82 ASPECTS OF TROPICAL NATURE 



After the wet season the woods appear in their full beauty. 

 Before the first showers, the long-continued drought had wi- 

 thered their leaves, and dried up many of the more tender 

 parasites; during its continuance the torrents of rain despoiled 

 them of all ornament; but when the clouds disperse and the 

 animals come forth from their retreats to stretch their stiffened 

 limbs in the warm sunshine, then also the vegetable world 

 awakens to new life ; and where, a few days before, the eye met 

 only with green in every variety of shade, it now revels in the 

 luxuriance of beautiful flowers, which embalm the air with 

 exquisite fragrance. 



At this time of the year the banks of the rivers of Gruiana 

 winding through the primitive woods are of magical beauty, 

 and sailing on their placid waters one might fancy oneself 

 gliding along on the fairy streams of the lost gardens of Eden. 



Through the underwood, which often overhangs wide spaces 

 of the stream, the large white blossoms of the inga shine forth, 

 along with the scarlet brushes of the magnificent combretias. 

 Elegant palms, armed with a panoply of thorns, and bearing a 

 profusion of red fruit, rise above this lovely foreground ; and 

 farther on, noble forest trees are seen festooned with creepers 

 and parasites, which are covered with flowers. 



With every stroke of the oar new scenes reveal themselves ; 

 so that in the variety of forms it is impossible to determine 

 which plant or flower, most deserves the prize of beauty. 



These fairy bowers are enlivened by birds of splendid plumage, 

 particularly in the early morning, when the luscious green of 

 the high palm-fronds or the burning yellow of the lofty leopol- 

 dinias, touched by the first rays of the sun, suddenly shines 

 forth. Then hundreds of gaudy parrots fly across the river; 

 numberless colibris dart like winged gems through the air: 

 whole herds of cotingas flutter among the blossoms ; ducks of 

 brilliant plumage cackle on the branches of submerged trees ; 

 on the highest tree-tops the toucan yelps his loud pia-po-ko ! 

 while, peeping from his nest, the oriole endeavours to imitate 

 the sound ; and the scarlet ibis flies in troops to the coast, while 

 tlie white egrette flutters along before the boat, rests, and then 

 again rises for a new career. 



In general the morning hours are the loudest in the primitive 

 forest ; for the animals that delight in daylight, though not 



