1848.] 
POLITE LETTER. 
59 
them to your friendship and protection in the scientific 
enterprise which they have undertaken, in order to ob- 
tain those natural productions which render our province 
a classic land in the history of animals and plants. 
''In this laborious enterprise, which the illustrious 
{elites) travellers have undertaken, I much wish that they 
may find in you all that the limited resources of the place 
allows, not only that whatever difficulties they encounter 
may be removed, but that you may render less irksome 
the labours and privations they must necessarily endure ; 
and for men like them, devoted to science, and whose 
very aliment is Natural History, in a country like ours 
abounding in the most exquisite productions, it is easy 
to find means to gratify them, 
" I therefore hope, and above all pray you to fulfil my 
wishes in the attentions you pay to Senhor Leavens and 
his companions, and thus give me another proof of your 
esteem and friendship. 
" Your friend and obedient servant, 
" JoAO Augusto Correio,'' 
After reading the letter Senhor Seixus told us that he 
was going to Baiao in two or three days, and that we 
could either remain here, or have the use of his house 
there till he arrived. We determined therefore to pro- 
ceed, as we wished to send back the men Senhor Gomez 
had lent us, so returned to our canoe to be ready to start 
the next tide. In the morning I went on ahead in the 
montaria, with Alexander, to shoot some birds. We saw 
numbers of kingfishers and small green-backed swallows, 
and some pretty red-headed finches {Tanagra gularis), 
