of howling monkeys afar off in the woods. There was nothing
unusual in this; for these creatures are heard at all times among the
forests of the Amazon, especially at sunrise and before sunset, or
whenever there is any appearance of the approach of a rain-storm. Our
travellers would not have noticed their voices on this occasion, but
that they seemed to be approaching in that direction; and as they were
coming along the bank of the main river, Guapo concluded that on
arriving at the "igaripe," they would turn up it and pass near where the
balza was, and thus he might have them within reach of his gravatana.
It was certain they were coming down the river side--of course upon the
tree-tops, and would, no doubt, turn up as Guapo expected, for the trees
on the opposite side of the igaripe stood too far apart even for monkeys
to spring across.

After waiting for half-an-hour or so, the hideous howling of the monkeys
could be heard at no great distance, and they were taking the desired
route. In fact, in a few minutes after, the troop appeared upon some
tall trees that stood on the edge of the creek, not fifty yards from
where the balza was moored. They were large animals, of that lanky and
slender shape that characterises the prehensile-tailed monkeys; but
these were different from the _ateles_ already mentioned. They were
true howlers, as they had already proved by the cries they had been
uttering for the half-hour past. There are several species of howling
monkeys, as we have already stated. Those that had arrived on the
igaripe Guapo pronounced to be _araguatoes_. Their bodies are of a
reddish-brown colour on the body and shoulders, lighter underneath, and
their naked wrinkled faces are of a bluish black, and with very much of
the expression of an old man. Their hair is full and bushy, and gives
them some resemblance to a bear, whence their occasional name of
"bear-ape," and also their zoological designation, _Simia ursina_. The
araguato is full three feet without the tail, and that powerful member
is much longer. When the band made its appearance on the igaripe, they
were seen to come to a halt, all of them gathering into a great tree
that stood by the water's edge. This tree rose higher than the rest,
and the most of the monkeys having climbed among the top branches, were
visible from the balza. There were about fifty in the troop, and one
that seemed larger than any of the others appeared to act as leader.