44 THE NATURALIST IX NICARAGUA. [Ch. IV. 



We had still a voyage of sixty miles before us up the 

 lake, and this was to be accomplished not by paddling, 

 but by sailing ; so we now rigged two light masts, and 

 soon after seyen o'clock sailed slowly away from San 

 Carlos before a light breeze, which in an hour's time 

 freshened and carried us along at the rate of about six 

 miles an hour. The sun rose higher and higher ; the day 

 waxed hotter and hotter. About noon the wind failed 

 us again, and the sun right overhead, in a clear piti- 

 less sky, scorched us with its rays, while our boat lay 

 like a log upon the water, the pitch melting in the seams 

 with the heat. The surface of the lake was motionless, 

 except a gentle heaving. We were almost broiled with 

 the stifling heat, but at last saw a ripple on the water 

 coming up from the north-east, some parts bristling 

 with pointed flecks ; soon the breeze reached us, and our 

 torment was over ; our sails, no more idly flapping, filled 

 out before the wind ; the canoe dashed through the 

 rising waves; our drooping spirits revived, and there was 

 an opening out of provisions, and life again in the dead. 

 The breeze continued all the afternoon, and at dark we 

 were off the islands of Nancital, having been all day 

 within a few miles of the north-eastern side of the lake, 

 the banks of which are everywhere clothed with dark 

 gloomy-looking forests. One of the islands was a 

 favourite sleeping-place for the white egrets. From all 

 sides they were flying across the lake towards it ; and as 

 night set in, the trees and bushes by the water-side were 

 full of them, looking like great white flowers amongst 

 the dark green foliage. Flocks of muscovy and whistling 

 ducks also flew over to their evening feeding-places. 

 Great masses of a floating plant, shaped like a cabbage, 



