18 
CHAPTER II. 
PAEA. 
Festas — Portuguese and Brazilian currency — M. Borlaz’ estate — Walk 
to the rice-mills — The virgin forest, its plants and insects — Milk- 
tree — Saw and rice mills — Caripe or pottery-tree — Indiarubber-tree 
— Flowers and trees in blossom — Saiiba ants, wasps, and chegoes— 
Journey by water to Magoary — The monkeys — The commandante 
at Laranjeiras — Vampire bats — The timber-trade~Boa constrictor 
and Sloth. 
About a fortniglit after our arrival at Para there were 
several holidays, or “ festas,’’ as they are called. Those 
of the ^'Espirito Santo’’ and the “Trinidade” lasted 
each nine days. The former was held at the cathedral, 
the latter at one of the smaller churches in the suburbs. 
The general character of these festas is the same, some 
being more celebrated and more attractive than others. 
They consist of fireworks every night before the church ; 
Negro girls selling ‘‘ doces,” or sweetmeats, cakes, and 
fruit ; processions of saints and crucifixes ; the church 
open, with regular services ; kissing of images and relics ; 
and a miscellaneous crowd of Negroes and Indians, all 
dressed in white, thoroughly enjoying the fun, and the 
