IN HUMBOLDT'S COUNTRY 445 
some time in 1836, towards the end of the cabana revolt, and there 
was in Barra a sloop of war on board which were placed a 
number of cabanos (prisoners). Custodio's old master was dead, 
but he was claimed as property by his executors, and placed on 
the sloop in irons along with the rebels, until the country should be 
quiet again. The sloop shortly afterwards sailed down the Amazon, 
but had not been gone many days when an express was sent to 
recall it to assist in repressing a new outbreak of malcontents. 
Arrived again in the Barra, its services were not needed. It was 
Christmas time, and sailing down was deferred till the end of the 
festival. By an extra act of grace the captain of the sloop allowed 
the prisoners to leave the sloop every evening when there was 
dancing, on condition of their returning to sleep on board by 10 
o'clock. On the two first nights that Custodio profited by this 
licence he returned punctually to his prison, but on the third 
night when he left the gay throng to betake himself to his 
miserable lodging in the hold of the sloop, he by chance found 
himself alone in the street. It was a bright starlight night and 
one cannot wonder that he should be seized by an irresistible 
longing for liberty, or that thoughts should rush into his mind of 
his Indian friends' home, of his wife and his two little ones. 
More than a thousand miles of forests and rivers separated him 
from them, and he had no friend to aid him, but he was familiar 
with every part of the way, and he was accustomed to live in the 
forest. In an instant his resolution was taken. He ran down to 
the port. There was not a single montaria to be seen save one 
laden with water-melons, etc., which an old woman had that 
instant brought to land. "Boas noites, senhora," said he, "you 
come heavily laden ; allow me to help you to land your 
cargo." " De bon ventade " (willingly), " my son," said she; " your 
aid will be most acceptable." Her house was close by and 
Custodio had soon stowed in it the contents of the montaria. 
The old woman was pleased and gave him a pataca for his 
trouble. This was, however, not what he wanted, and he 
had now to forge an "historia" in order to attain his object. 
"Mother," said he, "will you not lend me your montaria an 
instant in order to visit my friends in the sitio across the mouth 
of the igarape " (the Igarape da Cachoeira). " Take the montaria," 
said she, " but fasten it up again securely in the same place when 
you return." This was readily promised ; Custodio leaped into 
the montaria, and with a hasty "ate logo" (good-bye), shoved off, 
nor has the poor woman from that day to this ever set sight 
on either one or the other. 
At the northern extremity of the Barra is a small peninsula 
bounded by steep cliffs of earth, called San Vicenti, where there 
is a sort of fort. Custodio crept along the base of the cliff 
as silently as possible, but did not escape being challenged by the 
