2158 A NATURALIST IN THE GUIANAS 



beautiful cock-of-the-rock which had alighted on a tree 

 quite close to us, evidently with the intention of passing 

 the night. 



The spirits of Ameha again allowed us to sleep peace- 

 fully, much to the surprise and disappointment of our old 

 Indian guide. 



Another long day was spent in a fatiguing but useless 

 tramp along the base of the precipice, which confirmed 

 the opinion we had formed on the previous day that the 

 mountain could not be climbed anywhere in the vicinity 

 of our camp. As we were quite fagged out, and it was 

 too late to think of getting to the Merevari, where 

 Jacobson and the others were awaiting us, we decided on 

 spending the night where we were, to leave at dawn on 

 the following day. On this last night of our stay at the 

 foot of the cliffs we witnessed one of those terrific storms 

 which, during the rainy season, are of almost daily occur- 

 rence on these mountains, and which have doubtless 

 contributed to the widespread belief amongst the Indians 

 that the craggy heights of Ameha, Arawa, and Arichi are 

 the abode of spirits whose weapons are the lightning, the 

 thunder, and the storm. 



The night, up to about one o'clock, had been oppress- 

 ively still, so still that there was not even a rustle 

 amongst the leaves. In the fitful sleep I had had up to 

 then I had noticed every time I awoke how black and 

 quiet it was. The first intimation we got of the approach- 

 ing storm was a blinding flash of lightning accompanied 

 by a clap of thunder so loud that we all sprang out of our 

 hammocks. Almost simultaneously with the thunder 

 came strong gusts of wind, causing our huts to sway 

 from side to side, so that I expected to see them blown 

 down at any moment. Flash of lightning followed flash 



