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. 
Scearcely 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 
B2 
