82 TILK CONVENT OP CARIPE. 



On turning back to go out of tbc cavern, they folk wed 

 the course of the torrent. Before their eyes became 

 dazzled with the light of day they saw on the outside of 

 the grotto the water of the river sparkling amid the 

 foliage of the trees which shaded it. It was like a pic- 

 ture placed in the distance, the mouth of the cavern serv- 

 ing as a frame. Having at length reached the entrance, 

 they seated themselves on the bank of the rivulet, to rest 

 after their fatigues. They were glad to be beyond the 

 hoarse cries of the birds, and to leave a place where 

 darkness did not offer even the charm of silence and 

 tranquillity. 



Swiftly glided their days in the convent of Caripe. 

 From sunrise to nightfall they traversed the forests and 

 neighbouring mountains, to collect plants. When the 

 winter rains prevented them from undertaking distant 

 excursions, they visited the huts of the Indians, the 

 garden of the communit}^, or assemblies in which the 

 alcaldes every evening arranged the labours of the suc- 

 ceeding day. They returned to the monastery only 

 when the sound of the bell called them to the refectory 

 to share the repasts of the missionaries. Sometimes, 

 very early in the morning, they followed them to the 

 church, to attend the religious instruction of the Indians. 

 After passing almost the whole day in the open air, they 

 employed their evenings, at the convent, in making 

 notes, drying their plants, and sketching those that ap- 

 peared to form new genera. Unfortunately the misty 

 atmosphere of a valley, where the surrounding forests 

 filled the air with an enormous quantity of vapour, was 

 unfavourable to astro;aomical observations. Humboldt 

 spent a part of the nights waiting to take advantage of 



