94 
TRAVELS ON THE AMAZON. 
verse upon. At length some one continued the subject 
“ He told us to come the next day, 
To see if he was better.” 
CHORUS. 
“ He told us to come the next day, 
To see if he was better,” 
And so on to the end of the history, which struck me as 
being probably very similar to the unwritten lays of the 
ancient bards, who could thus make well-known facts 
interesting by being sung to music in an appropriate and 
enthusiastic manner. In a warlike nation, what more 
would at first be necessary than to relate the bold deeds 
of the warriors, the discomfiture of the enemy, and the 
trophies of victory, in order to raise the enthusiasm of 
the audience to the highest pitch ? Some of these would 
be handed down from generation to generation, the lan- 
guage improved, and when they came to be reduced to 
writing, rhyme would be added, and a regular poem 
constructed. 
Having now arrived at the height of the dry season, 
and the waters of the lake before mentioned being suffi- 
ciently low, the German steward informed me that he 
should make an excursion there to kill alligators, and I 
determined to accompany him. There are two ways to 
reach the place — overland in nearly a direct line, or 
round to the other side of the island in a boat and up a 
stream, which can be ascended to within a few miles of 
the lake, with which indeed in the wet season it commu- 
nicates. The tide served for the boat to start about 
midnight, and I decided on going in it, as I thought I 
should thus see more of the island. The overseer was 
ii- 
, 
A 
