250 NOTES OF A BOTANIST 
therefore led the lady out, first casting off my 
coat and shoes in order to be on terms of equality 
with the rest of the performers. We got through 
the dance triumphantly, and at its close there 
was a general viva and clapping of hands for 
" the good white man who did not despise other 
people's customs ! " Once in for it " I danced all 
night. 
We were beginning to enjoy ourselves, when 
about 1 1 o'clock I was surprised to see the dancers 
separate and run different ways, their looks betray- 
ing the greatest alarm. I was not long in learn- 
ing the cause. A briga (quarrel) had taken place in 
another room between two half-breed fellows; several 
persons were implicated, some blows had been 
given, and knives were drawn. I was inclined to 
stay and see what a Brazilian "row" was like, but 
my companions seized my arm and led me away to 
the canoe. Not only were they afraid of being 
called up as witnesses should anything serious 
occur, but they knew that if these fellows, 
especially the mulattoes, once drew blood, their 
native ferocity would be excited and the whites 
would be certain to fall the first victims to it. It 
had been previously arranged that at midnight the 
Juiza should conduct as many as chose to accom- 
pany her, to eat doce at her own house, and all 
except the combatants were glad to anticipate the 
visit. The distance was about a mile, and the inter- 
vening space was soon alive with canoes. The 
night was pitch dark, but happily we were favoured 
by an interval in the rain, which throughout the 
night was almost incessant. 
At the Juiza's we were a very canny, quiet party. 
