THE RAPIDS OF THE MADEIRA AND THE MAMORE. 75 
vest poured down tlie dog’s throiit. As I had not so ranch faith in 
the efficacy ot tobacco as ray blacks, I ordered one of them, a sharp 
lad of sixteen, to take poor Chamyl to onr tent, which was about 
a mile off, to there saddle one of onr innlcs, and to fetch some aniraonia 
Iroin the next tow'n, a distance of about eight miles. In the evening 
^ we retimuid to our improvised abode, speculating on the fate of our pet, 
whom we gave up as either dead or dying. 13ut as soon as he heard 
> oru’ voices he came out barking a joyous welcome, and wagging his 
> lail just in his old way, and sho>ving no sign of illness. Our black 
r (!ook, wdio, together Avith an old gi-cy-haii-ed Afi'icau, had kept house 
L Ihewhih', told us on inquiry, Avith a sly smile, that Piii Se (that 
is. Papa Jose), the old black, had gh'eu him “um remedio,” a drug, 
AA'hich had cured him instantly. Pai Se, when asked Avhat miraculous 
drug this was, showed us rather rehictautly a little parcel or bag of 
dark colour about two inches long and one broad, which he Avore 
suspeiuhal by a cord round his neck, and Avhich Avas so grimed with 
dii't and grease that we abstained from closer inv'cstigation. He had 
simply washed the aimdet, and the dog had drunk the Avater! As 
Ave asked for the ammonia, he infonned us Avith a derisive grin that 
the messenger Avas not yet back, and gruffly added that the dog AA^as 
Avcll enough uoav, and Avould not Avaut the drugs of the AAfflites. This 
Avas so true that Avhen the lad, out of breath Avith the hot ride, returned 
some time afterwards Avith the ammonia, AA^e put it aside unopened, for 
C.'hamyl AA'as quite Avell and in the best of spirits, and he, perhaps, 
lives to the present du3^ 
Th(^ belief that men who have scratched their backs all over AAuth 
the tooth of a poisonous serpent Avill be uninjiu-ed by the bite of any, 
is spread all over Prazil ; and I haA'e seen trustworthy people aaJio 
assm-cd me that they saAv .such persons safely touch rattlesnakes. 
Unfortunately I never coidd ascertain Avhethor they were imposed on, or 
Avhether the human system, being gi'adually impregnated Avith the 
poisonous matter, may indeed bo protected by it against a sudden access 
of it, as is the case, more or less, with the Amccinc A'irus. 
"W c noAV Averc near the mouth of the Guapore, and doubly Augilant 
for the savages said to haunt these regions. Oiu- arms Avere held in 
readiness, and nobody Avas alloAV'cd to wander from the halting-place, lost 
A\ c should see one of onr company pierced by the mroAvs of an invisible 
enemy. These during brigands, in their robbing expeditions, rove even 
