432 EXCURSIONS AROUND EGA 



where we sat, but on seeing us had given a grunt and 

 bounded off into the thickets. At length our friends 

 hove in sight, loaded with game ; having shot twelve 

 curassows and two cujubims (Penelope Pipile), a hand- 

 some black fowl with a white head, which is arboreal in 

 its habits like the rest of this group of Gallinaceous birds 

 inhabiting the South American forests. They had dis- 

 covered a third pool containing plenty of turtles. Lino 

 rejoined us at the same time, having missed the peccary, 

 but in compensation shot a Quandu, or porcupine. The 

 mulatto boy had caught alive in the pool a most charming 

 little water-fowl, a species of grebe. It was somewhat 

 smaller than a pigeon, and had a pointed beak ; its feet 

 were furnished with many intricate folds or frills of skin 

 instead of webs, and resembled very much those of the 

 gecko lizards. The bird was kept as a pet in Jabuti's 

 house at Ega for a long time afterwards, where it became 

 accustomed to swim about in a common hand-basin full 

 of water, and was a great favourite with everybody. 



We now retraced our steps towards the water-side, a 

 weary walk of five or six miles, reaching our canoe by 

 half-past five o'clock, or a little before sunset. It was 

 considered by every one at Catua that we had had an 

 unusually good day's sport. I never knew any small 

 party to take so much game in one day in these forests, 

 over which animals- are everywhere so widely and spar- 

 ingly, scattered. My companions were greatly elated, 

 and on approaching the encampment at Catua made a 

 great commotion with their paddles to announce their 

 successful return, singing in their loudest key one of the 

 wild choruses of the Amazonian boatmen. 



The excavation of eggs and preparation of the oil 

 being finished, we left Catua on the 3rd of November. 

 Carepira, who was now attached to Cardozo's party, had 

 discovered another lake rich in turtles, about twelve 

 miles distant, in one of his fishing rambles, and my 

 friend resolved, before returning to Ega, to go there 

 with his nets and drag it as we had formerly done the 

 Aningal. Several mameluco families of Ega begged to 

 accompany us to share the labours and booty ; the 

 Shumana family also joined the party ; we therefore 

 formed a large body, numbering in all eight canoes and 

 fifty persons. 



