A NIGHT IN A SHED, 



*55 



to put up also with "mingau" (farinha gruel), and we then all 

 started off again in search of game. This time I took the forest, 

 having had enough of the Serra, and the two boys came with 

 me for guides and companions. After wandering about a good 

 way we found some fine curassow-birds high up in lofty trees, 

 and succeeded in shooting one. This, with a large jacamar, 

 was all we could find, so we returned to the cave, skinned the 

 jacamar, and put the "mutun" (curassow-bird) on the fire for 

 breakfast. 



In the afternoon the other parties returned unsuccessful, one 

 only bringing in a gallo. The next day nothing at all was met 

 with, and it was therefore agreed to move our camp to a spot 

 some miles off on the other side of the Serra, where was a 

 feeding-place of the gallos. We accordingly started ; and if 

 our former path was bad enough, this was detestable. It was 

 principally through second-growth woods, which are much 

 thicker than the virgin forest, full of prickly plants, entangled 

 creepers, and alternations of soft mud and quartz pebbles 

 under foot. As our farinha was getting low, we had sent half 

 our party home, to bring such a supply as would enable us to 

 remain a week in our new camp. 



On reaching the place we found a pleasant open glade and 

 low woods, where there had formerly been a small Indian 

 settlement. It was much more airy and agreeable than our 

 cave, so closely surrounded by the tall dense forest that scarcely 

 a straggling ray of sunshine could enter. Here were numerous 

 trees of a species of Melastoma, bearing purple berries, of 

 which the gallos and many other birds are very fond. There 

 was a little shed, just large enough to hang my hammock under ; 

 this we repaired and thatched, and made our head-quarters, 

 where I soon established myself comfortably. We had not 

 been here long before we heard the shrill cry of a gallo near 

 us. All immediately started off, and I soon had the pleasure 

 of again seeing this living flame darting among the foliage. 

 My gun, however, had been wetted in walking so far through 

 the dripping underwood, and missed fire. In the evening two 

 fine birds were brought in, — a very satisfactory commence- 

 ment. The next evening the party who had gone to the 

 village returned with farinha, salt, and a few mammee apples, 

 which were very refreshing. 



We stayed here four days longer, with various success: 



