Summary
The sun of the 26th of June was just re-lighting the water as we left Villa Nova. Continuing on a few miles, we stopped in the woods to breakfast. Our friends had loaded us with provisions of fish, fowl, and turtle, and this morning's pic-nie was peculiarly delightful after the Spartan fare of the last fortnight. And here, perhaps, a description of our doings at these breakfast hours may not be without interest to those who care to know the romance of a voyager's life. Landing at a convenient spot, the first point was to clear a space sufficient for operations, and this was speedily effected by some of the Indians with their tresádos. Others wandered about collecting materials wherewith to make a blaze, and there was rarely difficulty in finding an abundance of such. The flint and steel were put in requisition, and soon all was ready. Some of the party cut off strips offish, washing it to extract the saltness; others cut sticks of proper length, into the cleft end of which they fastened the fish. These were then stuck in the ground, inclining over the fire, and one of the men was always stationed near to give it the requisite turning. One of the Indians was the particular attendant upon the cabin, receiving sundry perquisites for his services; and upon him devolved the care of our tea-kettle. Above the fire, a cross-bar was supported by a forked stick at either end, and on this the boiling was accomplished in the most civilized style.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- A Voyage up the River AmazonIncluding a Residence at Pará, pp. 116 - 128Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2010First published in: 1847