BAD NEWS. 



223 



left little hope of his recovery. The only additional informa- 

 tion brought since, was that the Princess Victoria, with a 

 valuable cargo, had been lost entering Pari ; and that the con- 

 sequent excitement and anxiety of Mr. Miller, had led to an 

 attack of brain fever, which had terminated in his death. From 

 no one could I obtain a word of information about my brother, 

 and so remained in a state of the greatest suspense. Had he 

 recovered, he would himself, of course, have written ; but, on 

 the other hand, it was strange that none of the English resi- 

 dents in Para had sent me a line to inform me of his death, 

 had it occurred. 



I was a fortnight in Barra, busily occupied buying and sell- 

 ing, and arranging and packing my miscellaneous collections. 

 I had to make insect-boxes and packing-cases, the only car- 

 penter in the place having taken it into his head to leave a 

 good business, and, like everybody else, go trading about the 

 rivers. 



In the evening, and at all spare moments, we luxuriated in 

 the enjoyments of rational conversation, — to me, at least, the 

 greatest, and here the rarest of pleasures. Mr. Spruce, as well 

 as myself, much wished that we could ascend together ; but 

 my canoe was too small to accommodate us both, and my men 

 were too few for his, loaded, as it would be, with our combined 

 cargoes. No men were to be obtained at Barra for love or 

 money. Even the authorities, when they require to make 

 some journey on official business, are obliged, frequently, to 

 beg men of Senhor Henrique or some other negociante. To 

 such a state is this fine country reduced by Brazilian misrule 

 and immorality ! 



Just as I was about to start, the Subdelegarde sent to inform 

 me I must take a passport, an annoyance I had quite forgotten. 

 However, there was no remedy, as the clerk does not like to 

 lose his fee of a " crusado.'^ I had first to get paper stamped 

 (and the Stamp-office was not open), and then to go the other 

 end of the city to where the clerk lived, to get the passport. 

 As everything was on board and all ready, this was a great 

 bore, and Senhor Plenrique advised me to go without a pass- 

 port, and he would send it after me. As I knew the Subdele- 

 garde would not send after me to fetch me back, I took his 

 advice and started. Mr. Spruce came with me for a day^s trip, 

 taking a couple of boys and a montaria to return in. We had 



15 



