Page:The naturalist on the River Amazons 1863 v2.djvu/32

 people could lay their hands on, were brutally massacred. A space filled with mounds, amongst the myrtle bushes in the woods behind Santarem, now marks the spot where these poor fellows were confusedly buried. I could give a long account of the horrors of this time as they were related to me; but I think the details would not serve any useful purpose. It must not be thought, however, that the Amazonian people are habitually a blood-thirsty race; on the contrary, the peaceableness and gentleness of character of the inhabitants of this province, in quiet times, are proverbial throughout Brazil. The rarity or absence of deeds of violence from year to year is always commented upon by the President in his annual report to the Central Government.

When the Cabanas or rebels entered the town, the friends of lawful government retired to a large block of buildings near the water-side, which they held for many days, to cover the embarcation of their families and moveables. The negro slaves generally remained faithful to their masters. Whilst the embarcation was going on many daring feats were performed, chiefly by coloured people: one brave fellow, a mameluco, named Paca, made a bold dash one day, with a few young men of the same stamp, and secured five or six of the rebel leaders, who were carried, gagged and handcuffed, on board a schooner in the port. But the legal party were greatly outnumbered and deficient in arms and ammunition, and they were obliged, soon after Paca's feat, entirely to evacuate the town; retiring to the village of Prayinha, about 150 miles down the river. Those citizens of Santarem who sympathised with the rebels were