NOTES ON BRAZIL. 



29A 



then bears over towards the mouth of the Gonzales, where the water 

 deepens, and forms a sort of turbulent whirlpool. The depth and 

 agitation of this hole are owing to the stream flowing from the Lake 

 Mirim, which is here compelled, by the more weighty waters of the 

 Lake Dos Patos, to form nearly a right angle ; high banks are thrown 

 up all around, and a deep curve worn into the opposite shore. At this spot 

 it seems manifest that the waters were formerly poured into the ocean ; 

 but it is now twenty miles above the bar. Beyond this pool the channel 

 becomes not more than a hundred yards wide, runs nearly North, and 

 winds round Eastward to the point of Cangazu, where it enters the large 

 upper lake, here called the Mediterranean. 



Through the whole of the course the channel is marked by strong 

 stakes, but our pilot knew so little about them that we were frequently 

 aground ; once with attendant circumstances of a ludicrous cast. At a 

 distance of two miles he had pointed out the mark for which we were to 

 steer, and we were surprised that, in endeavouring to advance towards 

 it, we were quickly in water so shallow as to be scarcely sufficient for the 

 boat. Ere long, while keeping our attention fixed upon it, though 

 getting no nearer, we had the mortification to see it stretch out a long 

 pair of wings and fly away. It was one of the large Herons, which 

 abound in the unfrequented marshes of the country, which had been 

 fishing on an extended sand-bank, and having decoyed us there, left us 

 to get off from it as we could. The bottom fortunatel)^ proved hard, and 

 our people turned out to explore the way, as well as to lighten the boat ; 

 but it was old and clinker-built, and had now so often struck that it made 

 a great deal of water, and when once more in the turbulent hole, off the 

 Gonzales, was with difficulty kept afloat. 



Towards evening we saw a long line of dark coloured Birds, flying 

 across the lake, probably in the way to their nightly quarters. They 

 were, in general, three, four, or five abreast, and continued passing for 

 more than an hour ; though the darkness prevented us from discerning the 

 last of them, we reckoned that the line which we had seen was fully ten 

 miles in length. We fancied that they were Urubus, which are known 



