86 
The Barima River 
tain ) had to exercise all his powers and attention to avoid being jambed 
against the huge trees that in certain places rose out of the water in 
unexpected confusion : dangers that were still further augmented by the 
winding course of the channel. When the ebb set in the same effects 
were produced, but in a reverse direction, as the banked-up mass of water 
receded at a very considerably increased speed. By his skill and care 
our captain had fortunately evaded the dangers of the flood, but on the 
other hand it was only with the very greatest exertion that the 
strong arms of the crew were able 'to withstand the might of the falling 
ebb. The best thing always to be done is to wait until the first force 
of the on-coming ebb lias spent itself. Large flocks of young ibis — they had 
probably been hatched here — were perched upon the shady foliage trees 
of the bank and induced us, like prudent housekeepers, to select some of 
them for supper: this nevertheless proved more difficult than w r e expect- 
ed, because they always let us come within gun-sliot but then flew away 
to settle again some hundred paces distant. It might have been quite 
an hour that they had been thus driven ahead before we succeeded in our 
purpose. At the same time I discovered in the thick leafy canopy of a 
tree a snake-neck bird ( Plot us Anhinga Linn.) which seemed to be taking 
a comfortable rest, but soon after lay at my feet in the corial. 
299. Fortunately and without further hindrance we reached the exit 
of the channel in the Barima, which proved to be a much considerably 
larger stream than 1 had even 'the remotest idea of, as its breadth amount- 
ed to at least 700 feet with a depth of 18 to 24 feet. The effects of the 
commencing flood-tide upon its dark waves was just as distinctly percep- 
tible as it was on the Mora. The banks are quite as low and swampy as 
those of the Mora, and we looked in vain for a secure and dry little spot 
at which to land. But what was there to worry over? In front and close 
at hand the most luxuriant tropical vegetation was disclosed, and I stood 
before the portals of a world of wonders of the novelty and wealth of 
which I had never even dreamed. 
300. Though the banks of the Mora had already claimed my entire 
interest, this was nevertheless very much more increased by those of the 
Barima. The loveliest palms, Enter pc oleracea Mart., Manicaria sacci- 
fera Gaert., stretched their proud fronds up above the dark succulent 
mass of foliage, and vied with the slender Leopoldinia pulchra Mart., 
both in beauty of growth and formation of leaf, Avhile the precious 
Vanilla aromatica Sw. ( F. guianensis Splitg.) wound itself in thick gar- 
lands up their slim shafts and trunks, and together with the most beau- 
tiful Begonias and Passiflora followed the lank columns in a most 
variously-coloured mixture, until they finally reached the crowns to form 
fairy-like draperies. Meanwhile the lovely Allamanda Aubletii Pohl. 
and 7? n jsehia Surubeo Sw., covered the brushwood on the banks with 
their large yellow and red blossoms, and the pretty Oncidium Baueri 
Bind!, with yellow stalks, forced by rank growth to a heighlt of 10 or 12 
feet, picked upon the trunks of older trees, out of the thickly-leaved 
branches of which the scarlet-red flowers of Epidendrum Schomburglcii 
Lindl. lighted us up on our way. The last mentioned always put in an 
appearance only when the waters of the stream had lost all traces of 
salt. The immediate bank enclosed a broad strip of Caladium arbores- 
cens Vent, which here and there was interrupted by whole stretches of 
