188 THE TAPIR. 



nocturnal vigils, accord with the thick undergrowth 

 of cane, which often extends for many leagues beside 

 the river, and the deep forests, which cast their 

 gloom and shadow over its winding course. A re- 

 cent traveller relates that the prevailing character 

 of the Mississippi is that of solemn gloom ; that he 

 had trodden the passes of the Alps and Apennines, 

 and yet never felt how awful nature is, till he 

 was borne on these waters through desolate and 

 uninhabitable regions; that further, though the 

 scenery on either side is almost uniformly level, yet 

 there is no scenery on earth so striking; rocks 

 and mountains could add nothing to its sublimity; 

 to the heart and perception of the spectator, the 

 Mississippi would be alone. But if thus impressive 

 in a bright and sunny day, how deeply solemn 

 is its character at night; while voyaging upon 

 its stream, beneath the clear cold moon, when 

 even stars of the first magnitude are scarcely visible, 

 when all is silent, and not a sound is heard on the 

 wide expanse of the lonely river, or in the deep 

 dark forest. At such an hour, he who, sad and 

 thoughtful, gazes on the forest and the waters, 

 thinking perhaps of home and friends, on the fur- 

 ther side of the vast Atlantic, is often startled 

 from his reverie by the dash of the huge tapir 

 into the water ; or by the crashing of the cane 

 brake, as he emerges from out its fastness. 



"We trace along the rugged flanks of the Southern 

 Cordilleras, large herds of Lamas, those gentle 

 and unoffending creatures, which were the only 

 beasts of burden before the conquest of Peru. 



