CROSSING THE ATRATO. 437 



his paddle, apparently just in the spot where 

 they had stood : — most fortunately they had 

 not trodden on the reptile ! The snakes sel- 

 dom attack, unless yon hurt them ; but are not 

 inclined to get out of the way. It now com- 

 menced raining very hard, and continued so 

 until late in the evening. About sunset we ar- 

 rived at a spot called El Pato, where I got 

 some chocolate, and bought some anise of the 

 country, which I was almost sorry for having 

 done, as it made all the Indians drunk. The 

 moon, however, came out clear, which enabled 

 Us to avoid the few dangers there were in the 

 river. About eleven at night I stopped at a 

 small cottage belonging to a blacksmith call- 

 ed Nicholas Rocha, who received me very 

 kindly. In this place I slept in my ham- 

 mock. 



Feb. 13th. Rose at six, and having dressed 

 so as to make my appearance in the Citera, we 

 set off, and soon arrived in sight of the Indian 

 part of the town, which is formed of small, 

 round-built cottages ; we crossed the Atrato, 

 where the river is wide, and has a fine appear- 

 ance ; and coming in sight of the whole place, 

 which is on the right bank, we landed about nine 



