34 THREE DAYS ON THE ORINOCO, 



the main river as far as the eye could reach, swimming against its 

 stream ; proceeding probably to deposit their eggs, or having depo- 

 sited them, returning to their usual haunts. Long files of monkeys 

 were slinging themselves from tree to tree, howling in concert, or 

 playing the most grotesque antics, whilst a shoal of porpoises came 

 floundering amongst the broken rocks, speedily putting to flight both 

 jaguars and crocodiles. Such sights, under more favourable circum- 

 stances, would have afforded me much gratification. I was so insig- 

 nificant in my present position, and so screened from observation, 

 that every thing went on about me as if the place had been tenanted 

 by nothing save natures so congenial to it. 



As evening advanced these gradually disappeared, and other 

 races took place of them. Immense bats wheeled about me, and 

 myriads of noctilucous insects one by one exhibited their light, 

 till the whole forest resembled a fairy revel. The hum of mos- 

 quitoes, zancudos, and hosts of ephemeridae, wakening into their 

 brief life, sounded continuously, softening, nay, almost drowning 

 the cries of larger animals now seeking their night's resting-place. 

 From these, my elevated station happily, as I believed, freed me 

 of all danger. The smooth and lofty- stem .of the mimosa was 

 little likely to be scaled it stood so far detached from its neighbours 

 that I thought it totally impossible any exertion of strength or agility 

 would be great enough to reach it ; and I prepared, as the shades of 

 evening were closing around me, to pass the night in the best way cir- 

 cumstances would allow. I cut several strong sticks with a large 

 pocket knife I luckily had about me, and which indeed was my sole 

 weapon of offence or defence ; with these I stretched out my ham- 

 mock, so as to prevent the chance of its closing around me. It pre- 

 sented few inducements for repose, but still I could lay myself out 

 in it the uneasy postures I had been forced to assume had wearied 

 my limbs, and my mental energies were still more exhausted. I was 

 very wet, but as there were no means of remedying this, I rolled my 

 cloak about me and committed myself for the night to the cot. 



I sunk to sleep directly, in which state I continued till the first dawn 

 of morning, when I was disturbed by the rustling caused by my fel- 

 low-lodgers, who were early astir, and feeding on the leaves and what 

 insects they could catch. I really almost envied their lot as with 

 such manifest enjoyment they moved hither and thither, satisfying 

 their limited wants, and provided with abundant means to live hap- 

 pily in their native dwelling. The rush of the mighty waters" came 

 to my drowsy sense, and I looked wistfully abroad in confident ex- 

 pectation of seeing the vessel. Disappointment, however, met me 

 there ; nor, indeed, was my view very extended a dense mist 

 covered the whole landscape, which was gradually thickening, till in 

 a brief time it entirely enveloped every thing with so impervious a 

 veil, that even the nearest trees were but dimly visible. These fogs 

 at this season I too well knew were often of considerable duration ; 

 it swept and eddyed round me, so loaded with moisture as to pro- 

 duce considerable sound as it was whirled amongst the branches. 

 All hope was now gone should my companions return in search of 

 me, nothing but an ocean of mist could be seen, and this would as 



