CHAP. I.] 
AMBATCH WOOD. 
39 
2 7th Dec .—Blowing hard all night. Passed the 
Dinker hill at 3.30 a.m. Obliged to take in sail, as 
it buried the head of the vessel and we shipped much 
water. Staggering along under bare poles at about 
five miles per hour. The true banks of the river are 
about five hundred yards distant from the actual 
stream, this space being a mass of floating water- 
plants, decayed vegetable matter, and a high reedy 
grass much resembling sugar-canes; the latter excel¬ 
lent food for my animals. Many very interesting 
water-plants and large quantities of Ambatch wood 
(Anemone mirdbilis )—this wood, of less specific gra¬ 
vity than cork, is generally used for rafts ; at this 
season it is in full bloom, its bright yellow blossoms 
enlivening the dismal swamps. Secured very fine 
specimens of a variety of helix from the floating 
islands. In this spot the river is from 1500 yards 
to a mile wide ; the country, flat and uninteresting, 
being the usual scattered thorn bushes and arid 
plains, the only actual timber being confined to the 
borders of the river. Course, always south with few 
turns. My sponging-bath makes a good pinnace for 
going ashore from the vessel. At 4.20 p.m. one of 
the noggors carried away her yard—the same boat 
that met with the accident at our departure; hove to,, 
and closed with the bank for repairs. Here is an affair 
