74 ENTRANCE OF THE MAGDALENA. 



green parrot, esteemed good eating. There 

 are also wild turkies, deer, tigers, and cattle 

 to be met with ; and I saw one wild bull, 

 which dashed into the wood the moment he 

 perceived us approaching. 



A little before we entered the Magdalena, 

 ray notice was attracted by shouts and cries 

 which proceeded from the bogas forming the 

 crew of a large champan, alongside of which 

 we presently found ourselves, the channel 

 being barely wide enough to allow us to 

 pass ; we thus had an opportunity of wit- 

 nessing the ridiculous gesticulations used by 

 these people in the practice of their toilsome 

 vocation. They push forward the vessel by 

 means of poles twenty feet in length, against 

 which they lean with their breasts, uttering a 

 sound somewhat resembling that with which 

 an English groom gratifies himself, while 

 rubbing down a horse — Huss, huss, huss 

 diversifying this monotony with a variety of 



