Chap. IY. 
NICKNAMES. 
285 
previously), we struck off across the praia towards 
the encampment. An obstacle here presented itself 
on which we had not counted. The sun had shone all 
day through a cloudless sky untempered by a breath of 
wind, and. the sands had become heated by it to a degree 
that rendered walking over them with our bare feet im- 
possible. The most hardened footsoles of the party 
could not endure the burning soil. We made several 
attempts ; we tried running : wrapped the cool leaves 
of Heliconise round our feet, but in no way could we step 
forward many yards. There was no means of getting 
back to our friends before night, except going round the 
praia, a circuit of about four miles, and walking through 
the water or on the moist sand. To get to the water- 
side from the place where we then stood was not diffi- 
cult, as a thick bed of a flowering shrub, called tintarana, 
an infusion of the leaves of which is used to dye black, lay 
on that side of the sand-bank. Footsore and wearied, 
burthened with our guns, and walking for miles through 
the tepid shallow water under the brain-scorching vertical 
sun, we had, as may be imagined, anything but a pleasant 
time of it. I did not, however, feel any inconvenience 
afterwards. Every one enjoys the most lusty health 
whilst living this free and wild life on the rivers. 
The other hunting trip which I have alluded to was 
undertaken in company with three friendly young half- 
castes. Two of them were brothers, namely, Joao (John) 
and Zephyrino Jabuti : J abuti, or tortoise, being a nick- 
name which their father had earned for his slow gait, 
and which, as is usual in this country, had descended 
