124 AN evening's amusement. 



an anxious glance at our toldos, which, sta- 

 tioned under the porch of the cottage, re- 

 minded us of the torments we might expect 

 for the night. Our supper, consisting of 

 soup, and a fowl fried in lard, was served 

 by the sleek mistress of one of the cottages ; 

 and as we took it in the awkward style I 

 have described, the bogas stood round 

 laughing and making remarks, whilst a 

 dozen yelping dogs contended with each 

 other for every bone we threw down. We 

 drank a liquor called guarapo, (made from 

 cakes of brown sugar, seasoned with lemon- 

 peel,) resembling, though inferior to, fresh- 

 made cider. With this the bogas, who are 

 very fond of it, intoxicate themselves. — Saw 

 during the day, a large snake, whose sting 

 is instant death, sleeping on one of the 

 branches of a tree, overhanging the river. 

 It was knocked into the water by one of 

 the bogas, with a blow of his pole. Arrived 



