curious tribes, to whom, however, the aspect of the travel-[] fires by day and by night, pouring through their open lers in their native boat must have appeared equally sin- doors a flood of red light upon the river. Our traveller gular and novel. "The large uba," says our author, "pre- was, as he tells us, struck with horror one evening, when, sented a strange appearance, containing a mixed crew, male observing his Indian companions mingling with a group and female, dark-skinned and whites, and freighted with our of Indians round a mighty fire, from whence proceeded a provisions, including two large baskets full of farina. The strong odour of musk, and close to which lay scattered Indian, with the wreath of green parrot's feathers on his various portions of a large alligator, which had that day head, propelled the boat with a long pole or paddle; now fallen a victim to his rifle. His horror was caused partly he stepped to the very edge of the bow, thrusting his oar into by the unceremonious manner in which this trophy of his the green waters of the Xingu, and bearing upon it with sporting achievements was consigned, first to the fire, and all his strength; again he stepped back, fixing his foot then to the hungry Juruna stomach, and partly by the firmly against the boat, as if he were going to sink it; then || very notion of devouring such unsavoury flesh. Two of his suddenly starting up, he drew the oar out of the water, and companions, however, tasted the alligator meat. The Count repeated the operation, at the same time shaking his long pronounced it abominable; but the Doctor, whose taste black hair as a lion does his mane. There was surprising was, doubtless, less aristocratic, and therefore less refined, beauty as well as power in his movements. Wooded islands voted it excellent. However, among our traveller's com succeeded one another closely. The channel between them panions, as well as in the Prince's own mind, very little became gradually narrower, and we noticed a large num- || palace daintiness blunted the keen edge of enjoyment with ber of shrubs raising their branches above the surface of which they prosecuted their adventures. On the contrary, the water. The swiftened stream, which was now a con- they entered into all the enthusiasm of the journey, rolled tinuous rapid, was passed in a short time; and, on looking into hammocks, poked about deserted villages, blew war back, we saw the river crossed by such a long line of small and hunting horns, and, in a word, played the traveller's masses of rocks, with shrubs growing between them, stretch-part with much bonhommie, and forming capital men for ing from the left bank towards the islands, that it seemed surprising how we could have steered through this maze.

the bivouacs, which would have been rendered dull and uninteresting by certain travellers whom we might allude to, who try to make drawing-rooms wherever they encamp, and regulate their dining, their sleeping, and their every action, by the code of comfort and etiquette. The sun was sinking, and the cool of evening succeeding the heat of the day, when our voyagers landed on a sandy point projecting into the Xingu, and which they mistook for an island, to prepare their meal, and pass the night. Here they were visited by a native:

"While the fires were being lighted, we amused ourselves in joking with our new friend, the young Juruna Indian, who had come from the interior, and had never before seen white people. Count him to fire it off-not that he evinced any suspicion of us, but Oliolla handed him a loaded gun, but no persuasions could induce the report had previously frightened him. He danced with as readily enough, and we, one after another, took his arm, imitating as well as we could the steps of the Indian girls at Tavaguara. At this he laughed heartily, and was beside himself with delight -nay, he even joined in our songs. With the aid of the interpreter, we endeavoured to learn from whence he came; whereupon he pointed to the moon, and described eight well-marked circles with his arms, his whole body following the same motion, intend

Further on, the Xingu appeared to rush with greater rapidity in front of them, between two round-backed woody hills, and beyond these it absolutely foamed through a rocky channel, between banks of granite, where the crew leaped into the water, and with their arms and shoulders pushed the uba against the stream, selecting those channels where there were sufficient depth for the boat. The rocky banks, the forest on either hand, the green water, lashed by its own strength into a froth of white foam, the primitive canoe, with the black-haired Indians struggling with the current, and occasionally withdrawn, and compelled to swim to land-all these, with the numerous accessories too many and too minute to indicate, formed a striking picture, which the reader will, from these few suggestions, be enabled to realise in his own mind. But we must not attempt to describe in panoramic style the various features of this singular river as it appeared to the travellers during their voyage in the waters. Scenery of inconceivable richness and variety opened upon their view at every turn; the river, with almost black waters, presented nowhere any monoto-ing, perhaps, to indicate that it required eight months for him to nous beauty, but changed at every bend, now widening to a reach his home. He evinced great interest in the different articles we possessed, which he touched with considerable curiosity. We vast sheet of water, rimmed with forests now contracting gave him a knife and a shirt. This delighted him. He immeand flowing broadly between verdant shores, with its wide|diately dressed himself in the shirt, and seemed never tired of lookbosom studded with islands of emerald green, and now ing upon himself in his new attire." shrinking into narrow dimensions with a roar like that of thunder through a rocky opening, beyond which again, perhaps, it widening, and seemed to come down from the interior in one soft uninterrupted flow, until another rapid, another rock-sprinkled channel altered its character. Such rivers, if they oppose more difficulties to the navigator, afford more beauty to the traveller's eye than the steady flow of the Amazon, whose waters will carry large vessels down for hundreds of miles without interruption, whilst the Xingu appears to sport with itself-now to pass from its source to its confluence with the greater streams with gentleness and quietude-now to roll along as though urged by some angry impulse, or some bounding feeling of pride and delight; nor were the scenes of life on its banks less varied or less strange. Native villages, solitary huts, were passed ja constant succession, enlivened by large and blazing

