8G 
THE AMAZON ANH MAHEIRA RIVERS. 
flat, banks are soarcoly iliseorniblc, loavmg \ia to guos.s only the witlo 
moutli of tlie Tocantins to be where sky and water are melting into otic 
blue horizon, into the E.streito do Breves, one of those narrow, intricate 
channels, through which the powerful Amazon has to send its Avaters to 
the Para. Magnifloont groups of Muriti palms line its side.s, their broad 
Avaviug fans silvered by the brightest of moonshine. At daAni the Belem 
touched at Gukui’-V and Porto do Moz, small villages, inhabited by 
Indians and half-castes, leaving at the right the singularly shaped flat 
hills of Almeirim, the only ones seen on the aa'IioIc tour. After PiUTNirA 
J.VXCAllA IX THK miE.AKSKS. 
and Monte Alkore, tAVO other stations of little importance, we reached at 
last Sant.aheji, at the mouth of the Tapajoz, a prosperous and jirettj^ little 
toAvn. Tliere is a certain charm about that sloping hill, covered Avith 
AvhiteA\nshed houses and cottages, and green gardens, and overlooking a 
Avhite beach full of boats and barA|ues of every size. Tempted by the 
lovely aspect, av'c Avimt on shore to stretch our limbs a little, and to 
gutlK'r some statistical notes, if possible ; but we had no idea of the 
dilficulties of tlie latter undertaking. We began by asking the pro- 
prietor of a little shop, avIui aatis sitting quietly on his doorstep, and 
