214 IN THE GUIANA FOREST. 



dark. And that this is the case there can be no 

 doubt. If it were possible for us to walk among 

 them without pushing a leaf aside we should 

 certainly find the shade at least as dense as under 

 the trees. 



Such a crowded assemblage of vertical leaves 

 must necessarily gather an enormous amount of 

 light, and that this is so can easily be understood 

 from the marvellous energy displayed by these 

 grasses and sedges. With an unlimited supply of 

 water, plenty of heat, and as much light as they 

 can wrest from their neighbours, we can almost 

 see them grow. An English meadow, when almost 

 ready for the scythe, is the scene of a similar 

 struggle, but how insignificant in comparison with 

 this. There the highest grasses are hardly more 

 than three feet above the ground, here they rise to 

 ten feet, or even more. In crossing a meadow the 

 grasses are easily borne down before you ; but in 

 the Guiana swamp, if the ground were at all dry, 

 you would have to press forward with your head 

 and arms, use considerable force to make a pas- 

 sage, and even then be unable to find your way. 

 For the thicket almost closes again behind as you 

 press along, and the deep rut shuts out every- 

 thing but the sky above. 



We once had an experience of this kind in the 



