VOYAGE TO SANTAREM. 
135 
1849.] 
Our canoe had a very uneven deck, and, we soon 
found, a very leaky one, which annoyed us much by 
wetting our clothes and hammocks ; and there were 
no bulwarks, which, in the quiet waters of the Amazon, 
are not necessary. We laid in a good stock of provisions 
for the voyage, and borrowed some books from our 
English and American friends, to help to pass away the 
time ; and in the beginning of August, left Para with a 
fine wind, which soon carried us beyond the islands op- 
posite the city into the wide river beyond. The next 
day we crossed the little sea formed opposite the mouth of 
the Tocantins, and sailed up a fine stream till we entered 
again among islands, and soon got into the narrow chan- 
nel which forms the communication between the Para 
and Amazon rivers. We passed the little village of 
Breves, the trade of which consists principally of India- 
rubber, and painted basins and earthenware, very bril- 
liantly coloured. Some of our Indians went on shore 
while we staid for the tide, and returned rather tipsy, 
and with several little clay teapot-looking doves, much 
valued higher up the country. 
We proceeded for several days in those narrow 
channels, which form a net-work of water — a labyrinth 
quite unknown, except to the inhabitants of the district. 
We had to wait daily for the tide, and then to help 
ourselves on by warping along shore, there being no 
wind. A small montaria was sent on ahead, with a 
long rope, which the Indians fastened to some pro- 
jecting tree or bush, and then returned with the other 
end to the large canoe, which was pulled up by it. 
The rope was then taken on again, and the operation 
