12 
WANDERINGS IN 
FIRST 
JOURNEY 
Lizards. 
Fish. 
Insects. 
by the name of the bush-master. Both man and 
beast fly before him, and allow him to pursue an 
undisputed path. He sometimes grows to the length 
of fourteen feet. 
A few small caimen, from two to twelve feet long, 
may be observed now and then in passing up and 
down the river; they just keep their heads above 
the water, and a stranger would not know them from 
a rotten stump. 
Lizards of the finest green, brown, and copper 
colour, from two inches to two feet and a half long, 
are ever and anon rustling among the fallen leaves, 
and crossing the path before you; whilst the cha¬ 
meleon is busily employed in chasing insects round 
the trunks of the neighbouring trees. 
The fish are of many different sorts, and well- 
tasted, but not, generally speaking, very plentiful. 
It is probable that their numbers are considerably 
thinned by the otters, which are much larger than 
those of Europe. In going through the overflowed 
savannas, which have all a communication with the 
river, you may often see a dozen or two of them 
sporting amongst the sedges before you. 
This warm and humid climate seems particularly 
adapted to the producing of insects; it gives birth 
to myriads, beautiful past description in their variety 
of tints, astonishing in their form and size, and many 
of them noxious in their qualities. 
He whose eye can distinguish the various beauties 
of uncultivated nature, and whose ear is not shut to 
the wild sounds in the woods, will be delighted in 
