1 64 OUR SEARCH FOR A WILDERNESS. 



barbels of medium size depended from the lower jaw, while 

 two pigmented ones extended forward from the upper jaw 

 and were so long that when pressed back they reached to 

 the tail. 



Rain fell irregularly during the day, but so gently and so 

 softly that we hardly knew when it began and when it ended. 

 It never chilled but rather refreshed. About noon a third 

 migrational flocking of birds was noticed; seventy- two large 

 South American Black Hawks ^^ circling slowly around, 

 setting their wings after a while and sailing off to the west 

 as one l^ird. 



The action and reaction among the vegetation was often as 

 striking as among more active organisms. Where parasitic 

 aerial roots had descended seventy or eighty feet and touched 

 the water near shore, vines had somehow managed to reach 

 out and throw a tendril about the roots, talce hold and climb 

 circle upon circle to the top. The palm trees alone of all the 

 forest growth seemed universally free from parasitic plants 

 and climbing vines. 



Above the mission, coincident with the increase of iDutter- 

 flies and the appearance of occasional sand-banks, palm 

 trees disappeared without apparent reason. The river nar- 

 rowed as we ascended until it was only fifty yards across and 

 the bends increased in angle and number. Now and then 

 we passed a cut-off where the stream had cut through one of 

 its own bends and made a new bed for itself. 



A small opening in the wall of verdure was hailed as Hoorie 

 Creek and, dropping behind the launch, we were towed a 

 mile or more up its tortuous length, now and then running 

 aground or rather " atree," as it was only thirty feet wide and 

 as sinuous as a serpent. We tied fast to a big overhanging 

 tree which marked the end of our journey by water and, all 

 excitement, leaped ashore. 



