DEPARTURE FROM CITERA. 447 



place with but little society or amusement— in 

 fact, almost destitute of the positive requisites 

 of life. 



The moon was up, and, guided by her bril- 

 liant beams, we continued our course, drifting 

 down the noble river Atrato. The effect was 

 excessively beautiful, either side of the river 

 being thickly wooded by lofty trees, on whose 

 foliage the moon's rays played and glittered. 

 We were frequently assailed by the greetings 

 of the inhabitants of the ranchas on the banks, 

 which our noisy peons as often answered, and 

 were responded to by the echoes of the woods 

 breaking upon the stillness of the night, and 

 then again sinking into profound silence and 

 tranquillity. Towards midnight the fair moon 

 became overcast, and a deluge of rain forced 

 me to repair to my bed, which was made on 

 some palm-planks, placed in the boat, over 

 which there was a good canopy. 



I slept but little, thinking of my approach 

 to a civilized part of the world again, from 

 which I had been separated since quitting Bo- 

 gota. Polished society is the charm of life : 

 having this, what greater pleasure can man 

 covet? and without it, life is weary, stale. 



