12 CAMPS IN THE CARIBBEES. 



CHAPTER II. 



CAMP LIFE IN THE TROPICS. 



A MARCH MORNING. MATIN MUSIC. JEAN BAPTISTE. SONNY. 



BREAKFAST IN THE MOUNTAINS. QUEER CUSTOMS. DE- 

 LIGHTFUL TEMPERATURE FOR MARCH. THE HUNT FOR BIRDS. 



A DAY'S DUTIES. STRANGE BIRDS AND SCENERY. THE 

 "TREMBLEUR." A PRECIPICE. AN ORGAN-BIRD, THE "MOUN- 

 TAIN WHISTLER." BIRD NOTES. MY CHASSEURS. LAND 

 CRABS. ARDENT ASSISTANTS. TWILIGHT. 



IT is a bright March morning. As I throw open the 

 shutters of my shanty and let in the light of early 

 day, I look out upon a scene of loveliness that it were 

 worth many a day's journey to enjoy. 



From beyond the mountains, east, the sun has 

 climbed a little way until he peers through a defile in 

 the hills, and a rift in the cloud masses, and floods 

 only a narrow pathway down the surrounding hills, 

 their northern slopes, a bit of the gloomy valley miles 

 below, and bursts upon the calm Caribbean Sea with 

 concentrated glory. A sail, floating on that sea, drifted 

 hither and thither by strong, unaccountable currents, 

 which came, perchance, from Martinique or Bar- 

 bados to the south, or from Guadeloupe or Montserrat 

 to the north, is ablaze with light, which gives it 

 the appearance of being on fire. No sound comes 

 up from the valley below, nor from the surrounding 

 mountain sides ; even the rain frogs and the nocturnal 



