352 



A JOURNEY IN BRAZIL. 



the changes wrought by the " enchente." The very tex- 

 ture of the Amazons is changed ; it is thicker and yellower 

 than when we ascended it, and much more laden with 

 floating wood, detached grasses, and debris of all sorts 

 washed from the shore. Wild-flowers are also more abun- 

 dant than they were when we came up the river in Septem- 

 ber ; not delicate, small plants, growing low among moss 

 and grass, as do our violets, anemones, and the like ; but 

 large blossoms, covering tall trees, and resembling exotics 

 at home, by their rich color and powerful odor. Indeed, 

 the flowers of the Amazonian forests always remind me 

 of hot-house plants : and there often comes a warm breath 

 from the depths of the woods, laden with moisture and 

 perfume, like the air from the open door of a conservatory. 



January 11th. — We reached Villa Bella at eight o'clock 

 yesterday morning, but waited there only a few hours to 

 make certain necessary arrangements, and then kept on 

 to the mouth of the river Ramos, an hour's sail from the 

 town, — the same river which we had ascended from its 

 upper point of juncture with the Amazons, on our ex- 

 cursion to Mauhes. We anchored at a short distance 

 from the entrance, before the house of our old acquaint- 

 ances, the Maias, where, it may be remembered, we passed 

 a few days when collecting in this neighborhood before. 

 Fortunately, Maia himself was in Manaos when we left, 

 employed as a soldier in the National Guard ; and the 

 President kindly gave him leave to accompany us, that 

 Mr. Agassiz might have the advantage of his familiarity 

 with the locality, and his experience in fishing. The man 

 himself was pleased to have an opportunity of visiting his 

 family, to whom his coming was an agreeable surprise. Wc 

 went on shore this morning to make them a visit, taking 



