104 
TRAVELS ON THE AMAZON. ^ [December, 
remains of aquatic reptiles which would seem to indicate 
a great extent of shallow water for their abode. 
The alligator fat and a quantity of fish were now ready, 
so we prepared to return home. I determined this time 
to walk overland, so as to see the character of the interior 
of the island. I returned with the two Negroes to the 
ruined cottage before mentioned, so as to be ready to start 
the next morning for a walk of some ten or twelve miles 
across the campo. On our way to the hut we passed 
over a part which was burning, and saw the curious phe- 
nomenon of the fire proceeding in two opposite directions 
at the same time. The wind carried the fire rapidly in 
a westerly direction, while, at the same time, by causing 
the tall grass to bend over into the flames, they pro- 
gressed, though at a slower rate, towards the east. The 
campos are set on fire purposely every summer, as the 
coarse grass being burnt down, leaves room for a fine 
crop to spring up afresh with the first rains. Near the 
hut I shot a large grey heron, which made us a very 
good supper ; and we then hung up our hammocks for 
the night in the little dirty ruined hut, from which a short 
time before a jaguar had carried away a large bundle of 
fish. 
In the morning the canoe was loaded to return, and 
I proceeded along a faint track homewards. The scene 
was generally very desolate and barren. Sometimes 
there was not a blade of grass for miles. Then would f 
come a wide bed of gigantic rushes, which extends across | 
. . . i 
places were large beds of prickly mimosas, and, at in- | 
tervals, considerable tracts covered with leafless trees ^ 
the island nearly from one side to the other. In other 
