Page:A narrative of travels on the Amazon and Rio Negro.djvu/283

 1852.] RETURN TO UARUCAPURI. 251

Jesuino and Chagas having taken all with them up the river, to assist in an attack on an Indian tribe, the " Carapanas," where they hoped to get a lot of women, boys, and children, to take as presents to Barra. There was scarcely anything to be had to eat : fish were not to be caught, though we sent our Indians out every day ; and though fowls were abundant, their owners were out, and those in charge of them would not sell them. At length, after four days, I succeeded in persuading the son of the Tushaua to go with me as pilot to Jauarite, he not being able to resist the knives, beads, and mirror, which I spread out before him.

I had collected scarcely anything in this place, but a single specimen of the beautiful and rare topaz-throated hummer {Trochilus pyra) and a new butterfly of the genus Callithea. I heard of the handsome bronze Jacana being found here, but my hunters searched for it in vain.

On the morning after we left, we saw a fine deer on a sand- bank near us, so I sent Manoel into the forest to get behind it, while we remained quietly watching from the canoe. After walking about the beach a short time, it took to the water to cross the river, when "we followed in pursuit ; and, notwith- standing its turnings and doublings, soon came up, — when the poor animal was despatched by a blow on the head, and pulled into the canoe. The Indians then went briskly on, rejoicing in the certainty of a dinner for the next day or two, in which I heartily joined them. At Tapioca caxoeira we stayed two hours, to cook and salt the deer, and descended the fall without any accident.

On April 1st we passed a host of falls, shooting most of them amidst fearful waves and roaring breakers, and arrived safely at Caruru, where the Tushaua gave us his house ; for, having two canoes, we were obliged to wait to get more Indians. I was still too weak to go out into the forest ; and, besides, had my live stock to attend to, which now consisted of four monkeys, about a dozen parrots, and six or eight small birds. It was a constant trouble to get food for them in sufficient variety, and to prevent them from escaping. Most of the birds are brought up without being confined, and if placed in a cage, attempt constantly to get out, and refuse food till they die ; if, on the other hand, they are loose, they wander about to the Indians' houses, or into the forest, and