n the feeling of the
Tucuna Indians who came with you. They are, however, anxious to return
homewards; and I have promised them one of the canoes, and additional
payment, if they will accompany us in our flight to a place of safety.
There is an uninhabited island some way down the river, where, I hope,
we may remain concealed, should what we apprehend take place. As delay
may be dangerous, I have told Senhor Pimento that I purpose starting
this evening; and I have urged him to have his own montarias ready, and
manned by negroes in whom he can place confidence. I shall be very glad
if I can, at all events, induce him to take this precaution, so that,
should he see any likelihood of his being attacked, he may, at all
events, get on board, and save the lives of his family and himself. We
will, as soon as the canoes are ready, carry our own property down to
them. But we must take care that we are not observed by the natives,
who might attempt to stop us, or watch the direction we take. Your
mother and sisters are engaged in packing up, and I hope that soon all
will be ready."

Though Senhor Pimento appeared to be incredulous as to the sinister
intentions of the natives, I thought that possibly Pedro might be
induced to believe them. I therefore went in search of him. I told him
what we had heard.

"It may be," he answered. "I have had many black looks of late from
those who used at one time to be ready to kiss my feet. I am,
therefore, inclined to agree with you that some mischief is intended. I
will try and persuade my father to act prudently; but he has been so
long accustomed to look down upon the natives, it will be difficult to
persuade him that they will dare to injure a white skin. I think your
father is very right to escape from hence, though we shall be sorry to
part from you."

I thanked Pedro for his kind feelings, and urged him to try and induce
his father to act with caution. As all the natives on the estate were
absent gathering caoutchouc, our operations were conducted with less
difficulty than would otherwise have been the case. Our own Indians had
fortunately remained behind. It was settled that two should go in our
canoe. John should act as captain of our father's, and Domingos of
ours. Our goods were quickly conveyed on board. We found that Senhor
Pimento had sent a supply of farinha, as well as several turtles and
other provisions, on board each of them, as a mark, he said, of his
g