CHAPTER II. 



Journey to Orinoco -with despatches. — Adventure with a venomous snake. 

 — An involuntary hath. — A huge cayman. — The Labarri snake. — 

 Dinner party in Angostura. — A too liberal table. — The Governor's 

 uniform. — Dining in shirt-sleeves. — A more sensible uniform. — Pub- 

 lication of the Wanderings. — Reception by the critics. — Sydney Smith. 

 — Swainson's criticism upon the cayman — Truth in the garb of fiction. 

 — Waterton's style of writing. — Quotations. — His favourite authors. — 

 Sense of humour. — How he answered the critics. — Charge of eccen- 

 tricity. — How he was eccentric. — Travels on the Continent. — Ship- 

 wreck. — Gallant conduct of Prince Canino. — Lost by gold. — Fall into 

 Dover harbour and narrow escape. — The lancet and calomel. — Judge- 

 ment of the vampire. — A bad wound. — Bare feet and bad pavement. — 

 Mode of cure. — Accidents at home. — Gunshot wound. — Severe fall and 

 dangerous injuries. — Crowther the bone-setter. — ^A painful operation. — 

 Ultimate recovery. — A characteristic warning. 



During his stay in Demerara, he was selected as the 

 bearer of despatches to the Spanish Government in 

 Orinoco, and received the first commission which had 

 been held by any one bearing the name of Waterton 

 since the days of Queen Mary ; the commission being 

 dated August 2, 1808. 



"While passing up the Orinoco river in the fulfilment 

 of this mission, an adventure occurred which had well- 

 nigh deprived the world of the Wanderings. 



" During the whole of the passage up the river, there was 

 a grand feast for the eyes and ears of an ornithologist. In 

 the swampy parts of the wooded islands, which abound in 

 this mighty river, we saw waterfowl innumerable ; and 



