6160 



Natural-History Collectors. 



stories) are about ]00 feet long, 30 feet broad, and built in e very- 

 respect like the one before described, but fitted all round with sloping 

 bamboo benches or bedsteads ; at the foot of each of these is a pole, 

 raised about two feet from the ground, upon which they rest their feet, 

 underneath which a fire is kept going. Innumerable dogs are kept 

 tied up, generally upon these bedsteads, but always at the women's 

 end of the building. 



''Cuenga, March 21, 1858. 

 Here I am once more safe and sound, having returned from Gual- 

 aquiza without accident. Having bandaged up my sore feet T started, 

 on the 1st of March, and arrived here after dark on the 5th, well 

 nigh tired out, but my wounds, strange to say, improved, owing, I 

 think, to the colder climate. I now propose working towards Quito, 

 in the first place to see our minister, Mr. Cope, and, secondly, to be in 

 a good position to drop down on Esmeraldas as soon as the dry season 

 commences. 



"Louis Fraser." 



Excursion to St, Paulo, Upper Amazoiis, By H. W. Bates, Esq. 



On the 5th of September last I again embarked on our neat little 

 Upper Amazon steamer, the " Tabatinga," for an excursion to 

 St. Paulo, a village higher up than any I had yet visited, being about 

 260 miles distant, in a straight line from Ega, but at least 400 miles 

 following the bends of the river. I have little to relate concerning 

 the passage thither, for voyages on the Amazons are very monotonous 

 in their incidents; but as the river in September is at its low^est point, 

 and therefore large tracts of sandy shore exposed to view, there was 

 rather more amusement on the road than on my former excursions in 

 seasons of higher water. 



Almost every step of the way we passed monstrous alligators, 

 which, especially in the little bays along the margins of the great sand 

 banks, were congregated in great multitudes, lazily floating, and 

 heedless of the passing steamer. Mr. Hauxwell, the well-known 

 bird-collector, was one of the passengers, and, in the spirit of a true 

 sportsman, could not resist having a shot at them with his rifle. 

 There is only one narrow space in the head of the alligator where it 

 is vulnerable, but Mr. Hauxwell managed to hit a good many. One 

 of these, the commandanto resolved to haul on board for the purpose 

 of extracting a part of the animal, which is in great repute among 



