232 
TRAVELS ON THE RIO NEGRO. 
[January, 
On the 27th of January, 1851, we left Guia, paddling 
up against the stream. The canoe had been fresh 
caulked, but still I found it leaking so much, as to keep 
me constantly baling; and in the afternoon, when we 
staid for dinner, I made an examination, and found 
out the cause of the leakage. The cargo was heavy and 
was supported on a little stage, or floor, resting upon 
cross-bearers in the bottom of the canoe; the ends of 
these bearers had been carelessly placed just on a seam, 
so that the whole weight of the cargo tended to force 
out the plank, and thus produce the leak, I was ac- 
cordingly obliged to unload the boat entirely, and re- 
place the bearers in a better position; after which, I was 
glad to find the leak much diminished. 
On the 2 8 til, in the afternoon, we arrived at the little 
village of Mabe, which we reached in very good time, 
\ 
for the inhabitants had just returned from a fishing ex- 
pedition : they had procured a great quantity of fish by 
poisoning an igaripe near, and I purchased enough for 
our supper and breakfast. I found several which I had 
not seen before ; among them, a most curious little spe- 
cies allied to Centrarcm, called the butterfly fish, from the 
extraordinary development of its fins, and pretty banded 
markings. 
On the 29th, about noon, we passed the mouth of the 
river Xie, a black- water stream of moderate size and no 
great length. There is little trade up it, and the Indians 
inhabiting it are uncivilized and almost unknown. |- 
On the 30th, we came in sight of the serras of the ^ j| 
Cababuris, and the long row of hills called PirapucoW 
(the long fish) : they consist of lofty and isolated granite 
