6 Botanical Reminiscenced 
With the abundance of the vegetable kingdom vied also 
that of the ornithologicaL Whole flocks of the beautiful 
birds, Ampelis rubricollis, Tern., and A. cayanOj Lin., fluttered 
between the flowering branches of the trees, filling the air 
wdth their notes. The Indians imitating their peculiar notes 
perfectly, decoyed them dowm to the lower branches, where 
our guns could reach them. K umbers of the pretty ducks, 
Anm aiitamnalis. Lin., made their appearance, and were an 
easy prey. 
After a few hours’ progress, the first elevations appeared — a 
chain of hills w^hich bordered the horizon. On one of these 
hills, situated on the left bank, w^e observed a friendly- hut 
which had been built by the Warraii Chief, Ciementy, for his 
residence. The hut looked so comfortable and inviting, that 
we resolved to spend the night under its hospitable roof. 
Notwithstanding the noise made by our landing, nobody 
appeared outside the hut. When we had reached the residence 
of the mighty chief, it was soon distinguished, from all the 
Warraii architecture I had a.s yet noticed, as it consisted not 
only of two stories, but was also provided v/ith a gallery 
wdiich surrounded the whole house. 
In the middle of the large reception room, the chief vras 
sitting in a stiff, grand position, attired in an old blue dress 
coat, the collar of which was turned up, and white trousers. 
He was sitting on a lo\v stool, and received us idthout rising 
from his seat, with a long speech, the sense of ^vhich, in brief, 
was that he had been already acquainted with our arrival, 
that we were welcome to him, and that he offered us with 
pleasure, his house for a residence during our stay. 
His y/ives w^ere busy plaiting hammocks, and examined us 
■with curious glances. When one of thei hospitable ladies 
observed that our black cook began to arrange his utensils, 
she brought a number of yams, sweet potatoes, and a calabash 
covered with leaves, which contained a collection of finger- long 
maggots, the larvae of the large beetle Calandra palmariim. 
Our cook, Hamlet, who had an eagle eye for everything 
connected with his profession, and was acquainted with the 
best mode of preparing the most heterogeneous delicacies, 
assured us that these larvm, on which we looked with dis- 
gust, were the most dainty dish he knew of when fried in 
fat. Hamlet’s mess of larvm tasted tolerably well ; and, full 
of expectation, the ingenious cook watched us from the 
distance to see what recognition his so much praised dish 
