86 BAUL AND SAN FEKXANDO. 



who had been a warm friend to us through all our sick- 

 ness, we procured passage to San Fernando de Apure in a 

 bongo which was bound tliithcr Avith a cargo of maize and 

 fruits. The 14tli of October liad been agreed upon for 

 our departure; but, as it was late in the day before the 

 captain, or patron, could complete preparations, it was 

 determined by him to defer sailing until the second day 

 following, although ready to go upon the moi'row, but 

 that was Tuesday, the " unlucky day " of the Spaniard. 

 The matter was, however, finally readjusted: we were to 

 go that day a short distance down the river, when we 

 would draw up for the night, thus commencing our jour- 

 ney ; then the following morning we could proceed, with- 

 out being subject to the evils which would befall us for 

 starting upon such an unpropitious day as Tuesday. Our 

 feelings of pleasure, in being able to resume our journey, 

 were mingled with those of regret at parting from friends 

 who had been so attentive to our wants, and who, upon 

 our departure, gave us kind tokens of remembrance, 

 and comforts for our voyage. We could see the tears 

 glisten in the eyes of the good old lady, our hostess, as 

 she gave the farcAvell shake of the hand, saying, " Cuiclado 

 que los sancudos ne se le coma " (take care that the sancu- 

 dos do not eat you up). How much there was to heed in 

 this injunction will appear hereafter. 



Our resting-place for the night was, as we have inti- 

 mated, but a short distance below the town, where we 

 were tendered the hospitalities of a hut in the midst of a 

 banana-grove ; some swinging their hammocks inside the 

 dwelling, others under the trees, both places alike so in- 

 fested with sancudos that self-preservation v/as our only 

 thought.* "SVere we so soon to realize the import of the last 



* There are several species of culices, or sancudos, in South America ; 

 the one most common on the Portuguesa and Apure being of a blue color, 

 with a bite more irritating than that of our northern mosquito. 



