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Prince Maximilian s 



lected water, from the leaves of the broinelia. This water is 

 not like new-fallen rain, pure and clean, but black and foul ; 

 we found in it also the spawn of frogs and young frogs. We 

 strained it through a cloth, then mixed it with brandy, lemon- 

 juice, and sugar, and so drank it, which gave us a most de- 

 licious refreshment. We frequently föund in the shrub bromelia 

 small yellowish-green frogs, also a nondescript hyla lateola, of 

 a pale yellowish colour with a black streak across its eye. 



We now proceeded on our journey in a fine moon-light 

 night, and in an open place, wholly bare of wood, found our- 

 selves near the mouth of Rio Doce. We arrived fatigued at the 

 Quartel de Regencia, a military station of five soldiers, to con- 

 vey travellers over the river and to hold communication with 

 the village of Linhares. We passed the night in a tolerably 

 roomy house with the soldiers, and noticed that in many of 

 the rooms were wooden clubs and a troneo.* The people 

 here live miserably, having nothing but fish, mandiocca flour, 

 black beans, and sometimes salt meat ; they are of all colours, 

 Creoles, Indians, Mamelukes, and Mulattos. By break of day, 

 on the following morning, we went to satisfy our curiosity 

 with a view of the Rio Doqc. That important river (betwixt 

 the Rio de Janeiro and Bahia) stately and majestically rolls 

 its stream down to the sea. Rio Doce has its rise in the Ca- 

 pitania of Minas Geraes, whence, by the uniting of the Rio 

 Peranga with the Riberao de Carmo it has the name of Rio 

 DoQe, or two rivers. It flows through a considerable flat, 

 open country, and forms a great number of cataracts, whereof 

 three succeed each other, which are called Escadinhas. In 

 the woods, which clothe the banks of this mighty river, 

 abundance of various animals are found ; the Capicus Jmeri- 

 canus, two species of wild hogs, {Dicotyles of Curier,) the 

 Pecari, or Cayottu, and the Porco a Quechada branca ( tayetita 

 and tagnicati of Azara) two kinds of deer, (the guazupita 

 and guazubira of Azara,) above seven species of the cat kind, 

 among which the speckled ounce and the black tiger are the 

 largest and most fierce. Equally as terrific as these beasts 

 of prey and the horrors of this impenetrable wood, is the living 

 inhabitant,' the rude, wild Botocudo. For some time past a 

 picade, or wood path of great length on the south side of this 

 forest has been opened, although not yet finished; these 

 woods now with proper arms may be passed in security. 



* The troneo is a punishment for soldiers ; it consists of a long board 

 placed on edge, in which a row of round holes are cut, through which the 

 head of the delinquent is thrust. The board incloses the neck, in which the 

 man lies in an horizontal position, stretched out on the earth. 



