294 NOTES OF A BOTANIST chap, ix 
been twice entered during my absence, and about 
two gallons of spirits, a quantity of molasses and 
vinegar, and some other things stolen from it. 
I have in the house with me two Indians — a 
hunter and a fisherman. One at least is an 
absolute necessity to prevent my dying of hunger, 
for here nothing is to be bought, not even an egg 
or a banana. For farinha I have had to send to 
the Rio Uaupes. The hunter I brought with me 
from the Barra. He is an excellent shot, and keeps 
me mostly well supplied with game. He is also 
useful to me for climbing trees and rowing, at 
both of which he cannot be excelled. But he is a 
terrible fellow for cachaca, like most of his race. I 
induced one of the Uaupe Indians who came with 
me from Uanauaca to become my fisherman. He 
was with me about two months when the Com- 
mandant of the fort seized him for the service of 
the correo (post) to the Barra. Indians to row 
the courier's canoe are obtained in this way. A 
detachment of soldiers is sent by night to enter 
the sitios and seize as many men as are wanted, 
who are forthwith clapped into prison and there 
kept until the day of sailing — in irons if they make 
any resistance. The voyage averages fifty days, 
and these poor fellows receive neither pay nor even 
food for the whole of this time. The Indian, how- 
ever, never dies of hunger when his brother Indian 
has food, and these men call at the nearest sitio to 
replenish their supply of farinha from time to time. 
But such treatment is a great disgrace to the 
Government, and it is not to be wondered at that 
the Indians hide themselves in the forests when 
they get wind that the courier is about to be dis- 
