18* Martius and Spioc's 



dense masses, and, passing under the sun, whose fervid and 

 brilliant rays now pervade the whole landscape, occasionally 

 darken and cool the atmosphere. The plants shrink beneath 

 the scorching rays, and resign themselves to the powerful in- 

 fluence of the ruler of the day. The merry buzz of the gold- 

 winged beetle and hunlming-bird becomes more audible. 

 The variegated butterflies and dragon-flies on the bank of the 

 river, produce, by their gyratory movements, lively and fantas- 

 tic plays of colour. The ground is covered with swarms of 

 ants, dragging along leaves for their architecture. Even the 

 most sluggish animals are roused by the stimulating power of 

 the sun. The alligator leaves his muddy bed, and encamps 

 upon the hot sand ; the turtle and lizard are enticed from their 

 damp and shady retreats ; and serpents of every colour crawl 

 along the warm and sunny footpaths. 



" But now the clouds are lowering ; they divide into strata, 

 and, gradually getting heavier, denser, and darker, at last veil 

 the horizon in a bluish grey, mist. Towards the zenith they- 

 tower up in bright broad-spreading masses, and assume the 

 appearance of gigantic mountains in the air. All at once the 

 sky is completely overcast, excepting that a few spots of deep 

 blue still appear through the clouds. The sun is hid, but the 

 heat of the atmosphere is mor« oppressive. The noontide 

 is past; a cheerless melancholy gloom hangs heavily over 

 nature. Fast sink the spirits ; for painful is the change to 

 those who have witnessed the joyous animation of the morn- 

 ing. The more active animals roam wildly about, seeking to 

 allay the cravings of hunger and thirst ; only the quiet and 

 slothful, who have taken refuge in the forest, seem to have no 

 apprehension of the dreadful crisis. But it comes ! it rushes 

 on with rapid strides, and we shall certainly have it here. 

 The temperature is already lowered; the fierce and clashing 

 gales tear up trees by the roots. Dark and foaming billows 

 swell the surface of the deeply agitated sea. The roar of the 

 river is surpassed by the sound of the wind, and the waters 

 seem to flow silently into the ocean. There the storm rages. 

 Twice, thrice, flashes of pale blue lightning traverse the clouds 

 in rapid succession : as often does the thunder roll in loud 

 and prolonged claps through the firmament. Drops of rain 

 fall. The plants begin to recover their natural freshness ; 

 it thunders again, and the thunder is followed, not by rain, but 

 by torrents, which pour down from the convulsed sky. The 

 forest groans; the whizzing rustle of the waving leaves becomes 

 a hollow murmuring sound, which at length resembles the 

 distant roll of muffled drums. Flowers are scattered to 

 and fro, leaves are stripped from the boughs, branches are 



