437 



long whistling of the monkeys, which appeared 

 to flee from the danger that threatened them. 



I notice every circumstance of these nocturnal 

 scenes, because, being recently embarked on the 

 Rio Apure, we were not yet accustomed to them. 

 We heard the same noises repeated, during the 

 course of whole months, whenever the forest 

 approached the bed of the rivers. The security 

 displayed by the Indians inspires travellers with 

 confidence. You persuade yourself with them, 

 that the tigers are afraid of fire, and do not at- 

 tack a man lyingin his hammock . These attacks 

 are in fact extremely rare ; and, during a long 

 abode in South America, I remember only one 

 example of a Llanero, who was found torn in 

 his hammock opposite the island of Achaguas. 



When the natives are interrogated on the 

 causes of this tremendous noise made by the 

 beasts of the forest at certain hours of the night, 

 they reply gaily, " they are keeping the feast of 

 the full moon." 



I believe this agitation is most frequently the 

 effect of some contest, that has arisen in the 

 depths of the forest. The jaguars, for instance, 

 pursue the pecaris and the tapirs, which, hav- 

 ing no defence but in their numbers, flee in 

 close troops, and break down the bushes they 

 find in their way. Affrighted at this struggle, 

 the timid and mistrustful monkies answer from 

 the tops of the trees the cries of the large ani- 



