A Collecting Trip on the Abary. 359 
the lower part of the Berbice river, with which a large 
branch of the upper part of the creek communicates. 
The banks are lined with a low bushy growth, consisting 
largely of mucco-mucco, corkwood and water-wallaba, 
skirting the savannah which spreads on both sides of the 
creek for a considerable distance, and which is visible from 
the boat through the numerous wide gaps in the low bush. 
Frequently, however, the bush is absent for miles, and the 
grass of the savannah reaches to the edge of the water, 
thus yielding extensive views of the flat country, and 
allowing full play to the breeze which, to some extent, 
compensates for the loss of shelter from trees. 
Along nearly the entire course of the creek, the 
traveller is continuously exposed to the full power 
of the sun, since close along the banks where, 
in the morning and evening, a certain amount of shelter 
might at times be obtained, the logs and stumps in 
the water entirely preclude any advantage being 
derived therefrom. This, at any rate, is the case in 
the depth of the dry weather ; doubtless in the rainy 
season when the creek is full of water, the circumstances 
are different. To one ordinarily accustomed to a seden- 
tary town life, this continuous exposure to the sun 
became after a while most painful, and though a small 
tent or covering would have removed the distressing 
cause, this luxury was foregone, since the huntsmen 
declared that on the open creek it would be the means 
of frightening game ; and as the procuring of game was 
the chief obje6t of the trip, the risk was not run, even 
though this reputed effe6t of a tent was doubted. 
Early on Saturday, October 6th, a start was made from 
the Abary bridge with two bateaux — a large one for luggage 
