PRIMITIVE MODE OF LIFE. 
21 
masts fore and aft, threw onr sail over it as a protection to the 
boat; and, after supper, detailed our watch, when another 
attempt was made to sleep. Mr. Hush and myself, were on the 
first watch. I took my station in the boat, but there being a 
strange commotion in the water, and the sides of the boat not 
being very high, Mr. H. preferred .the shore. He armed himself 
with a brace of revolvers, and one of horse pistols, a bowie-knife, 
a large Gferman rifle and broad sword, and stepped on shore. 
The night was extremely quiet, and at ten o’clock it ceased to 
rain. Nothing was heard except the peculiar whistle of a bird, 
which much resembled that of a school boy. The river, however, 
was in a constant agitation, which we presumed to be caused by 
alligators rushing into schools of fish. 
At 12, Mr. H. thought he heard a strange noise in the forest, 
approaching the encampment, and in a few minutes uttering a 
most unearthly yell, he jumped for the boat. His feet hanging 
a little u too low on the edge,” caught under a root, and he 
brought up in the river. This being full of alligators, only 
added to his fright, and the precise time it took him to get out, 
I am unable to say. 
The morning was again hailed by universal acclamation, 
and after an early breakfast we resumed our voyage. "We had 
a pleasant run during the day, stopping frequently to secure 
pheasants, pigeons, toucans, parrots, &c. The latter are not 
very palatable, but we were not disposed to be fastidious, and 
every thing we shot, except alligators, went into the camp-kettle. 
Late in the afternoon we met a bungo, the natives pointing to a 
tree, the top of which was filled with wild turkeys. We pulled 
along under the tree, discharged a volley, and succeeded in 
frightening them to another. Having a carbine charged with 
shot, I brought one to the ground. I climbed up the bank, but 
found the forest impenetrable. The under growth was a dense 
chaparal, interlaced with vines, every shrub and tree armed 
with thorns. I, however, with my machet , reached the turkey. 
There being a sandy beach near, we resolved to encamp for the 
night; and while we were pitching our tent, Mr. B. dressed and 
cooked our turkey. 
We were here attacked by the most ravenous swarm of mus- 
quitos it was ever my lot to encounter. We had promised 
