BAUL. 85 



were, indeed, dark days to us. We recalled the admoni- 

 tion so frequently given us not to venture upon the mias- 

 matic rivers, and lowlands of the interior, especially at 

 this season. We were even now persistently urged to 

 turn back. But a brighter day soon dawned, and hope 

 began to take the place of momentary despair. The fever 

 having spent its strength, the patient rapidly recovered ; 

 and we again sought opportunity to resume our journey. 

 We may here state that, notwithstanding predictions, 

 which were far from_ being comforting to us, this was our 

 only detention from sickness during our four months' 

 voyage upon the rivers of the interior, although we were 

 continually meeting with natives, oftentimes entire fami- 

 lies, who were sufferers from the intermittent fever of the 

 country. 



Our delay of two weeks at Baul gave us an opportuni- 

 ty to become acquainted with the place and its environs. 

 There was, however, not mucli that had special interest 

 either to the naturalist or casual visitor. Baul stands at 

 the junction of the Trinaco and Cojede Rivers, stretching 

 mostly along the latter, between its right bank and the 

 hills which rise directly back of the town upon the south. 

 These isolated hills were the last elevations we saw, until 

 reaching the Orinoco. The town claims ten thousand in- 

 habitants, but probably has less than two-thirds that es- 

 timate. The botany of this region is not extensive, and 

 the zoology still less varied, but it has some fine repre- 

 sentative species ; tigers, pumas, deer, and several species 

 of monkeys, abound upon the savannas and in the forest 

 tracts. Morning and evening we heard from the corridor 

 of our posada the howls of the araguato ; while deer 

 would frequently be seen taking their lookout from the 

 brow of the hills in rear of the town. 



Our protracted stay at Baul was at length terminated. 

 Tlirough the assistance of Dr. E. Landaeta, a gentleman 



