g
purposes, and to collect aromatic barks, such as the clove bark and the
cinnamon. I never refused to perform any work she gave me, and went
about it with so cheerful a countenance that I gained her approbation
and confidence. I own that all the time my heart was very heavy, and
that I was endeavouring to discover some means by which I might have a
chance of escaping. At the great distance I was from the coast, I knew
that to escape would be very difficult; but I notwithstanding resolved
never to despair. Others had been rescued from equally hopeless
situations; why should not I? though I could not see the means by which
it was to be accomplished. My place of captivity was in the
neighbourhood of a fine river, abounding with fish; and after a little
time I was sent out to assist my master and his companions in catching
them. Sometimes we used the root of a shrub found in the forests,
which, being steeped in water, the juice was poured into the pools where
the fish lay. This completely stupefied them, and made them float to
the surface, where the natives dexterously transfixed them with their
spears. They have, however, another and a very amusing way of catching
them in the stream, which I think might be imitated to advantage in
England. A number of model ducks are made of light wood, to imitate the
real bird, and to their feet hangs a line with a hook and some tempting
baits. These were set floating in the current, and watched at a little
distance by a man in a canoe. Sometimes the ducks would swim tail
first, contrary to the practice of all live ducks; but the fish, I
supposed, did not observe the eccentricity, for they bit just as readily
at the bait below. As soon as the fisherman perceived that a duck began
to bob and dive, he paddled forward and secured the living prize
beneath. I soon grew expert at this sort of fishing, which was very
amusing; and as I set to work to manufacture the ducks, I sometimes had
five or six dozen floating around me, and it was very exciting pulling
here and there, when, by their movements, I saw they had made a capture.

Near the village, on the banks of the stream, were several podado trees,
which are of a light-green foliage, and extremely elegant. They are the
abode of fire-flies; and at night it was most beautiful to watch the
thousands of those brilliant insects flitting about among their
branches. Sometimes I have seen both banks of the river completely lit
up as i