64 WANDERINGS IN SOUTH AMERICA 



in spiral summits, and the wooded line of com- 

 munication betwixt them sinks so gradually that 

 it forms a crescent ; and there the ridges of others 

 resemble the waves of an agitated sea. Beyond 

 these appear others, and others past them; and 

 others still farther on, till they can scarcely be 

 distinguished from the clouds. 



There are no sand-flies, nor bete-rouge, nor 

 mosquitos, in this pretty spot. The fire-flies dur- 

 ing the night vie in numbers and brightness with 

 the stars in the firmament above ; the air is pure, 

 and the north-east breeze blows a refreshing gale 

 throughout the day. Here the White-crested Ma- 

 roudi, which is never found in the Demerara, is 

 pretty plentiful; and here grows the tree which 

 produces the Moran, sometimes called Balsam- 

 capivi. 



Your route lies south from this place; and at 

 the extremity of the savanna you enter the forest, 

 and journey along a winding path at the foot of 

 a hill. There is no habitation within this day's 

 walk. The traveller, as usual, must sleep in the 

 forest ; the path is not so good the following day. 

 The hills over which it lies are rocky, steep, and 

 rugged, and the spaces betwixt them swampy, and 

 mostly knee-deep in water. After eight hours* 

 walk you find two or three Indian huts, sur- 

 rounded by the forest; and in little more than 

 half an hour from these you come to ten or twelve 

 others, where you pass the night. They are pret- 

 tily situated at the entrance into a savanna. The 

 eastern and western hills are still covered with 

 wood; but on looking to the south-west quarter 

 you perceive it begins to die away. In these for- 



