154 BLUEFIELDS. 



bean (Dolichos ensiformis) bearing large swordlike 

 legumes, with white oval beans. An old Guinea 

 woman, whom I asked about the matter, after much 

 evasion of the question, and apparent reluctance, at 

 length mysteriously told me that — "if any some- 

 body look into de groun', him make dat him no cut 

 him eye ; " that is, the plant will prevent any one 

 from casting an evil eye into the ground. This dread 

 of the evil or " cutting " eye, is a very prevalent 

 form of superstition among this superstitious race, as 

 it seems to have been among the ignorant of all 

 nations, in all ages. 



VOICES OF EARLY BIRDS. 



Api'il 29th. — I rose some hours before the sun, 

 and proceeded to the Peaks of Bluefields. Passing 

 through the wooded pastures and grass-pieces of 

 Pinnock-Shafton, I was interested in the voices of 

 " earliest birds." While as yet no indication of day 

 aj)peared over the dark mountain, no ruddy tinge 

 streamed along the east ; while Venus was blazing 

 like a lamp, and shedding as much light as a young 

 moon, as she climbed up the clear dark heaven 

 among her fellow-stars ; — the Piramidigs or Night- 

 jars were unusually vociferous, and careering in great 

 numbers ; they flew low, as I could perceive by 

 listening to their sounds, but were utterly indis- 

 tinguishable to the sight from the darkness of the 

 sky across which they flitted in their angular traverses. 

 Presently the Flat-bill uttered his plaintive wail, 

 occasionally relieved by a note rather less mournful. 



