1848.J 
VOYAGE TO MEXIANA. 
87 
abound in a lake in the centre of the island, where they 
are killed in great numbers for their fat, which is made 
into oil. 
I was accompanied by Mr. Yates, a collector of Or- 
chids, who, after a few weeks’ stay, not finding much 
variety of those plants, returned to Para. On our ar- 
rival we were received by Senhor Leonardo, a German, 
who is the overseer, to whom we presented our letter 
from Mr. C. We were then shown the rooms we were 
to occupy in the house, which is spacious and has an 
upper story ; and having got our luggage on shore, we 
soon made ourselves at home. Round the house are a 
good many orange and mango trees, behind which is a 
row of cottages, where reside the vaqueiros or herdsmen, 
who are mostly Negroes and slaves; and beyond, as far 
as the eye can reach, is the flat campo, dotted over with 
cattle and horses. 
On inquiring about the best localities for insects, birds, 
and plants, we were rather alarmed by being told that 
on^as were very numerous, even near the house, and 
that it was dangerous to walk out alone or unarmed. 
We soon found however that no one had been actually 
attacked by them ; though they, poor animals, are by no 
means unmolested, as numerous handsome skins drying 
in the sun, and teeth and skulls lying about, suffi- 
ciently proved. There is no doubt but they are unplea- 
sant animals to encounter, and their teeth and claws are 
so fearfully adapted to destroy whatever may come within 
their reach, that it is much better to be a little cautious, 
than to run any risk : I therefore put half-a-dozen bul- 
lets in my game-bag, in case of an encounter. 
