NATURE IN FULL DRESS. 
19 
in a half-sitting posture—my feet hanging outside the boat, my 
back coming in contact with the chime of our water-keg. I 
tried for some time to sleep, but in vain. I tried to persuade 
myself that I was at home in a comfortable bed, just falling into 
a doze, but my back was not to be deceived in that way; and 
after spending two hours in my uncomfortable position, I got 
up. I found that my companions had been as badly lodged as 
myself, and all as anxious to man the oars. We were soon un¬ 
der way, and soon the approaching day was proclaimed by the 
incessant howl of the animal creation, including the tiger, leop¬ 
ard, cougar, monkeys, &c., &c., accompanied by innumerable 
parrots and other tropical birds. All nature seemed to be in 
motion. The scene is indelibly impressed upon my memory. 
The trees on the margin of the river were of immense size, 
clothed to their tops with morning-glories and other flowers of 
every conceivable hue, their tendrils stooping down, kissing the 
placid bosom of the river. Birds of the most brilliant plumage 
were flying through the air, in transports of joy. All nature 
seemed to hail the sun with bursts of rapture. Everything ap¬ 
peared to me so new and strange. My transition from a north¬ 
ern winter to this delightful climate, seemed like magic, and 
appeared like a scene of enchantment, like the dawning of a 
new creation. 
