured. It was a most timid and sen- 

 sitive little thing. The woman who owned it carried it 

 constantly in her bosom, and no money would induce 

 her to part with her pet. She called it Mico. It fed from 

 her mouth and allowed her to fondle it freely, but the 

 nervous little creature would not permit strangers to 

 touch it. If any one attempted to do so it shrank back, 

 the whole body trembling with fear, and its teeth chattered, 

 whilst it uttered its tremulous frightened tones. The 

 expression of its features was like that of its more 

 robust brother Midas ursulus ; the eyes, which were 

 black, were full of curiosity and mistrust, and it always 

 kept them fixed on the person who attempted to advance 

 towards it. 



In the orange groves and other parts humming-birds 

 were plentiful, but I did not notice more than three 

 species. I saw a little pigmy belonging to the genus 

 Phaethornis one day in the act of washing itself in a 

 brook. It was perched on a thin branch, whose end was 

 under water. It dipped itself, then fluttered its wings 

 and pruned its feathers, and seemed thoroughly to enjoy 

 itself alone in the shady nook which it had chosen — a 

 place overshadowed by broad leaves of ferns and Heli- 

 conise. I thought as I watched it that there was na 

 need for poets to invent elves and gnomes whilst Nature 

 furnishes us with such marvellous little sprites ready to 

 hand. 



My return journey to Para afforded many incidents 

 characteristic of Amazonian travelling. I left Cameta 

 on the 1 6th of July. My luggage was embarked in 

 the morning in the Santa Rosa, a vessel of the kind 

 called cuberta, or covered canoe. The cuberta is very 

 much used on these rivers. It is not decked, but the 

 sides forward are raised and arched over so as to admit 

 of cargo being piled high above the water-line. At the 

 stern is a neat square cabin, also raised, and between 

 the cabin and covered fore part is a narrow piece decked 

 over, on which are placed the cooking arrangements. 



