There was another kind found amongst bushes on the borders of the forest closely allied to this, but much more slender, viz., the Dryophis acuminata.This grows to a length of four feet eight inches, the tail alone being twenty-two inches; but the diameter of the thickest part of the body is little more than a quarter of an inch.It is of light-brown colour, with iridescent shades variegated with obscurer markings, and looks like a piece of whipcord.One individual which I caught of this species had a protuberance near the middle of the body.Upon opening it, Ifound a half-digested lizard which was much more bulky than the snake itself.
Another kind of serpent found here, a species of Helicops, was amphibiousin its habits.I saw several of this in wet weather on the beach, which, on being approached, always made straightway for the water, where they swamwith much grace and dexterity.
Florinda one day caught a Helicops while angling for fish, it having swallowed the fishhook with the bait.She and others told me these water-snakes lived on small fishes, but I did not meet with any proof of the statement.In the woods, snakes were constantly occurring; it was not often, however, that I saw poisonous species.There were many arboreal kinds besides the two just mentioned; and it was rather alarming, in entomologising about the trunks of trees, to suddenly encounter, on turning round, as sometimes happened, a pair of glittering eyes and a forked tongue within a few inches of one's head.The last kind Ishall mention is the Coral-snake, which is a most beautiful object when seen coiled up on black soil in the woods.The one Isaw here was banded with black and vermilion, the black bands having each two clear white rings.The state of specimens preserved in spirits can give no idea of the brilliant colours which adorn the Coral-snake in life.
Petzell and I, as already mentioned, made many excursions of long extent in the neighbouring forest.We sometimes went to Murucupi, a creek which passes through the forest, about four miles behind Caripi, the banks of which are inhabited by Indians and half-breeds who have lived there for many generations in perfect seclusion from the rest of the world-- the place being little known or frequented.A path from Caripi leads to it through a gloomy tract of virgin forest, where the trees are so closely packed together that the ground beneath is thrown into the deepest shade, under which nothing but fetid fungi and rotting vegetable debris is to be seen.On emerging from this unfriendly solitude near the banks of the Murucupi, a charming contrast is presented.A glorious vegetation, piled up to an immense height, clothes the banks of the creek, which traverses a broad tract of semi-cultivated ground, and the varied masses of greenery are lighted up with the sunny glow.Open palm-thatched huts peep forth here and there from amidst groves of banana, mango, cotton, and papaw trees and palms.On our first excursion, we struck the banks of the river in front of a house of somewhat more substantial architecture than the rest, having finished mud walls that were plastered and whitewashed, and had a covering of red tiles.It seemed to be full of children, and the aspect of the household was improved by a number of good-looking mameluco women, who were busily employed washing, spinning, and making farinha.Two of them, seated on a mat in the open verandah, were engaged sewing dresses, for a festival was going to take place a few days hence at Balcarem, a village eight miles distant from Murucupi, and they intended to be present to hear mass and show their finery.One of the children, a naked boy about seven years of age, crossed over with the montaria to fetch us.We were made welcome at once, and asked to stay for dinner.On our accepting the invitation, a couple of fowls were killed, and a wholesome stew of seasoned rice and fowls soon put into preparation.It is not often that the female members of a family in these retired places are familiar with strangers; but, these people had lived a long time in the capital, and therefore, were more civilised than their neighbours.Their father had been a prosperous tradesman, and had given them the best education the place afforded.After his death the widow with several daughters, married and unmarried, retired to this secluded spot, which had been their sitio, farm or country-house, for many years.One of the daughters was married to a handsome young mulatto, who was present, and sang us some pretty songs, accompanying himself on the guitar.
After dinner I expressed a wish to see more of the creek; so a lively and polite old man, whom I took to be one of the neighbours, volunteered as guide.We embarked in a little montaria, and paddled some three or four miles up and down the stream.Although I had now become familiarised with beautiful vegetation, all the glow of fresh admiration came again to me in this place.The creek was about a hundred yards wide, but narrower in some places.Both banks were masked by lofty walls of green drapery, here and there a break occurring, through which, under overarching trees, glimpses were obtained of the palm-thatched huts of settlers.The projecting boughs of lofty trees, which in some places stretched half-way across the creek, were hung with natural garlands and festoons, and an endless variety of creeping plants clothed the water-frontage, some of which, especially the Bignonias, were ornamented with large gaily-coloured flowers.Art could not have assorted together beautiful vegetable forms so harmoniously as was here done by Nature.
