HUNTING THE JAGUAR 45 



called over to his hammock. Ranjettan hastily 

 came to my rescue, and with the aid of my pocket 

 electric lamp looked me over. 



"Bete-rouge," he exclaimed with a smile. 

 These are the little red devil-bugs that bury under 

 the skin and make life unbearable. Waking up 

 John Charley, they brought over some crabwood 

 oil, which I spread over the affected parts, and, 

 feeling as slippery as an eel, but much more at 

 ease than before, I returned to my hammock to 

 woo a little further sleep. 



We were astir early next morning, and after 

 loading the curial continued our way. As we 

 ascended the river the jungle roof grew higher 

 and higher, and its foliage displayed a charming 

 variety of every shade, from the lightest to the 

 darkest green. Occasionally a giant mora tree, 

 overtowering the roof of the jungle, stood out in 

 grand magnificence. 



To appreciate the forest and enjoy the beauty 

 and loveliness of all wild life, it is necessary, be- 

 sides being a f aunal naturalist and lover of na- 

 ture, to be something of a botanist; for animal 

 life is much in the minority, while plant life 

 looms up everywhere and outnumbers the other a 

 million to one. Naturalists have not been credited 

 with the sense of beauty and harmony found 



