250 



TRAVELS ON THE RIO NEGRO. 



[March, 



which I had been long searching for, the " anambe de catinga,'' 

 a species of Cyanurus, was here shot ; and before leaving, I 

 obtained four or five specimens of it, and as many of the 

 commoner black-headed species. One or two small birds, new 

 to me, were also obtained ; and these, with two or three scarce 

 butterflies, and about a dozen new species of fish, composed 

 my natural-history collections in this remote and unviaited 

 district. This was entirely owing, however, to my unfortunate 

 and unforeseen illness, for birds in great variety had been very 

 abundant, but the time of the fruit was now over ; fish and 

 turtles, too, were in extraordinary plenty at the commencement 

 of the fall of the river, two months back; and during that 

 period, constituting the short summer in these districts, while I 

 lay half dead at Sao Joaquim, insects were doubtless more 

 numerous. 



But as there was now no remedy I made myself as contented 

 as I could, and endeavoured at least to complete my collection 

 of the arms, implements, and ornaments of the natives. The 

 Indians here were mostly "Cobeus," and I obtained several of 

 their peculiar ornaments and dresses, to add to my collection. 

 I also took advantage of the visit of a Tushaua, or chief, who 

 well understood the Lingoa Geral, to obtain a vocabulary of 

 their language. 



Just as I was about to leave on my voyage down, I received a 

 note from Senhor Chagas, requesting, in the name of Tenente 

 Jesuino, the loan of my canoe, to ascend higher up the river ; 

 which, as the time of his stay was very uncertain, I was 

 obliged to refuse. This Tenente, an ignorant half-breed, was 

 sent by the new Barra government to bring all the Tushauas, 

 or chiefs, of the Uaupes and Isanna rivers to Barra, to receive 

 diplomas and presents. An Indian, sent by him, had arrived at 

 Caruru caxoeira, and wished to buy the oba of the Tushaua, 

 after I had paid for and got possession of it, and even had the 

 impudence to request me to give it back again, in order that 

 he might purchase or borrow it ; and my refusal was, of course, 

 quite sufficient seriously to offend the said Tenente. 



On the 25th, having been just a fortnight at Muciira, I left, 

 much disappointed with regard to the collections I had made 

 there. The same day I reached Uarucapuri, whence I could 

 not proceed without a pilot, as the falls below are very 

 dangerous. There was hardly a male in the village, Messrs. 



