IN THE PACIFIC. 153 



use in such a place, than poetry, and were 

 absolutely necessary to enable us to proceed. 



After paddling for some distance, we caine to 

 a clearer space, and the scene became generally 

 more cheerful, many kinds of cranes, ibis, boat- 

 bills, &c., were congregated in the bushes on 

 either side, and flew lazily away at our approach, 

 flocks of macaws, parrots, and parroquets, 

 passed over our heads on the way to their feed- 

 ing grounds, filling the air with their discordant 

 cries, while from the depths of the neighbouring 

 woods the tapping of the woodpecker or the 

 cooing of the turtle-dove could occasionally be 

 distinguished. "We presently landed, hauled up 

 our canoe, and made our way to a lagoon not 

 far off, a most sequestered spot surrounded by 

 trees; a flock of "pichichi" ducks rose on our 

 approach and circled round us, leaving a couple 

 of brace to be transferred to the bag. The 

 water of this lagoon was so thickly covered 

 with a species of lily that we found it difficult 

 to wade, and my poor old retriever could make 

 no headway, as she could neither walk nor swim. 



