314 BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 



rainy weather, we found our reckoning in this instance far 

 short, and instead of finding the river lower the next morning, 

 its surface was standing much higher than the day before. 



After we got more experience, we perceived that the time 

 of the arrival of the greater bulk of water in those perio- 

 dical rivers depends on the distance, at which the thunder 

 showers have fallen. As there is generally lightning visible 

 during night without thunder, after thunder-showers have 

 occurred the same day, we sometimes were surprized when 

 ten or twelve days afterwards, we observed such lightning 

 towards the horizon in the direction of the sources, with an 

 unusual rise of that river, although we had fine weather 

 several days before in our neighbourhood ; at other times 

 the great bulk of water arrived much sooner, according to 

 the distance where the rain had fallen. Unfortunately, we 

 waited for a whole month to see the river fall to a suitable 

 depth, which would allow us to pass that stream with our 

 waggons, but our hope was all in vain, and it never was so 

 low as we found it the first day of our arrival. 



Many parties, some of them emigrants, traders and 

 travellers, had successively gathered on both sides, waiting, 

 as we were, for a favourable opportunity to cross the river. 

 There was neither raft nor boat by which we could effect 

 our transit. We deliberated about building a raft of willow 

 trees, which were large and numerous on the banks of the 

 river; but on account of the strong current through the 

 whole course, we doubted about its fitness, or that it could 

 be used afterwards, to bring our goods over on it. 



The rainy season had now completely set in, and there 

 was scarcely a day without thunder-showers here or some- 

 where about our neighbourhood ; and as the heat was very 

 great during the day, which was more sensible on account of 

 the moist state of the atmosphere, the growth and final 

 envelopment of the vegetation went on very rapidly ; the 

 Graminete particularly, which form a conspicuous part of the 

 Flora of those countries. Some species of Andropogon, and 

 Anthistiria, grow three and four feet high here. The Cyperacea 



