MANAOS AND ITS NEIGHBORHOOD. 



283 



from which he takes aim and discharges his noiseless 

 arrow with such precision, that the bird or monkey drops 

 down from among its companions, without their perceiving 

 the cause of its disappearance. While I was watching the 

 boys, a canoe came up the stream, paddled by women, and 

 loaded with fruit and vegetables, on the top of which sat 

 two bright green parrots. Two of the women were old 

 and hideous, very wrinkled and withered, as these people 

 usually are in old age ; but the third was the handsomest 

 Indian woman I have ever seen, with a tinge of white 

 blood to be sure, for her skin was fairer and her features 

 more regular than those of the Indians generally. They 

 were coming from their sitio, as I learned afterwards. 

 When they had moored their boat to a tree, the younger 

 woman began to unload, tucking her petticoat about her 

 hips, and wading to and fro with baskets of fruit and 

 vegetables on her head. Her hair was dressed with flow- 

 ers, as is usual with these women ; however scanty their 

 clothing, they seldom forget this ornament. 



November 20th. — The President, Dr. Epaminondas, added 

 yesterday to the many kindnesses by which he has rendered 

 our stay here doubly pleasant, in giving an exceedingly 

 pretty fete in honor of Mr. Agassiz. The place chosen 

 was the asylum for Indian children already described, 

 well adapted for the purpose on account of its large, airy 

 rooms and beautiful situation ; and the invitation was given 

 out in the name of the " Province of the Amazonas." * 



* I trust that the motive will not be misunderstood which induces me to add 

 here a translation of the general cards of invitation distributed on this occasion. 

 The graceful expression of a thought so kind, and the manner in which the 

 President merges his own personality in the name of the Province of which 

 he is the administrative head, are so characteristic of his mingled courtesy and 

 modesty, that I am tempted to insert the note, notwithstanding its personal 



