S4 BAUL AND SAN FERNANDO. 



tion '■'■ Caramha ! '''' from his admiring listeners. IJeclining 

 in our hammocks, closely wrapped in our blankets as a 

 protection against sancudos, we dropped into sweet ob- 

 livion, with the tongue of Alvino still " flowing rapidly. " 

 How long it may have continued we cannot say. 



From the time of leaving Pao, one of the party, Mr. 

 Gilbert, had shown symptoms of the dreaded calenture 

 which is so prevalent at this season, upon these submerged 

 and malarious regions. We at first supposed it only a 

 slight attack, which need occasion no apprehension, but 

 the discomforts and exposures of the voyage caused the 

 fever to assume a more malignant form. We were in no 

 condition to do much for our companion, and could only 

 hasten forward to Baul, where was j^romise of medical 

 attention and better accommodations. On the afternoon 

 of the following day, the sixth from our embarkation at 

 Pao, we reached Baul. In a fcAV days Mr. Gilbert became 

 convalescent; but it was, however, too evident tliat the 

 fever still lurked in a latent state, and only waited for 

 favorable circumstances to again develop itself. For 

 him to remain longer upon these pestilential plains, could 

 not be done with impunity, and a return to the north 

 seemed imperatively demanded. It was with feelings 

 of regret that we contemplated separating from a mem- 

 ber of our small party, just as we were starting upon 

 our long, overland journey. But there seemed no alterna- 

 tive, and accordingly preparations were made by Avhich 

 he accompanied our boatmen back to Pao ; from there he 

 made his way across the Cordilleras to Puerto Cabello, 

 whence he sailed for home. 



Two days after this event, the time fixed for our depart- 

 ure from Baul, the calenture again invaded the party and 

 prostrated my only remaining companion. For three 

 days we watched, with no little anxiety, the j^i'ogress of 

 the fever, as it continued to increase in severity. These 



