374 TRAVELS ON THE AMAZON. \_Mcty, | 
My parrots, in particular, of wliicli I had more than | 
twenty, would persist in wandering about into the street, | 
and I lost several of my best, which were, no doubt, i 
safely domiciled in some of the adjoining houses. I 
was much annoyed, too, by persons constantly coming P 
to me, to sell them parrots or monkeys; and my re- 
peated assurances, that I myself wanted to buy more, i 
did not in the least check the pertinacity of my would-be 
customers. 
The city was now full of fashion ably- dressed young 
men, who received the public money for services they did ' 
not know how to perform. Many of them could not fill ! 
up a few dozen words in a printed form without making 
blunders, or in a shorter time than two or three hours ; 
their contemplations seeming scarcely to rise beyond > 
their polished-leather boots and gold watch-chains. As 
it was necessary to get a passport, I presented myself 
at the office of the “ Chef de Policia,’’ for the purpose ; 
but was told that I must first advertise my intention of | 
leaving, in the newspaper. I accordingly did so, and * 
about a week after went again. I was now requested 
to bring a formal application in writing, to have a pass- 
port granted me : I returned, and prepared one, and 
the next day went with it ; now the Chef was engaged, 
and he must sign the requisition before anything else 
could be done. I called again the next day, and now 
that the requisition was signed, I had a blank form 
given me to go and get stamped in another office, in a 
distant part of the city. Off I had to go, — get the | 
stamp, which took two clerks to sign, and paid my |,| 
eight vintems for it ; armed with this, I returned to the 1 
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