292 VOYAGE UP THE TAP A J OS 



June 17th, — The two young men returned without 

 meeting with my montaria, and I found it impossible here 

 to buy a new one. Captain Thomas could find me only 

 one hand. This was a blunt-spoken but willing young 

 Indian, named Manoel. He came on board this morning 

 at eight o'clock, and we then got up our anchor and re- 

 sumed our voyage. 



The wind was light and variable all day, and we made 

 only about fifteen miles by seven o'clock in the evening. 

 The coast formed a succession of long, shallow bays with 

 sandy beaches, on which the waves broke in a long line 

 of surf. Ten miles above Altar de Chao is a conspicuous 

 headland, called Point Cajetuba. During a lull of the 

 wind, towards mid-day, we ran the cuberta aground in 

 shallow water and waded ashore, but the woods were 

 scarcely penetrable, and not a bird was to be seen. The 

 only thing observed worthy of note, was the quantity of 

 drowned winged ants along the beach ; they were all of 

 one species, the terrible formiga de fogo (Myrmica saevis- 

 sima) ; the dead, or half-dead bodies of which were heaped 

 up in a line an inch or two in height and breadth, the line 

 continuing without interruption for miles at the edge of 

 the water. The countless thousands had been doubtless 

 cast into the river whilst flying during a sudden squall the 

 night before, and afterwards cast ashore by the waves. 

 We found ourselves at seven o'clock near the mouth of a 

 creek leading to a small lake, called Aramana-1, and the 

 wind having died away, we anchored, guided by the lights 

 ashore, near the house of a settler, named Jeronymo, 

 whom I knew, and who, soon after, showed us a snug 

 little harbour, where we could remain in safety for the 

 night. The river here cannot be less than ten miles broad ; 

 it is quite clear of islands and free from shoals at this 

 season of the year. The opposite coast appeared in the 

 daytime as a long thin line of forest, with dim gray hills in 

 the back ground. 



June iSth and igth. — Senhor Jeronymo promised to 

 sell me a montaria, so I waited for three hours after sun- 

 rise the next morning, expecting it to be forthcoming, but 

 in vain. I sent Pinto and afterwards Jose to enquire 

 about it, but they, instead of performing the errand, joined 

 the easy-natured master of the house in a morning 

 carousal. I was obliged, when my patience was exhausted, 

 to go after them, having to clamber down a projecting 



