30 THREE DAYS ON THE ORINOCO, 



on the shores a number, too, which would be increased threefold at 

 the commencement of the inundations ; the dry season having on them 

 a similar effect to the cold of winter upon hybernating animals in 

 temperate climates. It is a very singular fact, that when these 

 monsters have once tasted human flesh, they ever after show a ferocity 

 much greater than ordinary, and a disposition to seek the same food, 

 which under ordinary circumstances is not seen. Whether it is that 

 they find it a more palatable prey, or whether when they have once 

 discovered their power over man, they are more disposed to exercise 

 it, I do not know ; certain however it is, that every village and town 

 on the borders of the river are infested by one or more crocodiles of 

 the largest size and fiercest habits, which during the period when it 

 overflows its usual boundaries, and covers a great part of the streets 

 and quays, never fail to carry off and devour several of the careless 

 inhabitants. 



For a fortnight we continued our upward course without meeting , 

 with the slightest accident. We had touched at many points on both 

 banks had ascended to some height, several of the smaller rivers de- 

 bouching into the principal current had carried on a brisk trade, 

 which had much lightened our boat had undergone two or three 

 narrow escapes from being plundered or worse when on the evening 

 of the 10th of May we fastened the vessel to a small granite rock, rising 

 abruptly above the surface of the river, about four hundred yards from 

 the northern shore. We had selected this because to a certain extent 

 it removed us from the jaguars, which had lately plagued us night 

 after night when we had taken our position on land, or within a mo- 

 derate distance of it. The atmosphere had been gradually losing its 

 blue tint, and becoming of a greyish hue slight showers of rain had 

 occasionally fallen thunder had been heard daily all indicating that 

 the wet season was about to set in. The river had already felt its in- 

 fluence it was slowly rising more rain having doubtless fallen 

 higher up towards its source. We were anchored a short distance 

 below the junction of the Rio Capanaparo. This was much more 

 swollen, and was rising rapidly, and had already reached an eleva- 

 tion sufficient to overflow partially its banks. The scenery at this 

 point was uncommonly beautiful ; to the south lofty hills appeared ; 

 the whole intermediate space to which was covered by a sea of foliage, 

 already showing the effects of the rain. On the north, the angle 

 formed by the two rivers was sprinkled over by huge blocks of granite, 

 amongst which were growing some large zamang trees, mingled with 

 palms, and losing themselves in a thick forest at a little distance. 

 About a mile beyond, the river was a sheet of foam, traversing a low 

 ledge of rocks the sound of which came to us like distant thunder. 

 Flocks of flamingoes, spoonbills, herons, with a few golden manakis, 

 kept the air alive, as they were slowly seeking their roosting places. 



Every evening we had been most miserably tormented by millions 

 of stinging insects, which were issuing from the earth in countless 

 swarms, as it became moistened by the occasional showers. No pre- 

 caution we could take had been sufficient to defend ourselves from 

 their incessant attacks. As these pests were most numerous in the 

 lower portion of the air that in immediate contact with the earth or 



