370 ‘ 
TRAVELS ON THE RIO NEGRO. 
\_May, 
On the 28th I went on to Sao Gabriel, and paid my 
respects to the new Commandante, and' then enjoyed a 
little conversation with my friend Mr. Spruce. Several 
of my birds died or were lost here, and at Sao Joaquim. 
A little black monkey killed and devoured two which 
had escaped from their cages, and one of my most valu- 
able and beautiful parrots (a single specimen) was lost in 
passing the falls. I had left Sao Joaquim with fifty- two 
live animals (monkeys, parrots, etc.), which, in a small 
canoe, were no little trouble and annoyance. 
I was lucky enough to get the Commandante to send 
a soldier with me in charge of the Correio, or post, and 
thus ensured my passage to Barra without further de- 
lays, a point on which I had been rather uneasy. Leav- 
ing Sao Gabriel I staid for the night at the house of 
Senhor Victormo ; of whom I bought several green par- 
rots, and a beautiful '' anac^,” or purple and red-necked 
crested parrot, in place of the one which had gone over-A 
board while passing the falls at Sao Gabriel. The fol- ‘ 
lowing day I reached the house of Senhor Palheta, and 
thought myself fortunate to purchase of him another 
anaca for seven shillings ; but the very next morning it 
died from cold, having flown into the river, and become 
completely chilled before it could be rescued. 
On the 2nd of May I arrived at the sitio of my old 
friend Senhor Chagas, who made me breakfast with him, 
and sold me some farinha, coffee, and a lot of guinea- 
fowls’ eggs ; and embraced me with great affection at 
parting, wishing me every happiness. The same night 
I reached Castanheiro, where I particularly wished to 
get a pilot, to take me down the east bank of the river, 
