FHOSrHOKESCE>'T INSECTS. 
303 
the month of the.Waruwau, because we not only met with a considerable 
supply of cassava-bread, but also a quantity of yams, bananas, and pines 
which we forthwitli shared amongst our hungry companions. 
72;j. After W'ayapari had handed these provisions over, he withdrew 
to one of the shelters, removed his trapping's of state, wraj)pedi the um- 
brella and dagger carefully in with them, and then returned to us in his 
natural costume. 
724. As the inhabitants of \>'a(u-Ticaba had never seen such liuge 
vessels before, those of ours aroused their utmost wonder, but what ex- 
cited it still more was our mortar which, to their infinite joy, we seVeral 
times tired. Our tents were quickly pitched on tlie small spot of ris'ing 
ground, and just as rapidly there blazed a number of fires at which the 
brown figures rested and roasted their plantains. The evening was just 
as beautiful as the mie before. After sunset the whole sky was covered 
with a deep Idue, which towards the western horizon changed into a still 
deeper purple red. In the close and distant environs, both visible and in- 
visible amphibia and l)easties repeated their 1,000-voice concert, and 
millions of phosphorescent insects rose from the damp savannah, 
although the flood waters had not yet reached it, and ploughed through 
the azure atmosphei'e in spasmodic flashes or fantastically twisted coils 
and circles. I had never yet seen these little creatures in such numl)ers : 
the time of year and swampy flats may have exercised a s])ecial influence 
ovi their development : but the painful and troul)lesome attacks o^ the 
little black ^^imulia proved so overpowering as to drive us out of tlie 
hammocks and force us to keep on ond continual move until the morn- 
ing. Verily, words can hardly descril)e the sufferings that we had to 
endure from these wicked creatures: thein number Avas so great as to 
make it imiiossilile to take astronomical ol)servations. 
725. In cloud and gloom the longed-for morning broke, when we at 
least obtained some relief from the burning and itching wounds, by 
taking a bathe. Aliout eight o'clock, but just for a moment, the sun 
worked its way through the dark layers of cloud, and ther] cast its en- 
chanting strong-lights upon the luxuriant surroundings. Large flocks of 
carrion-crows circled 'in proud flight high up in the air. to swoop down 
upon our camp at the verv moment that we-should leave it. 
720. The meteorological observations at the mouth of the Waruwau, 
4^2 feet above the sea, gave the following results: — 
Date. 
Hour 
p.m. 
Barometer. 
Thermometer. 
Remarks. 
Inches. 
Attached Ther- 
mometer. 
Dry 
Bulb. 
Wet 
Bulb. 
4.30 
29-575 
86 degrees 
86-4 deg 
79 deg 
Fine weather. 
14th 
5 
29-57 
86-9 
87-6 
80 
Sky partly cloud- 
6 
29 -.571 
77 
77 „ 
75 
ed. Six o'clock 
May 
6.30 
29-59 
77 
77 
75 
a small shower 
7.15 
29-602 
76-82 
77 
75-2 
of rain. 
