210 
TRAVELS ON THE RIO NEGRO. [_Novemher, 
vantages of keeping oneself free of such ties by informing 
me that the mother of his two elder daughters having 
grown old, and being unable to bring them up properly 
or teach them Portuguese, he had turned her out of doors, 
and got a younger and more civilized person in her place. 
The poor woman had since died of jealousy, or ^^passion,” 
as he termed it. When young, she had nursed him during 
an eighteen months’ illness and saved his life; but he 
seemed to think he had performed a duty in turning 
her away, — for, said he, She was an Indian, and could 
only speak her own language, and, so long as she was 
with them, my children would never learn Portuguese.” 
The whole family welcomed him in a very cold and 
timid manner, coming up and asking his blessing as if 
they had parted from him the evening before, instead 
of three months since. We then had some coffee and 
breakfast ; after which the canoe was unloaded, and a 
little house just opposite his which happened to be un- 
occupied, was swept out for me. My boxes were placed j 
in it, my hammock hung up, and I soon made myself ‘ 
comfortable in my new quarters, and then walked out to 
look about me. 
In the village were about a dozen houses belonging to ’ 
Indians^ all of whom had their sitios, or country-houses, “ 
at from a few hours’ to some days’ distance up or down * 
the river, or on some of the small tributary streams.^ t 
They only inhabit the village at times of festas, or on the 
arrival of a merchant like Senhor L., when they bring! |j 
any produce they may have to dispose of, or, if they havefe | 
none, get what goods they can on credit, with the pro-|j! 
mise of payment at some future time. 
