276 



MY LIFE 



[Chap. 



returning to Santarem, where we intended to stay for some 

 time. Dr. Richard Spruce, the now well-known traveller and 

 botanist, came out in the same ship with my brother, and was 

 accompanied by a young Englishman, Mr. King, as an 

 assistant and pupil in botany ; and as Dr. Spruce was a well- 

 educated men, a most ardent botanist, and of very pleasing 

 manners and witty conversation, we very much enjoyed the 

 short time we were together. My brother was the only one 

 of our family who had some natural capacity as a verse-writer, 

 and I will therefore supplement my rather dry descriptions 

 by some bright verses he sent home, giving his impressions of 

 Para and the voyage to Santarem, which occupied twenty- 

 eight days, the distance being about seven hundred miles. 



" From Para to Santarem. 



" Well ! here we are at anchor 



In the river of Par^ ; 

 We have left the rolling ocean 



Behind us and afar ; 

 Our weary voyage is over, 



Sea-sickness is no more. 

 The boat has come to fetch us 



So let us go on shore. 

 How strange to us the aspect 



This southern city wears ! 

 The ebon niggers grinning, 



The Indians selhng wares ; 

 The lasses darkly delicate. 



With eyes that ever kill, — 

 All breathe to us in whispers 



That we are in Brazil. 



" The streets are green and pleasant, 



The natives clad in white ; 

 We miss the noise of coaches. 



But miss it with delight. 

 The hairy sheep is biting 



The grass between the stones, 

 And many a pig is grunting 



In half familiar tones ; 

 And through the green janellas * 



(Which we should like to raise) 

 Dark eyes of the senhoras 



Upon the strangers gaze. 

 * Venetian shutters in place of sashes. 



