243 



them however, because I waited though vainly 

 for a star ready to pass the meridian. In those 

 humid regions covered with forests, the nights 

 became more obscure in proportion as we drew 

 nearer the Rio Negro, and the interior of Bra- 

 zil. We remained in the bed of the river till 

 day-break, afraid of losing ourselves among the 

 trees. At sunrise we again entered the inun- 

 dated forest, to avoid the force of the current. 

 Arrived at the junction of the Temi with ano- 

 ther little river, the Tuamini, the waters of 

 which are equally black, we followed the latter 

 toward the south-west. This direction led us 

 near the mission of Javita, which is founded on 

 the banks of the Tuamini ; and at this Christian 

 settlement we were to find the aid necessary for 

 transporting our canoe by land to the Rio Ne- 

 gro. We did not arrive at San Antonio de 

 Javita till near eleven in the morning. An 

 accident of small importance in itself, but which 

 shows the excessive timidity of the little sago- 

 ins, had retained us some time at the mouth 

 of the Tuamini. The noise of the blowers had 

 frightened our monkeys, and one of them fell 

 into the water. As the animals of this species, 

 perhaps on account of their extreme meagre- 

 ness, swim badly, it was saved with some diffi- 

 culty. 



At Javita we had the pleasure of finding 

 a very intelligent and alfable monk. We were 



r 2 



