AND A JOUItNKY OVER THE LLANOS OF CUMANA. 33 



surrounding forests, at this time totally impassable, an utter despair 

 gradually cowed and overwhelmed a courage, which had borne me 

 safely through many scenes of most imminent peril. The very 

 strangeness of the circumstances under which I was placed had at 

 first rather excited than depressed me ; but now, labouring under the 

 attack of fever, I sunk down into total dejection. 



The iguanas seemed to be aware of my present helplessness, as they 

 approached nearer and nearer, swelling out their pouches and hissing, 

 as if they intended to attack me. The metallic lustre of their bodies, 

 their vast length, their fiery eyes, and their erect crests, appeared to my 

 disturbed imagination the very impersonification of all that was hor- 

 rible. As I remained perfectly motionless, their boldness increased, 

 branch after branch was passed, till now they had advanced within 

 a quarter of a yard of me. By a desperate effort of volition I struck 

 the foremost on the head, with almost convulsive energy, with my 

 hand. This demonstration sufficed for the present to scare them 

 away, and was besides of infinite service, by shewing me the power 

 I possessed over them. My attention, too, was roused by the singu- 

 lar agility with which such large animals traversed the tree. The 

 effort I had made had in some degree rallied my spirits ; and shaking 

 off the torpor which had crept over me, I again began to examine the 

 capabilities of my situation, Nothing could, by any stretch of fancy, 

 be made more dreary ; my fever fit was abating and leaving me 

 hungry and weak. Many hours had passed away. I looked eagerly 

 forth in the vain hope of descrying the returning boat. I mounted 

 still higher, but nothing partaking in any thing of humanity was to 

 be seen. No boat but my own, even supposing any should pass 

 down or up the river, was likely to avail me. The inhabited spots 

 were principally on the other side ; while the 'vast breadth of the 

 stream, enlarged as it now was, would prevent all hope of my being 

 heard or seen in my leafy home. My sole hope was therefore fixed 

 on the return of my own people ; the doubt was whether or not they 

 would be able to find my locality. The junction of the Rio Capana- 

 paro would be their only guide, and this was rendered to some de- 

 gree doubtful by the inundation having extended itself so widely, as 

 to render the precise current somewhat difficult to hit upon. Even- 

 ing was already approaching ; heavy showers of rain fell at intervals, 

 accompanied by loud peals of thunder. I gave up all expectation of 

 relief for the present day, and endeavoured to allay the gnawing 

 hunger now distressing me, by chewing the leaves and twigs of the 

 zamang. 



Since my display of strength, the iguanas had preserved a very 

 respectful distance, confining themselves to one side of the tree. My 

 disgust towards them was abated their sight had become fami- 

 liarized to me. Vast flocks of zamuro vultures winged their way 

 over my head. Herds of chigures were swimming about in the 

 shallow waters, their presence rousing into action numberless alliga- 

 tors, to whom they formed apparently the principal food. These 

 were closely pursued too by several jaguars, to whose force they fell 

 easy victims. Troops of herons and flamingoes were wading about 

 beneath me ; a vast number of turtles almost covered the surface of 

 M.M. No. 1. F 



