44 



WANDERINGS IN 



First must be VGiy cautlous before you venture to s\vim across 



Journey. 



this creek, for the alligators are numerous, and near 



twenty feet long. On the present occasion, the Indians 

 took uncommon precautions, lest they should be devoured 

 by this cruel and voracious reptile. They cut long sticks, 

 and examined closely the side of the creek for half a mile 

 above and below the place where it was to be crossed ; 

 and as soon as the boldest had swam over, he did the same 

 on the other side, and then all followed. 



After passing the night on the opposite bank, which is 

 well wooded, it is a brisk walk of nine hours before you 

 reach four Indian huts, on a rising ground, a few hundred 

 paces from a little brook, whose banks are covered with 

 Coucourite and ^ta trees. 



This is the place you ought to have come to, two days 

 ago, had the water permitted you. In crossing the plain 

 at the most advantageous place, you are above ankle-deep 

 in water for three hours ; the remainder of the way is dry, 

 the ground gently rising. As the lower parts of this spa- 

 cious plain put on somewhat the appearance of a lake, 

 during the periodical rains, it is not improbable but that 

 this is the place which hath given rise to the supposed 

 existence of the famed Lake Parima, or El Dorado ; but 

 this is mere conjecture. 



)eer. A fcw dccr are feeding on the coarse rough grass of this 



far-extending plain ; they keep at a distance from you, 

 and are continually on the look out. 



