MUD CBATEIiS. 55 



but instead, tracks of beasts in plenty. Deer, quenco^ and 

 lapo/^ with smaller animals, bad been treading np and 

 down, probably attracted by the salt-water. They were safe 

 enough, the old man said. ISTo hunter dare approach the 

 spot. There were '' too much jumbies " here ; and when 

 one of the party expressed a wish to lie out there some 

 night, in the hope of good shooting, the Xegro shook his 

 head. He would " not do that for all the world. De debbil 

 come out here at night, and walk about ; " and he was much 

 scandalized when the young gentleman rejoined, that the 

 chance of such a sight would be an additional reason for 

 bivouacking there. 



So we walked out upon the mud, which was mostly hard 

 enough, past shallow pools of brackish water, smelling of 

 asphalt, toward a group of little mud-volcanos on the further 

 side. These curious openings into the nether-world are not 

 permanent. They choke up after awhile, and fresh ones 

 appear in another part of the area, thus keeping the whole 

 clear of plants. 



They are each some two or three feet high, of the very 

 finest mud, which leaves no feeling of grit on the fingers or 

 tongue, and dries, of course, rapidly in the sun. On the top, 

 or near the top, of each, is a round hole, a finger's-breadth, 

 polished to exceeding smoothness, and running down through 



1 Dicoteles (Peccary hog). ^ Ccelogeiiys paca. 