The rest of the night was passed less agreeably, the travellers being tortured with the pungent stings of the musquitto, which assailed them with unrelenting malignity throughout the night, whilst a storm of rain, the approach of which had been indicated by some prophetic white clouds which floated before the moon, fell with tumultuous violence on the leafy canopy overhead, which was not sufficiently dense to shield the bivouac fires from its descent. In the morning, however, a bright sky and the absence of vermin proved compensating blessings, and the travellers continued their progress up the ever varying river, which, indeed, was constant in only one respect, and that was in its beauty; which, though as diverse as could be imagined, never deserted it, but lent a charm to every creek and to every mile of the shore. Several Indian settlements were visited, each more singular than the last. Opu

casionally a native uba was encountered; and in one races which people the remote interior, the narrative before of these, which was propelled by two Indians with poles, sat us would, perhaps, have equalled in novelty and interest a young and handsome Juruna girl, richly decorated with any which preceded it. Doubtless, however, there would bends, and surrounded by her children. They looked at the have been great danger and still greater difficulty to enEuropeans with astonishment reflected from their faces, counter. Besides, they were not equipped for an adventu and turning about the boat, followed them to the next rous voyage. Provisions were decreasing, and their ammuhalting place. This was a roofless hut erected in the shade nition was nearly exhausted, When, therefore, the woody of the forest, where some friendly Indians welcomed them ridge of the Serra, towering to the height of a thousand on shore. The most singular thing observed here was, feet, came into view on the eleventh of December, it was that the trunks of large trees, smoothed and hollowed, lay determined that the Malacas in their vicinity should be about on the ground, and were filled with a yellow liquor, the limit of the voyage. Accordingly, at the river-island which was described as poisonous. Near this place, our of Piranaguara they turned about, having pursued the traveller obtained an insight into the religious belief of the winding course of the Xingu for an immense distance, and Jurunas, from an old man who had been baptised, but whose being yet far from the spot where it springs into existence. Christianity seemed to go no further. He said his country-It flows, indeed, across a territory of twelve hundred Engmen believed in a deity, from whom came all good, in a lish miles in breadth, and from its source to its confluence being from whom proceeded all evil. The moon, as the with the Amazon, presents everywhere features of the richrepresentative of the beneficent god, is held in great re- est and most varied beauty. But we shall not endeavour to verence; and the day when she becomes full is held as a accompany Prince Adalbert in his description of the tribusacred festival among those tribes, who assemble, and hav-tary streams and the gigantic river of the Amazons. The ing sufficiently intoxicated themselves with a drink pre-present article has already extended to a sufficient length, pared from the root of the mandioca, perform a series of and we take leave of our traveller. His work is of unthe strangest and wildest dances. Devoid as they are, usual interest. His treatise on the river system of Brazil however, of all knowledge of the real truths of Christianity, and South America is learned and valuable, and his narrawhich is to them little more than a dim indefinite idea, tive of travels in Europe is not the least entertaining portion these Jurunas of the lower part of the river are still of the narrative. Everything, however, in his book yields a far more gentle and civilised race than the Tapui Vassu, an interest to his description of the voyage up the Amazon who dwell far up towards the source of the river, and who and Xingu. One thing which contributes to render his are savage, as they are unknown to the European explorer.journal agreeable, is the good humour in which our traPrince Adalbert was once present at the performance of a veller constantly indulged. We meet with but one illwar dance, when an old Indian, after passing through natured remark in the volumes, and that is where his methe events of an assault, a battle, and a fright, inmory was, doubtless, inflamed by a retrospective glance at pantomimic gesture, related with pride and exultation, that burning heat and stinging musquittos, when he cannot his brother had been taken prisoner in the great fight, and avoid launching a spiteful word or two against his comeaten by the cannibal Tapui Vassu, who were described as panion the Doctor, who annoyed the boat's crew by putting a tall and powerful tribe of men. Had the enterprise of up an umbrella and obstructing the forward view. As a narour travellers been sufficient to lead them so far up the rative of travel and adventure, however, the work is one stream as to enable them to visit those wild and primitive of the most valuable and interesting kind.

