of an Orchid Hunter, 



57 



on wood, we were inevitably besieged by a crowd 

 of natives, offering us a few fruits, native pottery, 

 monkeys, parrots, turtles, and tortoises for sale. All 

 were laughing- and joking, apparently in the highest 

 spirits and the best humour, and, to those who could 



WAITING TO SELL ON THE BANKS OF THE MAGDALENA. 



understand their jargon Spanish, probably criticising 

 severely European novelties in the way of passengers 

 on the boat. Their greatest fault appears to me to be 

 their indolence, and, although possessing considerable 

 civilisation, from constant intercourse with Europeans, 

 I have no doubt their habits are much the same as 

 they were when Christopher Columbus first shook 



