A BLOW ON THE BEARO 
291 
»ftin poured down incessantly; but wo formed our beds by 
dragging up the earth into oblong mounds, somewhat like 
graves in a country churehyard, and then placing grass 
upon them. Tho rain continuing to dolugo us, wo wore 
unable to loavo for two days; but as soon as it became fair 
wo continued our march. Tho heavy dew upon tho high 
grass was so cold as to cause shivering, and I was forced 
to lie by for eight days, tossing and groaning with violent 
pain in the head. This was tho most sovero attack I had 
endured. It made mo quite unfit to move, or oven know 
what was passing outside my .ittlc tent. Sonhor Pascoal, 
who had boon detained by the severe rain at a better spot, 
at last camo up, and, knowing that leeches aboundod in 
tho rivulots, procured a number, and applied some dozens 
to tho napo oi tho nock and the loins. This partially 
relieved tho pain. Ho was then obliged to move forward, 
in ordor to purchase food for his largo party. After many 
days, I began to recover, and wished to move on, but my 
men objected to the attempt on account of my weakness. 
When Sonhor Pascoal had been somo time at the village in 
front, as ho had received instructions from his omployor, 
Captain Neves, to aid mo as much as possible, and boing 
himself a kindly-disposed person, ho sent back two mes- 
sengers to invite me to como on, if practicable. 
It happened that the head-man of the villago where 1 
had lain twenty-two days, whil.o bargaining and quarrelling 
in my camp for a piece of meat, had been struck on the 
mouth by one of my men. My principal mon paid five 
pieces of cloth and a gun as an atonement; but tho more 
they yielded the more exorbitant he became, and ho sent 
word to all tho surrounding villages to aid him in avenging 
the affront of a blow on tho board. As their courage 
usually rises with success, I resolved to yield no more, and 
doparted In passing through a forest in tho country 
beyond, wo were startled by a body of men rushing after 
us. They began by knocking down the burdens of tho 
hindormost of my mon, and several shots wore tired, each 
