54 
SANTAREM. 
Chap. I. 
perstitious fancies. She said gold was contained in the 
bed of the brook, and that the murmur of the water 
over the little cascades w^as the voice of the " water- 
mother " revealing the hidden treasure. A narrow pass 
between two hill sides was the portao or gate, and all 
within, along the wooded banks of the stream, was 
enchanted ground. The hill underneath which we 
were encamped was the enchanter s abode, and she 
gravely told us she often had long conversations with 
him. These myths were of her own invention, and in 
the same way an endless number of other similar ones 
have originated in the childish imaginations of the poor 
Indian and half-breed inhabitants of different parts of 
the country. It is to be remarked, however, that the 
Indian men all become sceptics after a little intercourse 
with the whites. The witchcraft of poor Cecilia was 
of a very weak quality. It consisted in throwing 
pinches of powdered bark of a certain tree and other 
substances into the fire whilst muttering a spell — a 
prayer repeated backwards — and adding the name of the 
person on whom she wished the incantation to operate. 
Some of the feiticeiras, however, play more dangerous 
tricks than this harmless mummery. They are ac- 
quainted with many poisonous plants, and although 
they seldom have the courage to administer a fatal 
dose^ sometimes contrive to convey to their victim suf- 
ficient to cause serious illness. The motive by which 
they are actuated is usually jealousy of other woraen in 
love matters. Whilst I resided in Santarem a case of 
what was called witchcraft was tried by the sub-delegado, 
in which a highly respectable white lady was the com- 
