12 CAMPS IN THE CARIBBEES. 



CHAPTER II. 



CAMP LIFE IN THE TROPICS. 



A MARCH MORNING. — MATIN MUSIC. —JEAN BAPTISTE. — SONNY. 



— BREAKFAST IN THE MOUNTAINS. — QUEER CUSTOMS. — DE- 

 LIGHTFUL TEMPERATURE FOR MARCH. — THE HUNT FOR BIRDS. 



— A DAY'S DUTIES. — STRANGE BIRDS AND SCENERY. — THE 

 "TREMBLEUR." — A PRECIPICE. — AN ORGAN-BIRD, THE "MOUN- 

 TAIN WHISTLER." — BIRD NOTES. — MY CHASSEURS. — LAND 

 CRABS. — ARDENT ASSISTANTS. — TWILIGHT. 



IT is a bright March morning. As I throw open the 

 shutters of my shanty and let in the light of early 

 day, I look out upon a scene of loveliness that it were 

 worth many a day's journey to enjoy. 



From beyond the mountains, east, the sun has 

 climbed a little way until he peers through a defile in 

 the hills, and a rift in the cloud masses, and floods 

 only a narrow pathway down the surrounding hills, 

 their northern slopes, a bit of the gloomy valley miles 

 below, and bursts upon the calm Caribbean Sea with 

 concentrated glory. A sail, floating on that sea, drifted 

 hither and thither by strong, unaccountable currents, 

 — which came, perchance, from Martinique or Bar- 

 bados to the south, or from Guadeloupe or Montserrat 

 to the north, — is ablaze with light, which gives it 

 the appearance of being on fire. No sound comes 

 up from the valley below, nor from the surrounding 

 mountain sides ; even the rain frogs and the nocturnal 



