180 Mr. Gardner's Journey to the Organ Mountains. 



One of them brought me a single specimen of a beautiful little 

 Alstrcemeria in flower. I had observed it on my former visit, 

 but the few plants which I then met with were in fruit, and 

 as the seeds were ripe I carefully preserved them. Having 

 got all my specimens safely put into paper, I lay down shortly 

 after seven, little dreaming what a miserable night I was to 

 spend. I had just fallen asleep when I was suddenly awaken- 

 ed by a deluge of rain which was pouring down. One of 

 those sudden and heavy showers which are only witnessed in 

 tropical countries had commenced. Had we been in an open 

 place we might have seen it approaching and been able to 

 reach some shelter before it came on, but the tops of the 

 trees by which we were covered had prevented this. I never 

 was abroad in such weather. In a few minutes our large fire 

 was extinguished and the place was swimming. I had laid a 

 small bag of Amaryllis roots under my head as a pillow, which 

 I now was obliged to use as a seat, after having covered my- 

 self with my poncho, which although a good one was but a 

 poor protection for such a night. In half an hour the small 

 stream beside us, which during the day had only a few inches 

 of water, came pouring down like thunder. To add to our 

 misery, the night was pitch-dark, so that we could not see to 

 remedy our situation. What a night I spent may be imagined 

 when I mention that I sat in one position from half-past seven 

 in the evening till nearly three the next morning, under an 

 incessant deluge of rain. A more perfect picture of patience 

 I flatter myself could not be witnessed. About three it began 

 to abate a little, and being in a shivering condition from the 

 cold and wet, we made several attempts to kindle a fire, but 

 without success ; everything being too wet to burn, and we 

 were therefore obliged to content ourselves without one. By 

 seating myself at the root of a tree, and leaning my back 

 against it, I managed, at four different intervals, to obtain about 

 an hour's sleep, but constantly awoke, cold and shivering. 

 Never was I so glad as when the first rays of daylight were 

 seen streaming through the trees ; and as soon as we could see, 

 we lost no time in preparing to return home. Shortly after 

 we started the rain began, and continued till we reached the 

 fazenda, which we did at two p.m. On my way home I col- 



