Page:The naturalist on the River Amazons 1863 v2.djvu/270

 channel running between Bariá and another island called Quanarú. There is a small sand-bank at the north-westerly point of Bariá, called Jacaré; we stayed here to dine and afterwards fished with the net. A fine rain was still falling, and we had capital sport, in three hauls taking more fish than our canoe would conveniently hold. They were of two kinds only, the

Surubim and the Piraepiéüa (species of Pimelodus), very handsome fishes four feet in length, with flat spoon-shaped heads, and prettily-spotted and striped skins.

On our way from Jacaré to the mouth of the Teffé we had a little adventure with a black tiger or jaguar. We were paddling rapidly past a long beach of dried mud, when the Indians became suddenly excited, shouting "Ecui Jauareté; Jauarí-pixúna!" (Behold the jaguar, the black jaguar!). Looking ahead we saw the animal quietly drinking at the water's edge. Cardozo ordered the steersman at once to put us ashore. By the time we were landed the tiger had seen us, and was retracing his steps towards the forest. On the spur of the