48 



NARRATIVE OF A 



The lofty and umbrageous trees exhibited every variety 

 of green, from the deepest tint to the lightest, and were 

 alive with singing birds, while parrots and mackaws kept 

 up a continued scream. Now and then a monkey would 

 show himself, for an instant, swinging by his tail from a 

 twig, or leaping from branch to branch. The little fort, 

 with its ruinous battlements, could be seen partly reflected 

 in the water, the surface of which was skimmed by the 

 alcatrazes intent on their prey, and seemingly unconscious 

 of our presence. 



The beauty of the opposite banks attracted my atten- 

 tion ; and resolving to explore them, I got into a little skiff 

 with Mr. M., an English gentleman and a fellow-passen- 

 ger, and paddled towards them. In our progress along 

 the shore, the first discovery we made was a cavern formed 

 by a ledge of rock, projecting over the water, and suffi- 

 ciently large to permit our little boat to enter it. Its sides 

 were covered with moss and fern, but we saw no object of 

 interest, except some fish, which our approach frightened 

 away from the cool retreat they had selected. We then 

 completely circumnavigated a little island. Further on 

 we discovered a small cove, or recess, formed by an ine- 

 quality in the bank, where the water was perfectly clear, 

 with a clean sandy bottom, while the projecting branches 

 formed a canopy of rich foliage, impenetrable to the sun. 

 There were other places along the shore similar to that 

 just described. These romantic spots seemed a fit abode 

 for water-nymphs, or Naiads, and I almost wondered not 

 to see any sporting in the water. When I contemplated 

 these retreats, so cool, so shady and secluded, I remem- 

 bered the poet of Mantua, when he exclaimed, 



" Oh, qui me gelidis in vallibus Haemi 

 Sistat, et ingenti ramorura protegat umbra . r " 



— and thought that here he would have found all that he 

 sighed for, and that perhaps he would have preferred the 

 shady banks of the Izabal to the cool vallies of Hsemus. 



