124 TRAVELS ON THE RIO NEGRO. [May, 



and wild fruits. Senhor B. was at the time in the city, 

 and while the Revolution lasted, which was several years, he 

 was glad to have his family with him in safety, and could not 

 think of rebuilding his house. Afterwards he was engaged as 

 Delegarde de Policia for some years, and he had now only just 

 returned to live on his estate with one unmarried daughter, 

 and of course had plenty to do to get things a little in order. 

 His wife being dead, he did not feel the pleasure he had 

 formerly done in improving his place, and it is, I think, not 

 improbable that, after having lived here a few years, he will 

 get so used to it that he will think it quite unnecessary to go 

 to the expense of rebuilding his house. Still it seemed rather 

 strange to see a nicely-dressed young lady sitting on a mat on 

 a very mountainous mud-floor, and with half-a-dozen Indian 

 girls around her engaged in making lace and in needlework. 

 She introduced me to an elder married sister who was staying 

 with them, and soon Senhor B. came in from his cane-field, 

 and heartily welcomed me. About twelve we sat down to 

 dinner, consisting of tambaki, the most delicious of fish, with 

 rice, beans, and Indian-meal bread, and afterwards oranges 

 ad libitum. 



I stayed here nearly two months, enjoying a regular country 

 life, and getting together a tolerable collection of birds and 

 insects. 



In a few days a hunter I had engaged in Barra arrived, and 

 forthwith commenced operations. In the afternoon he generally 

 brought me some birds or monkeys, which were very plentiful. 

 We rose about half-past five, and by six had a cup of hot coffee ; 

 I then sat down to skin birds, if any had been brought late 

 over-night, or, if not, took my gun and walked out in search 

 of some. At seven or half-past we had a basin of Indian- 

 meal porridge, or chocolate, with new milk, as a sort of 

 breakfast. At twelve punctually we dined, the standing dish 

 being tambaki, varied occasionally with fowl, cow-fish, deer, or 

 other game. At four we had another cup of coffee, with 

 biscuit or fruit, and at seven we took supper of fish like our 

 dinner, if the fisherman had arrived. In the morning, for a 

 couple of hours, I generally went with my net in search of 

 insects. Several rare butterflies were found sitting on the 

 river's side, on the margin of mud left by the retiring waters. 

 Small toucans or ara^aris of several species were very abundant 



