4 WhiRLWINBS and WiND-Sl'OUlS. 
drearj plain. On scaring the latter they let out their peculiar loud rolling 
note. 1 have noticed these Ibis less oiten un the edges oi" swamps 
than on dried-up swamp-beds, where one usually finds some six to eight 
of them together. Mijctcrut, zlrdcu, Cicoiila etc., which previously gave 
life to such scenes had all taken their departure Avith the disappearing 
water to the savannah streams. 
7. Towards mid-day, undev a temperature of 125° F. the effects of 
the reflected solar rays were soon to be recognized not only in the atmos- 
phere, that seemed to set everything dancing, but also in my own circular 
tion. Occasional cooling currents of air out of which one passed again 
into sultry hot layers only made the contrast all the more perceptible. 
Peculiar and apparently new meteorological phenomena for me were the 
many whirlwinds and consequent wind-spouts which, since the Rupununi 
savannah, I never saw again in such numbers. Suddenly from out of a 
spot amongst the dust and bush-leaves, etc., one sees a portion being 
driven along over the flat in an apparently horizontal direction in a spiral 
course until, its commencing area continuing to rise, it soon stands up 
momentarily like a spiral column on the savannah over which it then 
rushes ; at the same time its lower portion becomes more and more trans- 
parent, it divides it.self midway and disappears without a trace. Appar- 
ently the reason for these numerous ^^ ind-spouts lies in the inequality of 
temperature in the atmospheric layers produced hj the reflected solar 
heat, and in the resultant currents of air passing, it is true, in parallel 
yet in opposed directions. After little Lake Venturu, where the water 
left remaining was hardly drinkable, we again did another eight or ten 
miles without quenching our burning thirst, though the 125° F.. was by 
no means the maximum of the day's temperature, which was only reached 
about three o'clock . The regular Indian file of the morning had long been 
broken up; if one took a look back, the tired rear-guard followed those in 
the lead at a wide interval, and many of them were actually beyond the 
far-reaching horizon. 
S. We started out with plenty of cheering, joking and good spirits, 
but in proportion as the heat increased, the noisy voices became gradually 
hushed. Wherever a miserable Curatella threw its shadow, one noticed 
one or other of the exhausted negroes and Germans hurrying to rest in 
its pale shade. The Indians, however, even under their loads, were not 
given to such weakness: they briskly forged ahead along the narrow path 
and me^ all specific questions as to how far it still was to Pirara mouth, 
the day's objective, with an adroitly turned countenance and the reply, 
^'A-minki, A-minki, Matti (Very fai', very far, friend)," surely 
not much comfort for people dead-tired and half- 
perishing with thirst. Finally there appeared on the 
horizon a row of trees in vibratory motion — it was the timbered 
banks of the Pirara. Every bit of strength not yet wasted was hastily 
gathered to make an end of the intoleral)le couditions, and rest our ex- 
hausted limbs in the dusky shadows. The longed-for Eldorado was not 
reached until four o'clock when we were at last able to fulfil the one 
desire we cherished . An hour's rest in the dark shade of the green trees 
so strengthened our weary limS)S that at least the portion of our column 
