112 CARIPI AND THE BAY OF MARA JO 



habited by a Brazilian family. The walls are four feet 

 in thickness. The long dark corridors and gloomy 

 cloisters struck me as very inappropriate in the midst 

 of this young and radiant nature. They would be more 

 in place on some barren moor in northern' Europe, than 

 here in the midst of perpetual summer. The next turn 

 in the river below Burujuba brought the city of Para 

 into view. The wind was now against us, and we were 

 obliged to tack about. Towards evening it began to blow 

 stiffly, the vessel heeled over very much, and Senhor 

 Machado, for the first time, trembled for the safety of 

 his cargo ; the leaks burst out afresh, when we were 

 yet two miles from the shore. He ordered another sail 

 to be hoisted, in order to run more quickly into port, 

 but soon afterwards an extra puff of wind came, and the 

 old boat lurched alarmingly, the rigging gave way, and 

 down fell boom and sail with a crash, encumbering us 

 with the wreck. We were then obliged to have recourse 

 to oars, and as soon as we were near the land, I begged 

 Senhor Machado to send me ashore in the boat, with the 

 more precious portion of my collections. 



CHAPTER V 



CARIPI AND THE BAY OF MARAJO 



That part of the Para river which lies in front of the 

 city, as I have already explained, forms a narrow channel ; 

 being separated from the main waters of the estuary by 

 a cluster of islands. This channel is about two miles 

 broad, and constitutes part of the minor estuary of 

 Goajara, into which the three rivers Guama, Moju, and 

 Acara discharge their waters. The main channel of the 

 Para lies lo miles away from the city, directly across 

 the river ; at that point, after getting clear of the islands, 

 a great expanse of water is beheld, lo to 12 miles in 

 width ; the opposite shore — the island of Marajo — being 

 visible only in clear weather as a line of tree tops dotting 

 the horizon. A little further upwards, that is to the 

 south-west, the main land on the right or eastern shore 

 appears, this is called Carnapijo ; it is rocky, covered 

 with the never-ending forest, and the coast which is fringed 

 with broad sandy beaches, describes a gentle curve in- 



