In Search of an Unknown Race — page 161: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

VAN. %49 tion of Indians, native Brazilians and Mameluccos, its only business being the cultivation of the cacao or chocolate ofcommerce. ‘There, by waiting a few days, the little party were sure of engaging passage down the Amazon in one of the large trading boats which at that season were about returning to Para from the rubber and cacao districts above Atlaxa. Prominent among the little crowd of curious idlers who had hurried down to the rude pier on the arrival of the raft, was a portly, smooth shaven man, whose wide-brimmed ‘‘ shovel” hat rolled up at the sides, and flowing cassock of cool linen at once betokened his priestly office. Van, who had picked up a few Spanish phrases from Tom, at once addressed himself to the padre - ‘* Habla usted espandl P’’—(do you speak Spanish ?) The good father’s eye twinkled with a suggestion of humor as he extended a plump white hand. ‘«Sure I speak it like a native, but its your own talk I’d prefer greatly, my son,” he said in a rich rollicking voice, which, with a slight suggestion of the brogue, at once betrayed his nationality. Delighted beyond measure at the unexpected meet- ing, Van hastily mentioned their purpose of stopping at Atlaxa, pending the arrival of a trading boat. But the padre scarcely waited for him to conclude. ‘“My dwelling and all in it is yours and thankful I am to see a white face—especially such a charming one as the young lady has,” he added, doffing his hat with a respectfully admiring glance at Ninada. A very few moments sufficed to set the entire party at their ease. Tom remained on the raft and saw that Eomicbooks.c