LIFE m TEFF^. 



243 



of very brilliant plumage, not to speak of the less showy 

 water-birds. He has been often in the woods shooting, 

 with Mr. Hunnewell and Mr. Thayer, and has employed 

 several sportsmen of the place to assist him. Turtles, 

 jacar^s, and snakes are also largely represented in the 

 collections; and Mr. Agassiz has obtained, by purchase, 

 a large and well-preserved collection of insects, made by 

 a Frenchman during a several years' residence in this 

 little town. In Teff^ and its neighborhood we constantly 

 tread in the footsteps of the English naturalist, Mr. Bates, 

 " Senhor Henrique," as the people call him here, whose 

 charming book, " The Naturalist on the Amazons," has 

 been a very pleasant companion to us in our wanderings.* 



* As from the beginning our arrangements were made to stay at least a 

 month in TefiS, it became possible to lay out our work in a more systematic 

 form than during our rambling travels. It was here that I secured the largest 

 number of fish skeletons and had several of the larger animals of the country 

 prepared for the Museum ; such as Manatees, Porpoises, Pirarucus, Sorubims, 

 and the like. I also undertook here, for the first time, a regular search for the 

 young of all the species of fishes that could be obtained. Here again my 

 neighbors, and indeed all the inhabitants of the place, vied with one another 

 in their efforts to procure specimens for me. Senhor Joao da Cunha and 

 Dr. Romualdo made frequent fishing excursions for my benefit ; and when I 

 could not accompany them, a boatful of fish was nevertheless moored to the 

 shore, in the evening, from which I could select whatever was useful or interest- 

 ing. The gi'ocer of the place, Mr. Pedro Mendez, who employed a skilful fish- 

 erman daily to supply his large family, gave directions that all the fishes caught 

 should be brought in, and before the kitchen received its provisions, I had my 

 choice of everything. This was a great favor, especially since the Indian fish- 

 erman, Jose, whom I had engaged in Manaos to accompany me through the 

 rest of my journey, was now at Tabatinga, assisting Mr. Bourget, who had 

 been left there when I returned to TefFe. An old Passe Indian, who was as 

 familiar with the fishes of the waters as with the animals of the forest, and 

 whom Major Coutinho had befriended for many years, rendered also great 

 service in hunting particular kinds of fishes and reptiles, the haunts of which he 

 alone seemed to know. The schoolmaster and his boys, in short, everybody 



