286 STAY ON THE RIO GRANDE DE BELMONTE, 



the water. We loaded our pieces with small shot, and were so for- 

 tunate as to kill some of them. On a close examination it appeared 

 that thej were of the species noctUio ; their colour was a uniform 

 rusty red ; whereas others have a yellowish-white stripe down the 

 back. I no where found this handsome bat more common than in 

 this place. Our two people, whom we had left behind on the Coroa 

 for the purpose of cooking, were delighted when they saw the game 

 we brought with us ; they too had found many interesting animals in 

 their neighbourhood ; round the cheerful blazing fire we related to 

 each other the events of the day, while the dark wilderness around 

 us re-echoed with the call of the capueira, the clioralua, and the 

 hacurau, ( caprimulgus ). 



On the 21st we left Timicui early in the morning, and pro- 

 ceeded up the river to a long island, which is called Ilha Grande ; it 

 is thickly covered with lofty primajval forests, and now uninhabited ; 

 but formerly there was a plantation upon it belonging to the inhabit- 

 ants of Belmonte. Our boats were directly opposite to this island, 

 near the northern bank, when we were surprised by a heavy storm of 

 rain, which so darkened the air that we could scarcely distinguish the 

 adjacent woods. While we lay to, in order to let this violent storm 

 pass over, we suddenly heard the noise of a herd of wild swine near 

 us, which were flying, terrified at our approach. Notwithstanding 

 the heavy rain, two of our boatmen immediately leaped on shore 

 with their guns, followed the track, and in half an hour returned 

 with a hog, (dicotyles labiatus, Cuvier,) which they had shot. 

 Just as they were going to step into the boat with their booty, they 

 perceived a large jararacca among the high grass on the bank, which 

 they immediately killed, and fastened to the canoe. My hunters 

 here happily escaped a great danger, for it was by mere accident that 

 they did not tread upon the serpent as it lay in the grass ; if they had 

 touched it, the reptile would undoubtedly have bitten their naked feet. 



