Brazil -- Description and travel; Geology -- Amazon River Valley
the black Porpoise of the bay of Marajo, frequently seen in the
vicinity of Pará, is totally different from the gray species seen
higher up the stream.—L. A.
Footnote 75:
As from the beginning our arrangements were made to stay at least a
month in Teffé, it became possible to lay out our work in a more
systematic form than during our rambling travels. It was here that I
secured the largest number of fish skeletons and had several of the
larger animals of the country prepared for the Museum; such as
Manatees, Porpoises, Pirarucus, Sorubims, and the like. I also
undertook here, for the first time, a regular search for the young of
all the species of fishes that could be obtained. Here again my
neighbors, and indeed all the inhabitants of the place, vied with one
another in their efforts to procure specimens for me. Senhor Joaō da
Cunha and Dr. Romualdo made frequent fishing excursions for my
benefit; and when I could not accompany them, a boatful of fish was
nevertheless moored to the shore, in the evening, from which I could
select whatever was useful or interesting. The grocer of the place,
Mr. Pedro Mendez, who employed a skilful fisherman daily to supply his
large family, gave directions that all the fishes caught should be
brought in, and before the kitchen received its provisions, I had my
choice of everything. This was a great favor, especially since the
Indian fisherman, José, whom I had engaged in Manaos to accompany me
through the rest of my journey, was now at Tabatinga, assisting Mr.
Bourget, who had been left there when I returned to Teffé. An old
Passé Indian, who was as familiar with the fishes of the waters as
with the animals of the forest, and whom Major Coutinho had befriended
for many years, rendered also great service in hunting particular
kinds of fishes and reptiles, the haunts of which he alone seemed to
know. The schoolmaster and his boys, in short, everybody who knew how
to catch fish or fowl, was out at work, and, with the assistance of my
young friends Dexter, Hunnewell, and Thayer, and the co-operation of
Major Coutinho and Mr. Burkhardt, our daily progress was unmistakable.
They generally took care of the collections of land animals, while I
reserved the fishes to myself, and Major Coutinho was busy with
geological and meteorological observations. Even the servants helped
in cleaning the skeletons. I made here a very extensive collection of
fish brains, embracing most genera found in this locality, but it was
unfortunately lost on arriving at Manaos. Aware of the difficulty of
transporting preparations so delicate, I kept them always by my side,
simply packed in an open barrel, in the hope of bringing them safely
home, and also that I might, without difficulty, add to the number. In
an unguarded moment, however, while landing, one of our attendants
capsized the whole into the Rio Negro. It is the only part of my
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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