THE GOLD-SEEKER OF GUAZACOALCO.
Concluded from page 245.

CHAPTER IV. THE DEPARTURE.

TIME passed swiftly on with the happy pair, who had much to tell to each other of things they felt and things they hoped. Maria had questions to ask of the land from whence he came, of his family, of his mother, but most of all, of the women.

twelve hours for a morsel of bread; what mattered it to her? She had seen and loved him. It was him, his warm heart, his manly and upright character, she cared for. She was not civilised enough to look for a settlement, for pinmoney, or any other of the indispensable requisites of marWhy," said she on the evening of the third day, why,riage in a country which enjoys the pleasures and advantages Englishman, have you lived to twenty-five years of age of a refined state of existence. without a wife?"

46

And they were happy, in these deep and silent woods

"Because in my country men who are not born rich must alone, with themselves and with God, with whom one is almake a position before they marry."

"In Mexico," replied Maria, with a laugh, "you are quite an old fellow to think of marrying. I myself am a year behind hand. At seventeen I couldn't get a husband.” || Lieutenant Bruce Harris smiled, while a feeling of deep pleasure went to his heart, as he noticed that his allusion to his want of position had not even called for a remark from his mistress.

¿Poor girl! she loved him, and what cared she more? He might have been rich as the Croesus, who is surfeited with wealth, or poor as the labourer who rises each morn to slave

ways, but whom one never knows so well as in his own solitudes, in these places which bear the freshest imprints of His mighty hand. They were happy, for they were young, and full of life, and fuller still of love, which, always young, renews each day the youth of those who truly feel its sensations. They sat beneath the trees, they listened to the sighing of their mighty boughs, to the breathing of the forest, to the singing of the birds; they watched the sun go down, by the soft and tepid waters of the little stream, and in all around, in heaven, in earth, in water, and all nature, they saw but love. When this passion first fills the human i

breast, or wherever it is experienced in all its intensity, it || nearly forgotten-is the child of an only sister. God has is most selfish, for it excludes all else from notice.

thrown her on my path. I had no heir to my wealth. Tell
me, on your soul, what you meant to do with her?***
They had been speaking in French.
"Ask her," said the young man, gravely.
Don Rafaele turned to Maria, and spoke.

Maria at once understood all, and pouring forth her heart in words, she told the whole events of the three preceding || days.

The Mexican was high above on the bank. His huge hat "Look, Don Rafaele Zacara," replied Lieutenant Harris, could be seen plainly marked against the sky. After an exproudly, as they came up to the two women. change of half-a-dozen words with Maria, Harris leaped on The young girl turned as he spoke. She caught the shore, and darted towards Don Rafaele at the moment when he halted and was dismounting.

were soon only separated from the schooner by a thick screen of foliage.

"Will find a husband easy enough." 19791917 10 „J889zd Harris bit his lip, for he saw that the Mexican gave all

A lantern laid on the deck displayed every feature of the up for lost, and had in consequence become thus morose,

scene.

Half-a-dozen Mexican soldiers sat upon the deck smoking, their guns, swords, and pistols at hand; while the crew of the schooner, their hands tied, and each man bound|| to his next neighbour, were crouched forward. They had evidently been surprised by cunning and overwhelming force, for not one was missing, while there was no sign even of wounds.

“A leap on the deck, pistol in hand, would send every one of those rascals overboard," whispered Harris. "Let us leap," replied Zacara, coolly.

"Leap together," advised Harris. " 'If they run, don't fire, but cut away at the bonds of our men. If they resist, shoot one man, and disable the two remaining with your cutlass."

"It is well," said Don Rafaele.

"Mind, fall in the very midst of the scoundrels, and kick the lantern to old Nick," whispered the sailor, “if I miss. Are you ready?"

"Ready," replied Don Rafacle.

At that instant both were caught violently behind, and a fearful struggle commenced. Harris fired a pistol, at which sound his whole crew started to their feet, but numbers were against them. There were six armed men on deck, and as many on shore.

In ten minutes Lieut. Harris and Don Rafaele were carried to the deck by their captors, who had been lying concealed on shore, in the hope of thus completing their victory. "Poor Maria," thought Harris.

My treasure!" groaned the Mexican.

But neither heard tale nor tidings of the object of their thought, save that Don Rafaele heard, a few minutes after their capture, the trotting of the horse and mules in the direction of Guazacoalco.

CHAPTER V.

