72 
VOYAGE UP THE TAPAJOS. 
Chap. II. 
Amazons country are constructed, and said to be more 
durable than teak. This I hired of a merchant at the 
cheap rate of 500 reis, or about one shilling and twopence 
per day. I fitted up the cabin, which, as usual in canoes 
of this class, was a square structure with its floor above 
the water-line, as my sleeping and working apartment. 
My chests, filled with store-boxes and trays for speci- 
mens, were arranged on each side, and above them were 
shelves and pegs to hold my little stock of useful books, 
guns, and game bags, boards and materials for skinning 
and preserving animals, botanical press and papers, 
drying cages for insects and birds, and so forth. A rush 
mat was spread on the floor, and my roUed-up hammock, 
to be used only when sleeping ashore, served for a 
pillow. The arched covering over the hold in the fore 
part of the vessel contained, besides a sleeping place for 
the crew, my heavy chests, stock of salt provisions and 
groceries, and an assortment of goods wherewith to pay 
my way amongst the half-civilised or savage inhabitants 
of the interior. The goods consisted of casha9a, powder 
and shot, a few pieces of coarse checked-cotton cloth 
and prints, fish-hooks, axes, large knives, harpoons, 
arrow-heads, looking-glasses, beads, and other small 
wares. Jose and myself were busy for many days 
arranging these matters. We had to salt the meat and 
grind a supply of coffee ourselves. Cooking utensils^ 
crockery, water-jars, a set of useful carpenter's tools, and 
many other things had to be provided. We put all the 
groceries and other perishable articles in tin canisters 
and boxes, having found that this was the only way of 
preserving them from damp and insects in this climate. 
