RETURN TO MANAOS. 



257 



time when the banks of the Amazons will teem with a 

 population more active and vigorous than any it has yet 

 seen, — when all civilized nations will share in its wealth, 

 when the twin continents will shake hands and Americans 

 of the North come to help Americans of the South in 

 developing its resources, — when it will be navigated from 

 north to south as well as from east to west, and small 

 steamers will run up to the head-quarters of all its tribu- 

 taries, ; — while we were speculating on these things, we 

 were approaching the end of our journey ; and as we 

 neared the lake, there issued from its entrance a small 

 two-masted canoe, evidently bound on some official mis- 

 sion, for it carried the Brazilian flag, and was adorned 

 with many brightly-colored streamers. As it drew near 

 we heard music, and a salvo of rockets, the favorite Bra- 

 zilian artillery on all festive occasions, whether by day 

 or night, shot up into the air. Our arrival had been 

 announced by Dr. Canavaro, of Manaos, who had come 

 out the day before to make some preparations for our 

 reception, and this was a welcome to the President on 

 his first visit to the Indian village. When they came 

 within speaking distance, a succession of hearty cheers 

 went up for the President, for Tavares Bastos, whose 

 character as the political advocate of the Amazons makes 

 him especially welcome here, for Major Coutinho, already 

 well known from his former explorations in this region, 

 and for the strangers within their gates, — for the Professor 

 and his party. After this reception they fell into line be- 

 hind our boat, and so we came into the little port with 

 something of state and ceremony. 



This pretty Indian village is hardly recognized as a 

 village at once, for it consists of a number of sitios 



