Summary
Soon after Mr. Bradley's arrival Dr. Costa, the chief judge of the district of the Rio Negro, also arrived in Pará, upon his way to Rio Janeiro, and, learning that we desired to visit the towns upon the Amazon, very kindly offered us his galliota and Indians for that purpose. So tempting an offer allowed of no hesitation, but, as Mr. Bradley was to be in readiness to make the same journey in a few days, we determined to await his convenience, and meanwhile to make a short excursion to Vigia. This town is about fifty miles below, near the junction of a small tide-stream with the Grand Pará. As the direct passage down the river offered little of interest, and moreover, at this still squally season, was somewhat hazardous in a small canoe, we determined on the inland course, winding about among the islands, and requiring perhaps double the time.
We left Pará on the 1st of May, in the same canoe that carried us to Magoary, and with the same negroes whom we had heretofore employed. These fellows, by long acquaintance, assisted by a modicum of their own good nature and a due sense of our generosity, had moulded themselves pretty much to our wishes. Unmerited oblivion ought not yet to overtake these good companions of our wanderings, and who knows but that a charcoal sketch of their lineaments and characteristics may discover them to the notice of some other travellers, who may hereafter have like necessities with ourselves?
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- A Voyage up the River AmazonIncluding a Residence at Pará, pp. 63 - 74Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2010First published in: 1847