THE VOYAGE. 3 



tamarind-trees ; gay gardens decked with flowers, 

 possessing a brilliancy and magnitude seen only 

 in a hot climate ; together with the showy dresses 

 of the natives, it becomes the more impressive 

 as contrasted with the sombre island so recently 

 left behind. 



Scarcely had the ' Parana ' steamed into the 

 harbour much more, by the way, like a stagnant 

 cesspool than a rocky inlet, filled with pure sea- 

 water when boats of all sizes, and far too nu- 

 merous to count, crowded round us. Everyone, 

 seeming at once to forget seasickness and rough 

 weather, scrambled into this medley fleet, and 

 with all speed were rowed ashore there to re- 

 main, during the transference of the mails and 

 baggage from the English steamer to the other 

 vessels waiting to take their departure. 



It has often puzzled me to imagine, why tra- 

 vellers in steamboats and sailing-ships invariably 

 do the same thing. Take this very case as an in- 

 stance of what I mean. Though yellow-fever 

 was raging like a plague, still the greater number 

 of the passengers made straight for the hotel, 

 and there and then devoured a heavy breakfast 

 composed of bad fish, raw vegetables (libellously 

 called salad), unripe fruits, followed by a brown 

 substance, in size, shape, and texture, vastly 



B 2 



