58 
TRAVELS ON THE AMAZON. [^September, 
— Nothing.'' “Have you any eggs to sell?" — “No, 
the hens don't lay any eggs." And notwithstanding 
our declaration that we had nothing to eat, we were 
obliged to go away as empty as we came, because her 
master was not at home, and nothing was hers to sell. 
At another house we were lucky enough to buy a small 
turtle, which made us an excellent meal. 
We were to call at Jambouassu, a sitio about fifteen 
miles below Baiao, where Senhor Seixus, to whom we 
had a letter, sometimes resided. The house is situated up 
a narrow igaripe, the entrance to which even our Indians 
had much difficulty in discovering, as it was night when 
we reached the place. Mr. Leavens and myself then went 
in the montaria up the narrow stream, which the tall 
trees, almost meeting overhead, made intensely dark and 
gloomy. It was but a few hundred yards to the house, 
where we found Senhor Seixus, and delivered the letter 
from his partner in Para ; and as it is a very good spe- 
cimen of Portuguese composition and politeness, I will 
here give a literal translation of it. 
“ Senhor Joze Antonio Correio Seixus 8f Co.^ Baiao. 
“Priends and Gentlemen,— 
“ Knowing that it is always agreeable for you to 
have an opportunity of showing your hospitable and ge- 
nerous feelings towards strangers in general, and more 
particularly to those who visit our country for the pur- 
pose of making discoveries and extending the sphere of 
their knowledge ; I do not hesitate to take advantage of 
the opportunity which the journey of Mr. Charles Leavens 
and his two worthy companions presents, to recommend 
