previous to reaching S. Manoel on the left side was a stream in which
gold was to be found.

Amid the affectionate farewells of Mr. Barretto I left S. Manoel in a
beautiful boat belonging to the fiscal agent. The effects of light on the
water were wonderful after the storm. The river, immensely wide, flowed
in a N.N.W. direction, then due north in great straight stretches from 2
to 4 kil. in length. As we had left late in the afternoon we were not
able to go far. We passed some beautiful islands, one particularly of
immense length, with an extensive sandy beach at its southern end. After
going some 18 kil. we came to a great barrier of rocks extending across
the river from south-west to north-east. Some distance below those rocks
a great sand-bank spread half-way across the stream.

We halted for the night at the _fazenda_ of Colonel Gregorio, a
_seringueiro_ from whom I expected to get an Indian who knew the forest
well and who could be of some assistance to me in going across it. The
house of Col. Gregorio--a mere big shed--was a regular armoury, a great
many rifles of all ages, sizes, and shapes adorning the walls; then there
were fishing spears and harpoons, vicious-looking knives and axes. In the
principal room was a large altar with a carved figure of the Virgin
standing with joined hands before lighted candles and a bottle of green
peppermint. The latter was not an offering to the sacred image, but it
was placed on the revered spot so that none of Gregorio's men should
touch it. Enormous balls of rubber filled the greater portion of the
floor, waiting to be taken down the river.

With great trouble the Indian--a man called Miguel--was induced to
accompany me; also a young boy, who, at a salary of 15_s._ a day, agreed
to act as carrier.

It was not until late in the afternoon on August 25th that we left the
_fazenda_ in order to proceed down the stream. We passed the tributary
river Roncador on the left side, with its beautiful high waterfall a
short distance before it enters the Tapajoz. We came soon afterwards to
the island of S. Benedicto, south of which on the left bank was the hill
of the Veado, 120 ft. high. Directly in front of the island, also on the
left bank, was the Mount of S. Benedicto, where legends say an image of
that saint exists carved out by nature in the high rocky cliff.

As we passed under the hill our crew fired several volleys in honour of
the saint; then we landed and I climbed up to g