386 
TRAVELS ON THE AMAZON. 
\June, 
wound round closely from end to end witli tlie long 
flexible roots of a species of Fothos^ wliicb, growing 
on tlie tops of lofty trees, bang down often a hundred 
feet or more, and, when the outer bark is scraped ofip, 
are universally used for this purpose. It was to do 
this binding we staid here, the salsa having been al- 
ready done up in proper packages ; and while the crew 
were busy about it, I occupied myself making some 
sketches of palms, which were yet wanting to complete 
my collection. 
In two days more we reached the mouth of the To- 
cantins, where there is a great bay,- — so wide, that the 
further shore is not visible. As there are some danger- 
rous sand-banks here, there is a pilot who takes canoes 
over, and we waited all day in order to start with the 
morning’s tide, which is considered the most favoiuable 
for the passage. While here I got a few shells, and 
amused myself by talking with the pilot, his wife, and 
two very lively daughters. Our conversation turned 
upon the shortness and uncertainty of hfe; which the 
old woman illustrated by a tale, which seemed to be 
another version of the “three warnings.” 
“ A man and his wife were conversing together, an d^ 
remarking on the unpleasantness of being subject to 
death. ^ I should like to make friends with Death, some 
way,’ said the man ; ' then perhaps he will not trouble I 
me.’ ‘That you can easily do,’ said his wife; ‘invite 
him to be padrinho (godfather) to our little boy, who is 
^1 
I 
II 
to be baptized next week ; you will then be able to talk 
to him on the subject, and he will surely not be able to 
refuse a slight favour to his ‘compadre/ So he was 
m 