The prisoners remained the whole night on the deck of the schooner, huddled together near the bows. Harris contrived to learn from Perry the cause of this unlooked-for disaster.

It appeared that their entrance into the river at night had been seen from the fort of Guazacoalco, and that a boat, with twelve armed men and an officer, had been despatched in chase.

About sundown on the first day, Perry was on deck alone. It was his watch, the rest were sleeping.

'I was smoking," he continued, "and reckoning how long we might be fixed in these diggins, which are considerable slow to a man of a spry and actyve natur, and hadn't come to any reasonable guessing on the pint, when I felt my arms caught on each side. I looks up, expecting the boys, were larking. None of your darned fun,' says I. 'Silence,' says a sanguinary Ingin copper-coloured rascal, in a blanket and sou'wester, I put my tongue on furlough, for I reckoned I could see a mighty tall blunderbuss at my ear; and this is the whole resolution of the thing."

"What will they do with us?'' asked Harris of the Mexican. "I shall be shot; you will be sent to the mines," replied Zacava, coldly.

But the young sailor was not a person whose character. allowed him thus easily to despair; and having waited in vain until about midnight for some sign of the existence of Maria, he bowed his head and slept.

It was dawn when he awoke. The birds were singing merrily upon the trees; the sun was spreading its effulgence over the bright blue sky; the air was rich and balmy, and all nature seemed smiling and happy.

The sailors, Lieut. Bruce Harris included, were careless and quiet in their mien. Their adventurous life had used them to ups and downs, and, all young men, they had the sanguine hope of youth to cheer them.

But the Mexican was ghastly pale. He knew the bloody orders issued by that most ruthless and savage tyrant Santa Anna, who only wanted to be a Nero, to possess equal and unlimited power. Every Texan prisoner was condemned to death before capture, but they often, if American or English, had this sentence altered to perpetual hard labour in the mines. But a Mexican, especially a Federalist, caught in company with Texans, was never pardoned.

Don Rafaele Zacara had no prospect save a priest, a dozen men, and a bloody grave.

Harris, who well knew the correctness of his fears, had nothing to say, for, in such cases, consolation is of little avail. If you cannot insinuate hope, it is useless to say anything. Though the young sailor was not devoid of religious instinct, he was not free from that error of judgment which often makes young men in such circumstances hesitate to offer such consolation.

The Mexicans breakfasted coolly upon the provisions of the Texan rebels, giving them a small portion, which the sailors received with sullenness, furious at the position of superiority in which were placed men whom they had been in the habit of so cordially despising.

This duty accomplished, the soldiers drew the schooner forth from its temporary dock, and six men entering the boat, began to tow it down the river.

The others walked the deck, while one mounted guard over the prisoners, his gun ready for action at the slightest movement of the Anglo-Saxon crew.

The current was with them, and before an hour after mid-day the schooner was anchored under the fort of Guazacoalco.

The officer in command then ordered Harris and Don Rafaele to rise and enter the boat. To facilitate their movements, they were freed from their bonds, but six armed men surrounded them, with orders to shoot without mercy either of them, at the first sign of an attempt to escape.

Harris and Zacara made no resistance, but took their seats in the clumsy Mexican pinnace as commanded; the former not without a smile, as he thought of his second introduction to the polite governor of the fort.

Zacara's countenance was sinister and pale. He knew what was prepared for him under the walls of that old fort.

A few minutes brought them to the shore, and, quitting the boat, the Mexican followed the path which led towards the buildings at the top of the hill. The prisoners walked side by side. Neither spoke. Harris was thinking of his

Caramba! my friend, but that's unpleasant. And lovely dream, from which he had been so rudely and fatally awoke. The Mexican was thinking of death.

"

Maria?"

Suddenly Lieutenant Harris touched the Mexican imperceptibly, and whispered something in his ear.

Don Rafaele Zacara raised his eyes, and a gleam of savage despair crossed his face as he saw his horse and the three mules grazing before the entrance of the fort.

**Life and hope, all gone," said Don Rafaele.

Further observation was impossible, for the two men were now ushered into the presence of the governor.

"Ah! ah!" cried the dark and pursy little soldier, addressing Harris, "here is my English officer. Caramba! did you take me for a nigger, Signor Texano?"

"Who comes?'' suddenly hailed the sentinel.
Harris raised his head.

The distance from the shore was about a hundred and fifty yards. About twenty from the schooner was a canoe, pulled by one man, and containing two women.

These were Maria del Gondé and her Negro attendant.
The pinnace was preparing to leave the shore.
Harris saw at a glance the above, and gazed rapturously
at the approaching boat.

"Who comes?" repeated the sentry a second time.
'Passengers for Vera Cruz, by order of the governor,”

"

The sentry resumed his walk, and, when the canoe touched the side, moved to assist the women in mounting.

"I took you, Signor, for a very worthy and valiant sol-replied the Negro. dier," replied the sailor, with a bow and a smile. "But what made you deceive me, Signor Pirate?" "A desire to see the interior of your country." "Signor Inglese, I am sorry to inform you that your desire for travelling will probably lead you far. You are found on board a Texan freebooter. What is your capacity?" "I am captain of the Santa Anna, revenue cutter of the Republic of Texas."

The governor and his satellites stared at the young man who so audaciously denounced himself, and were silent for some minutes.

“And you, traitor to your country," exclaimed the governor, addressing the Mexican," who and what are you?” "Don Rafaele Zacara, the Gambusino," replied the prisoner, who, before his judge, was as haughty as previously he had been desponding.

"Santa Maria!" thundered the governor, rubbing his hands, "this is a great capture. A thousand dollars reward. Signor Rafaele, you must to Vera Cruz. Mendigo,” addressing the officer who had effected the capture, "the wind is fair, the weather fine. It will be best to start at once. In half an hour, be ready. I will write my report." "And the prisoners?"

"Send them on board. Mendigo, you will get promotion, and 250 dollars, for this lucky hit."

And the governor entered his private room with an illlooking monk, who could just manage to scrawl a letter.

Harris and Don Rafaele were at once sent back on board, where their arms were again pinioned. The officer in command then ordered the prisoners below, giving permission to only one man to be on deck at a time.

The man who took the first turn was Lieutenant Bruce Harris.

CHAPTER VI.

The young sailor walked the deck, his arms loosely tied behind his back, so as not to interfere with his freedom of walking, though he was utterly incapable of using them. He was thus compelled to promenade his own deck in the historical attitude attributed on most occasions to the Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte.

His thoughts were bitter, indeed. He was going to, perhaps, perpetual slavery, though he had some hope of communicating at Vera Cruz with the British consul. But even if liberty were to be hoped for, he was bound in serfdom of another kind. He now felt all the force and tyranny of that passion of three days which filled his heart, his thoughts, to the exclusion of all else.

His reverie was little interfered with. Five of the Mexicans were lying in the sun sleeping. The sentry walked up and down before the entrance to the hold, keeping Harris always at a respectful distance.

The young sailor looked at him without seeing him.

Harris noticed that neither Maria nor the Negress looked upon him with the slightest sign of recognition; and he, calculating the value of this mutual position, imitated their caution.

When Maria stood upon the deck, she turned to the Negress, and bade her put her packet down in the hold. Harris quivered with excitement, for, in the Negress's hand, hid by her sleeve, he saw an open knife.

He turned to the shore, and saw that the boat was still a hundred yards and more distant.

Maria stood behind him. His face was to the sentry.
He stood waiting.

Suddenly he felt the cord which bound him loosen, and then the handle of a knife was placed in his hand.

"All hands on deck!” thundered the young sailor, darting like a tiger on the sentry, and wresting his gun from him.

The sentinel gave a yell: the five soldiers sprang to their feet. At the same instant the crew of the "Santa Anna" sprang on deck, and rushing unarmed at the panic-stricken Mexicans, pushed them headlong into the river. The whole six were next minute swimming furiously for the shore. "All hands up anchor," said Lieut. Brace Harris, rushing to the swivel gun.

The men obeyed; Perry and Don Rafaele handing up, at the same time, muskets from the cabin. While the sailors heaved at the little chain cable, Harris, the Mexican, Maria, the Negress, and the mate, presented their muskets at the approaching boat.

The pinnace turned round and pulled for the shore. "The money bags are at yonder point, uncle," now exclaimed Maria, pointing to a spot about a mile above.

Harris heard these words, and acted accordingly. The instant the schooner was free from her anchor, he had the sails hauled taut and trimmed, and the Santa Anna headed up stream.

"What shall we say to the men?" whispered Don Rafaele to Lieutenant Harris.

"What is the value of the gold?"

"A million of dollars," replied the Mexican.

"Give them a hundred thousand," replied Lieutenant Harris. "Be generous, and show confidence, and you will be safe. Doubt them, and you may lose all."'

"I leave it in your hands," said the Mexican, with a sigh. "Boys," cried Lieutenant Harris, addressing his crew, "aft here. What we came here for you scarcely knew. Well, it was in search of the red cents. We have found them. You have been brave lads, and our Mexican friend here gives you 100,000 dollars as your share of the plunder. Now, do your duty. The gold lies on yonder point. Be ready for a fight."