SHOOTING EXCURSION. 421 



I found to be a flat covered with flamingoes. On 

 my return I reported the discovery to Doctor Cabot, 

 when our host gave us such a glowing account of 

 flamingoes, scarlet ibises, and roseate spoonbills at 

 Punta Arenas, about two leagues distant, that my 

 imagination was excited by the idea of such clouds 

 of beautiful plumage. Doctor Cabot was anxious 

 for closer acquaintance with the birds, and we de- 

 termined, in case our horses arrived, to go thither 

 that same afternoon, and, after a few hours' shoot- 

 ing, overtake Mr. Catherwood the next day at Iza- 

 mal. In good time our horses arrived with Dimas, 

 in fine order; and as he had had some days' rest, 

 we took him and an Indian procured by our host, 

 and at about four o'clock set out. For the first 

 league our road lay directly along the shore, but far- 

 ther on there were projecting points, to cut off which 

 a footpath led among mangrove trees, with shoots 

 growing from the branches into the ground, forming 

 what seemed a naked and impenetrable canebrake, 

 surmounted by thick green fob age. In many pla- 

 ces it was difficult to advance on horseback ; from 

 time to time we came out upon a broken, stony 

 shore, and, considering that we had set out merely 

 for a short ride, we found ourselves travelling on one 

 of the wildest roads we had met with in the coun- 

 try. At dusk we reached a hut in a beautifully 

 picturesque position, imbosomed in a small bay, with 

 a frail bridge, about two feet wide, running out some 

 distance from the shore, and a canoa floating at the 

 II 36 



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