75 
jR. Schofnburgk, Dr, Phil, 
The number of plants which I had collected made it 
necessary for me to return to the camp to press them, a feat 
which was easier determined than executed. The paper, 
when taken away from the fire, was so quickly saturated by 
the damp atmosphere that it was impossible to think of 
drying the plants, even if it was changed several times 
during the day. The humidity at this elevation was so great 
that Mr. Groodall, the artist, vainly tried to make a sketch of 
the Roraima on the wet paper. In spite of the most careful 
preservation of the astronomical instruments they became 
covered with rust. A loaded gun which had been standing a 
few hours would not discharge, the powder having changed 
into a greasy mass ; and this humid atmosphere drove us to 
desperation. 
Shortly after my return from this excursion Mr. Fryer 
arrived, with the news that poor Kate had died in the 
morning, at four o’clock, which was sixty-three hours after 
the accident had happened. The vomiting of blood had 
increased, and did not cease until she died. The bitten leg 
had swollen to an immense size, and mortification put an end 
to all her sufferings. IJnder the most violent convulsions 
she must have suffered fearfully, yet not a sigh, not a sound, 
was uttered by her. Immediately after her death the women 
in the camp assembled, and uttered words in the ears of the 
corpse. Mr. Fryer, during the preparations for Kate’s inter- 
ment, started for the Roraima to meet us. The news of the 
death of our favoiite, though not altogether unexpected, cast 
a gloom over our small circle. 
Whilst Mr. Fryer was relating the circumstances of the 
death of Kate, my eyes fell on a dead rattlesnake, which was 
lying in front of the tent. My brother with the Indians, 
being occupied with some trigonometrical measurement, were 
very nearly the victims of the snake. He only escaped his 
fate through a bold jump, when it was killed by the Indians. 
The more secure we had felt from snakes in this rough and 
humid locality, the more disagreeable was the certainty that 
they were to be met with even here. I always had a kind of 
satisfaction when I killed one of these dangerous reptiles, 
thinking that its death had saved, perhaps, the life of a fellow 
creature. 
Eagerly we expected the return of our hunters, who, with 
their dogs, had followed to the plains the fresh tracks of a 
tapir ; late in the evening they returned, but alas, as empty 
