The familiarity thus obtained with them was very useful to me in pursuing my studies on the spot.—L. A. CHAPTER VI. LIFE AT MANAOS.—VOYAGE FROM MANAOS TO TABATINGA. ARRIVAL AT MANAOS.—MEETING OF THE SOLIMOENS WITH THE RIO NEGRO.—DOMESTICATED AT MANAOS.—RETURN OF PARTY FROM THE TAPAJOZ.—GENEROSITY OF GOVERNMENT.—WALKS.—WATER-CARRIERS.—INDIAN SCHOOL.—LEAVE MANAOS.—LIFE ON BOARD THE STEAMER.—BARREIRA DAS CUDAJAS.—COARI.—WOODING.—APPEARANCE OF BANKS.—GEOLOGICAL CONSTITUTION.—FOREST.—SUMAUMEIRA-TREE.—ARROW-GRASS.—RED DRIFT CLIFFS.—SAND-BEACHES.—INDIAN HUTS.—TURTLE-HUNTING.—DRYING FISH.—TEFFÉ.—DOUBTS ABOUT THE JOURNEY.—UNEXPECTED ADVISER.—FONTE BÔA.—GEOLOGICAL CHARACTER OF BANKS.—LAKES.—FLOCKS OF WATER BIRDS.—TONANTINS.—PICTURESQUE GROUPING OF INDIANS.—SAN PAOLO.—LAND-SLIDES.—CHARACTER OF SCENERY.—SCANTY POPULATION.—ANIMAL LIFE.—TABATINGA.—ASPECT OF THE SETTLEMENT.—MOSQUITOES.—LEAVE ONE OF THE PARTY TO MAKE COLLECTIONS.—ON OUR WAY DOWN THE RIVER.—PARTY TO THE RIVERS IÇA AND HYUTAHY.—AGROUND IN THE AMAZONS.—ARRIVAL AT TEFFÉ. _September 5th._—Manaos. Yesterday morning we entered the Rio Negro and saw the meeting of its calm, black waters with the rushing yellow current of the Amazons, or the Solimoens, as the Upper Amazon is called. They are well named by the Indians the “living and the dead river,” for the Solimoens pours itself down upon the dark stream of the Rio Negro with such a vital, resistless force, that the latter does indeed seem like a lifeless thing by its side. It is true, that at this season, when the water in both the rivers is beginning to subside, the Rio Negro seems to offer some slight resistance to the stronger river; it struggles for a moment with the impetuous flood which overmasters it, and, though crowded up against the shore, continues its course for a little distance side by side with the Solimoens. But at the season when the waters are highest, the latter closes the mouth of the Rio Negro so completely that not a drop of its inky stream is seen to mingle with the yellow waters outside. It is supposed that at this season the Rio Negro sinks at once under the Solimoens; at all events, the latter flows across its mouth, seeming to bar it completely. It must not be supposed, from the change of name, that the Solimoens is anything more than the continuation of the Amazons; just as the so-called river Marañon is its continuation above Nauta, after crossing the Brazilian frontier. It is always the same gigantic stream, traversing the continent for its whole breadth; but it has received in its lower, middle, and upper course the three local names of the Amazons, the Solimoens, and the Marañon. At the point where the Brazilians give it the name of Solimoens it takes a sudden turn to the south, just where the Rio Negro enters it from the north, so that the two form a sharp angle.