104 
Floating Islands of the Barima. 
the fragrant blossoms or sport with the dew-drops that, mirroring a 
world in themselves, are trembling on the leaves: the Toucans from up 
among the highest, tree-tops attract one's attention with their 
‘pia-po-o-ko' ; the Orioles, peeping inquisitively from out of their purse- 
shaped nests on the branches of the scattered foliage-trees, try their 
very best to imitate the different notes audible from far and near, so 
i hat, carried away in t lie general excitement, they may play their part 
in the life just called into being: the red Ibis, with their brilliant plum- 
age glittering in the golden sunbeams, fly in one long advancing series 
towards the coast, while the white Egrets tarry upon the banks, rise 
ahead of us, and settle down once more, and so repeat their flight every 
few minutes according as they are scared away again. 
356. By break of day I had noticed with surprise that the water 
had assumed a very strange appearance, in that we passed a number of 
floating islands of varying sizes which lent the river as vig- 
orous a charm as it did vitality. The first of these floating islands 
that hurried past our corial down the stream was eagerly 
scanned by me, and on it I found a torn-off mass of matted 
grass. During the dry season of the year the rank masses of grass, of 
blue Hctera uthera reniformis Ruiz, and numerous other water-plants 
form a covering over the whole surface of the upper Barima basin: dur- 
ing the rainy season these pieces get loosened off by the increased force 
of the current, but only a few of them reach the sea, all kept, ever on 
the move by the opposed effects of ebb and flow. 
357. On approaching the mouth, these islands presented a prettier 
and livelier appearance. Countless water-fowl, temporarily settling 
on them, were busily searching for food, a large quantity of which they 
must find in the blue and white flowers of the floating matted grass, 
w hile enormous chains of the large ’Anas moschata Linn, kept them 
company with a vigorous cackle. Guns, bows and arrows were hastily 
brought into requisition so that noon, now close at hand, might not 
find us without the wherewithal for a tasty meal. 
35S. Towards twelve o’clock we safely reached Barima mouth and 
with it the proud waters of the Orinoco as they slowly rolled along, but 
found ourselves in the same predicament we had experienced the day 
previous and the night before. We searched in vain for a small dry 
spot, but owing to the whole surroundings being subject to tidal influ- 
ence nothing w as to be found, until at last some of the Indians managed 
(o locate a place on the right bank near Barima Point: it was thickly 
covered with spiny Mimosae and Papilionaceae which, owing to the in- 
numerable rank creepers, had become changed into an impenetrable and 
shapeless bush. All hatchets were soon put into requisition and 
within a few’ hours sufficient space Avas cleared on which to pitch our 
tents, whereupon avc started to unload, a task that the high state of 
the tide considerably lightened. 
359. It was by about evening, after Ave had just finished unpacking 
and put everything to rights, that A\e noticed a humming and buzzing 
which eA T er became louder and louder. On closer examination w r e found 
it to be due to myriads of mosquitoes which, swarming around the roots 
of the Rhizophora , made a rush for us immediately after sundown and, 
