18 
SANTAREM. 
Chap. I. 
people could lay their hands on, were brutally massacred. 
A space filled with mounds, amongst the myrtle bushes 
in the woods behind Santarem, now marks the spot where 
these poor fellows were confusedly buried. I could give 
a long account of the horrors of this time as they were 
related to me ; but I think the details would not serve 
any useful purpose. It must not be thought, however, 
that the Amazonian people are habitually a blood-thirsty 
race ; on the contrary, the peaceableness and gentleness 
of character of the inhabitants of this province, in quiet 
times, are proverbial throughout Brazil. The rarity or 
absence of deeds of violence from year to year is always 
commented upon by the President in his annual report 
to the Central Government. 
When the Cabanas or rebels entered the town, the 
friends of lawful government retired to a large block of 
buildings near the water-side, which they held for many 
days, to cover the embarcation of their families and 
moveables. The negro slaves generally remained faithful 
to their masters. Whilst the embarcation was going on 
many daring feats were performed, chiefly by coloured 
people : one brave fellow, a mameKico, named Paca, 
made a bold dash one day, with a few young men of the 
same stamp, and secured five or six of the rebel leaders, 
who were carried, gagged and handcuffed, on board a 
schooner in the port. But the legal party were greatly 
outnumbered and deficient in arms and ammunition, 
and they were obliged, soon after Paca's feat, entirely 
to evacuate the town ; retiring to the village of Pra- 
yinha, about 150 miles down the river. Those citizens 
of Santarem who sympathised with the rebels were 
