Before they go to bed they have their feet examined to see whether any sand-fleas have nestled in them; and if such be the case, they are extracted by the elder negro children.
9th October.

Early in the morning I took leave of my kind hostess, who, like a truly careful housewife, had wrapped up a roasted fowl, manioc flour, and a cheese for me, so that I was well provisioned on setting off.
The next station, Aldea do Pedro, on the banks of the Parahyby, was situated at a distance of sixteen miles.

Our way lay through magnificent woods, and before we had traversed half of it, we arrived at the river Parahyby, one of the largest in the Brazils, and celebrated, moreover, for the peculiar character of its bed, which is strewed with innumerable cliffs and rocks; these, owing to the low state of the stream, were more than usually conspicuous.

On every side rose little islands, covered with small trees or underwood, lending a most magic appearance to the river.

During the rainy season, most of these cliffs and rocks are covered with water, and the river then appears more majestic.