Page:A narrative of travels on the Amazon and Rio Negro.djvu/282

 250 TRAVELS ON THE RIO NEGRO. [March,

which I had been long searching for, the " anambe de catinga," a species of Cyanurus, was here shot ; and before leaving, I obtained four or five specimens of it, and as many of the commoner black-headed species. One or two small birds, new to me, were also obtained ; and these, with two or three scarce butterflies, and about a dozen new species of fish, composed my natural-history collections in this remote and unvisited district. This was entirely owing, however, to my unfortunate and unforeseen illness, for birds in great variety had been very abundant, but the time of the fruit was now over ; fish and turtles, too, were in extraordinary plenty at the commencement of the fall of the river, two months back; and during that period, constituting the short summer in these districts, while I lay half dead at Sao Joaquim, insects were doubtless more numerous.

But as there was now no remedy I made myself as contented as I could, and endeavoured at least to complete my collection of the arms, implements, and ornaments of the natives. The Indians here were mostly " Cobeus," and I obtained several of their peculiar ornaments and dresses, to add to my collection. I also took advantage of the visit of a Tushaiia, or chief, who well understood the Lingoa Geral, to obtain a vocabulary of their language.

Just as I was about to leave on my voyage down, I received a note from Senhor Chagas, requesting, in the name of Tenente Jesuino, the loan of my canoe, to ascend higher up the river ; which, as the time of his stay was very uncertain, I was obliged to refuse. This Tenente, an ignorant half-breed, was sent by the new Barra government to bring all the Tushatfas, or chiefs, of the Uaupes and Isanna rivers to Barra, to receive diplomas and presents. An Indian, sent by him, had arrived at Caruni caxoeira, and wished to buy the oba" of the Tushaiia, after I had paid for and got possession of it, and even had the impudence to request me to give it back again, in order that he might purchase or borrow it ; and my refusal was, of course, quite sufficient seriously to offend the said Tenente.

On the 25th, having been just a fortnight at Mucura, I left, much disappointed with regard to the collections I had made there. The same day I reached Uarucapurf, whence I could not proceed without a pilot, as the falls below are very dangerous. There was hardly a male in the village, Messrs.