116 
TEAVELS ON THE AMAZON. 
[May, 
now being tbe time of tbe highest tides, though at this 
season (May) they are not generally high enough to 
produce it with any great force. It came however with 
a sudden rush, a wave travelling rapidly up the stream, 
and breaking in foam all along the shore and on the 
shallows. It lifted our canoe just as a great rolling 
ocean-wave would do, but, being deep water, did no 
harm, and was past in an instant, the tide then con- 
tinuing to flow up with very great velocity. The highest 
tide was now past, so at the next we had no wave, but 
the flood began running up, instantaneously, and not 
gradually, as is generally the case. 
The next day we arrived at Sao Domingo, a little vil- 
lage at the junction of the Guama and Capim rivers. I 
had a letter of introduction to a Brazilian trader residing 
here, on presenting which he placed his house at my 
disposal. I took him at his word, and said I should 
stay a few days. Luiz went into the woods every day, 
generally bringing home some birds, and I wandered 
about in search of insects, which I did not find very 
abundant, the dry season having scarcely begun ; there 
were however plenty of pleasant paths about the woods 
to the rice- and mandiocca-fields, and abundance of 
oranges and other fruit. Our food was principally fish 
from the river and some jerked beef, with beans and 
rice. The house was little better than a mud hovel, 
with a bench, a rickety table, and a few hammocks for 
furniture ; but in this country the people away from the 
towns never think of expending any great labour or going 
to any expense to make a comfortable house. 
