Page:The naturalist on the River Amazons 1863 v2.djvu/387

CHAPTER VI.

EXCURSIONS BEYOND EGA.

Steamboat travelling on the Amazons—Passengers—Tunantins—Caishána Indians—The Jutahí—Indian tribes on the Jutahí and the Jurúa—The Sapó—Marauá Indians—Fonte Boa—Journey to St. Paulo—Tucúna Indians—Illness—Descent to Pará—Changes at Pará—Departure for England.

November 7th, 1856.—Embarked on the Upper Amazons steamer, the "Tabatinga," for an excursion to Tunantins, a small semi-Indian settlement, lying 240 miles beyond Ega. The Tabatinga is an iron boat of about 170 tons burthen, built at Rio de Janeiro, and fitted with engines of fifty horse power. The saloon, with berths on each side for twenty passengers, is above deck, and open at both ends to admit a free current of air. The captain, or "commandante," was a lieutenant in the Brazilian navy, a man of polished, sailor-like address, and a rigid disciplinarian; his name, Senhor Nunes Mello Cardozo. I was obliged, as usual, to take with me a stock of all articles of food, except meat and fish, for the time I intended to be absent (three months); and the luggage, including hammocks, cooking utensils, crockery, and so forth, formed fifteen large packages. One volume consisted of a mosquito tent, an