148 A FIERY DEFENCE. 



bird makes extraordinary gestures when preparing 

 to drink. The monks say that it makes the sign of 

 the cross upon the water; and this popular belief has 

 obtained for the toucan from the Creoles the name of 

 diostede (God grant it thee). Most of our animals 

 were confined in small willow cages, others ran at 

 full liberty all over the boat. At the approach of 

 rain the macaws sent forth frightful cries ; the 

 toucan wanted to gain the shore to fish ; and the 

 little monkeys, the titis, went irr search of Father 

 Zea, to take shelter in the large sleeves of his Fran- 

 ciscan habit. These scenes were often repeated, 

 and made us forget the torment of the moschettoes. 

 At night, when we rested, we placed a leather case 

 containing our provisions in the centre; then our 

 instruments and the cages of the animals ; our 

 hammocks were suspended around these, and be- 

 yond were those of the Indians. The exterior 

 circle was formed by the fires which were lighted 

 to keep off the jaguars of the forest." 



Even this fiery defence encircling the encamp- 

 ment of the voyagers was not sufficient to preserve 

 the enclosure inviolate. " Our satisfaction," says 

 Humboldt, " was disturbed at our last resting-place 

 on the Cassiquiare. We slept on the edge of a forest. 

 In the middle of the night we were warned by the 

 Indians that they heard very near us the cries of 

 the jaguar, and that they came from the top of 



