Chap. IL HOtSES CONCEALED IN FOEEST. 
87 
was a tract of level, densely-wooded country, through 
which flowed the winding rivulet, or creek, which gives 
its name to a small scattered settlement hidden in the 
wilderness ; the hills here receding two or three miles 
towards the interior. A large portion of the forest 
was flooded, the trunks of the very high trees near the 
mouth of the creek standing 18 feet deep in water. 
We lost two hours working our way with poles through 
the inundated woods in search of the port. Every inlet 
we tried ended in a labyrinth choked up with bushes, 
but we were at length guided to the right place by the 
crowing of cocks. On shouting for a montaria an 
Indian boy made his appearance, guiding one through 
the gloomy thickets ; but he was so alarmed, I suppose 
at the apparition of a strange-looking white man in 
spectacles bawling from the prow of the vessel, that he 
shot back quickly into the bushes. He returned when 
Manoel spoke, and we went ashore : the montaria wind- 
ing along a gloomy overshadowed water-path, made by 
cutting away the lower branches and underwood. The 
foot-road to the houses was a narrow, sandy alley, bor- 
dered by trees of stupendous height, overrun with 
creepers, and having an unusual number of long air- 
roots dangling from the epiphytes on their branches. 
After passing one low smoky little hut, half-buried in 
foliage, the path branched off in various directions, and 
the boy having left us we took the wrong turn. We 
were brought to a stand soon after by the barking of 
dogs ; and on shouting, as is customary on approaching 
a dwelling, "0 da casa!" (Oh of the house!) a dark- 
skinned native, a Cafuzo, with a most unpleasant ex- 
