CARIBES 137 



and seek refuge under their cots. Sometimes, after chap, xvl 

 a long silence, the cry of the ferocious animals came — 

 from the tops of the trees, when it was followed by the 

 sharp and long whistling of the monkeys. Humboldt 

 supposes the noise thus made by the inhabitants of the 

 thicket, at certain hours of the niglit, to be the effect of 

 some contest that has arisen among tliem. 



On the 2d April they set sail Ijefore sunrise. The porpobci. 

 river was ploughed by porpoises, and the shore crowded 

 with aquatic birds ; while some of the latter, perched 

 on the floating timber, were endeavourmg to surprise 

 the fish that preferred the middle of the stream. The 

 navigation is rather dangerous, on account of the large 

 trees which remain obliquely fixed in the mud, and the 

 canoe touched several times. Near the island of Cari- 

 zales they saw enormous trunks covered with plotuses 

 or darters, and below it observed a diminution of the 

 waters of the river, owing to infiltration and evaporation. 

 Ts^ear the Vuelta de Basilio, where they landed to gather Black 

 plants, they saw on a tree two beautiful jet-black mon- nioni^es. 

 keys of an unknown species, and also a nest of iguanas, 

 which was pointed out by the Indians. The flesh of 

 this lizard is very white, and, next to that of the arma- 

 dillo, is the best food to be found in the huts of tJie 

 natives. Towards evening it rained, and swallows were 

 seen skimming along the water. They also saw a flock 

 of parrots pursued by hawks. The night was passed on 

 the beach. 



On the 3d they proceeded down the river in their caribefish 

 solitary course. The sailors caught the fish known in 

 the country by the name of caribe ; which, although 

 only four or five inches in length, attacks persons who 

 go into the water, and with its sharp triangular teeth 

 often tears considerable portions of flesh from their legs. 

 When pieces of meat are cast into the river, clouds ot 

 these little fishes appear in a few minutes. There are 

 three varieties in the Orinoco ; one of which seems to 

 be the Salnia rhombeus of Linnajus. At noon they 

 stopped in a desert spot called Algodonal, when Hum- 



