THE RIVER TROMBETAS loi 
From the Serra de Carnaii downwards I counted 
six caxoeiras. In the intervals the river spreads 
out wide, and is sprinkled with small islands, some 
of them wooded, others mere heaps of naked granite 
blocks. In the same space, seven igarapes enter 
the river on the left bank — how many on the right 
I could not tell — and several others come down 
the steep banks of the narrows below the first 
caxoeira. 
We saw and heard a good many monkeys and 
curassows (mitiins) in the woods. My thoughts 
ran so entirely on plants, that I had neglected to 
take my gun with me from Santarem ; and a pair 
of pistols which I had taken were useless for shoot- 
ing birds and monkeys. The Indians carried two 
guns, and I gave them of my fine powder ; but 
they were bad marksmen, and did not shoot a 
single head of game throughout the voyage. They 
found once a jabotim or tortoise in the woods ; 
and this was the only variation from our fare of 
pirarucii and farinha we enjoyed at the caxoeiras. 
There was a little bird which interested me 
exceedingly by its song, although I did not get a 
sight of it. It is called Uira-puru (which means 
merely Spotted bird), and is said to be about the 
size of a sparrow. As Senhor Bentes had told me 
I should certainly hear it at the caxoeiras, adding 
that it played tunes for all the world like a musical 
snuff-box," I was constantly listening for it ; and at 
length one day, just after noon — the hour when 
birds and beasts are mostly silent — I had the 
pleasure of hearing it strike up close at hand. 
There was no mistaking its clear bell-like tones, as 
accurately modulated as those of a musical instru- 
