222 IN THE GUIANA FOREST. 



the eta raises itself on a great tuft or mound of 

 roots, with the result that when thousands of them 

 extend along a line an imperfect dam is produced, 

 which checks the flow of water to a considerable 

 extent. Another result is that the level of the 

 ground if we may call that level which is made 

 up of mounds with narrow channels between is 

 raised several feet. 



Leaving the eta swamp we come upon one of 

 the prettiest scenes in this part of the country. 

 The creek meanders through a park-like expanse, 

 with wavy lines of bush alternately approaching 

 and receding from its banks, making great bays 

 which add much to the beauty of the picture. 

 The soil is a barren white clay quite free from 

 pegass, and except for the tufts of fine wiry 

 grasses and sedges, almost like a field of snow. 

 As in other places the ground is very uneven, 

 great clods alternating with narrow channels, filled 

 with milky water, into which our feet continually 

 slide as we try to step from tuft to tuft. As may 

 be supposed, the great monsters of the swamp 

 are starved out of these little paradises and the 

 struggle is almost entirely one for food, the 

 survivors being those which require but little. 

 As a natural consequence foliage is conspicuously 

 meagre and flowers come to the front. At certain 



