AND AMONG THE BOTOCUDOS. 



307 



reach of our fire. These otters catch in the rivers a vast quantity of 

 fish, the remains of which are left on the rocks : thus, for instance, 

 I often found in such places the head and bony gills of a kind of silu- 

 rus*, marked with round black spots, on a yelloM^ brown ground: the 

 otter seems to reject these hard paits. Several kinds of animals 

 shewed themselves near our night's quarters. Araras screamed in the 

 forest, and large bats flew high over our heads, in the twilight. Even 

 when the shades of night had completely enveloped the whole scene, 

 we heard the singular unknown voices of owls and night swallows. 

 The following morning we were again involved in thick fog, which, 

 however, was not cold, but only damp. The powerful tropical sun 

 soon pierced the thick veil which covered the valley, and dried 

 us again. 



We now proceeded to the greatest fall which we had to pass in this 

 voyage: here it was necessary to unload the canoe at a rocky island, 

 and every one lent a hand to lift it over the ledge of rock, three feet 

 high, an operation which m as greatly impeded by the water that rushed 

 down. All the baggage had been carried by land to the other end 

 of the island ; but it cost much time and infinite pains before the ca- 

 noe could be brought thither, cleared of the water, reloaded, and got 

 afloat. 



While my people were busy with the canoe, I cast my eyes acci- 

 dentally on the opposite bank, and to my great astonishment, beheld a 

 stout robust Botocudo, quietly seated there, cross-legged. His name 

 was Jucakemet, and he was well known to my people, who however 

 had not remarked him ; he had been watching us at work without 

 making the least noise. His grey-brown naked body was scarcely 



* Here called Roncador: to the south of Capitania, this name is given to another kind 

 of lish. I have not had an opportunity of seeing a perfect specimen of the first men- 

 tioned species. 



