APPEARANCE OF THE RIVER. 295 



it difficult to determine where was the point of con- 

 tact. It seemed as if we were gliding through an 

 indefinite expanse of limpid water reposing between 

 two vast plains, that here rose higher than we had 

 before seen the land on this part of the continent. 



Hurrying on with a still favourable tide, but at a 

 rate much too slow for our impatience, we passed 

 two other small grassy islets, and a third was before 

 us. The eastern bank had become steep, overhang- 

 ing, and clothed with a mass of luxuriant creepers ; 

 whilst on the opposite side was a low woody patch, 

 partly immersed by the lake-like glassy water of 

 the river, into whch one slender tree dipped its 

 feathery crest, appearing like another Narcissus, to 

 admire its own beauty in the stream. In front, the 

 eye could penetrate far down the reach hemmed in 

 as it was by trees that clustered thick on the water's 

 brink. To the right was what might be called an 

 open glade ; in the midst of it rose a tree the branches 

 of which were laden with a most singular looking 

 bundle or roll of pieces of wood. Struck with its 

 appearance, we rested on our oars to observe it ;* 

 buf scarcely had we done so, when from a point 

 higher up, that appeared to divide the river into 

 two branches, rose a thick volume of smoke that 

 soon filled the air, as if a huge black cloud had 

 lighted on the earth in that direction. We endea- 

 voured to proceed in order to satisfy our curiosity, 

 but a rocky ledge extending across the river arrested 

 * See the view annexed. 



