BIOGRAPHY. 17 



maroTidies, which are somewhat related to the pheasant ; 

 but they were very shy, and it required considerable 

 address to get within shot of them. In these little 

 excursions I now and then smarted for my pains. More 

 than once I got among some hungry leeches, which made 

 pretty free with my legs. The morning after I had had 

 the adventure with the Labarri snake, a cayman slowly 

 passed our vessel. All on board agreed that this tyrant 

 of the fresh waters could not be less than thirty feet 

 long." 



I ought to state that the Labarri snake here mentioned 

 is one of the most venomous serpents of Guiana, but 

 as it will be fully described in a subsequent page, I 

 shall say no more about it at present. Waterton never 

 feared snakes, even though knowing that their bite is 

 certain death, but the coxswain of the boat, not having 

 such nerve, might well be excused for taking alarm. 



A rather amusing incident took place when he had 

 reached his destination. 



" On arriving at Angostura, the capital of the Orinoco, 

 we were received with great politeness by the Governor. 

 Nothing could surpass the hospitality of the principal 

 inhabitants. They never seemed satisfied unless we were 

 partaking of the dainties which their houses afforded. 

 Indeed, we had feasting, dancing, and music in super- 

 abundance. 



" The Governor, Don Felipe de Ynciarte, was tall and 

 corpulent. On our first introduction, he told me that he 

 expected the pleasure of our company to dinner every 

 day during our stay in Angostura. We had certainly 

 every reason to entertain very high notions of the 

 plentiful supply of good things which Orinoco afforded ; 

 for, at the first, day's dinner, I counted more than forty 

 dishes of fish and flesh. The governor was superbly 



c 



