148 
TRAVELS ON THE AMAZON. 
near, and at the back rose the sloping ground towards 
the mountain. All. around were interspersed thickets 
and open ground, and the picturesque masses of cactus 
rose in every direction. We strolled about a little before 
dark, and shot a couple of pretty green purple-shouldered 
paroquets, one of the smallest species that inhabits the 
country. When we returned to the house we were 
offered some new milk, and then sat outside the door 
looking at the strange accoutrements of some of the 
herdsmen, who were going on horseback to some dis- 
tant part of the estate. Their curious and clumsy -look- 
ing wooden saddles, huge stirrups, long lassos, and 
leather ammunition-bags, with long guns and powder- 
horns of formidable dimensions, made them striking 
figures, and the more picturesque from their being 
dusky mulattoes. As soon as the sun set the mosquitoes 
made their appearance, and the doors of the house were I 
shut, a pan of cow-dung lighted outside, and a lamp 
within. After a short time supper was announced, and i 
we sat down on a mat on the floor to an excellent repast ! 
of turtle, which had been recently brought from the 
Amazon. We then turned into our hammocks, which 
were hung across the room in every direction. In fact, 
the house was pretty well occupied before we came, so 
that we were now rather crowded ; but a Brazilian thinks 
nothing of that, and is used to sleep in company. 
doors and windows were well closed, and though rather 
warm we did not suffer from the mosquitoes, an annoy- 
ance to which any other is preferable. j 
The next morning we prepared for our expedition to 
the mountain, and as we did not know whether we‘ 
MJj 
