178 TRAVELS IN 
ceived by the company; and having prepared a 
fufee according to my own manner, I returned 
through ^he garden to the window, where thefe 
gend jmen were continuing their dilpute. Point- 
ing with my finger to a little bird perched near 
them, I took aim and fired at it, upon which it 
felL I immediately feized it; and, delivering it 
alive into the hands of my antagonift, put an 
end to all his fine reafoning. 
Towards the end of the month we were- 
ni^uch impeded by new rains, which continued 
a long time, and almoil without intermiffion. 
Thefe ftorms fucceeded each other with great 
rapidity : the lightning fell feverai times in the 
forefi near us ; the v^ater gained upon us on 
all fides ; and, to add to the difagreeablenefs of 
our fituation, our camp w^as in one night en- 
tirely overflown : we therefore quitted the 
wood, and went to eftablifh ourfelves on fome 
higher fpot in the open country. I now faw, 
with the utmoil uneafmefs, that it would be 
impoffible for us to get out of this place in 
which we were furrounded: thofe fmall rivulets, 
which had before appeared to us fo pleafant 
and agreeable, were changed into furious tor- 
rents, which carried fand, trees, and fragments 
of 
