they were
singing.

"I do not think they can be enemies, or they would not be so merry,"
said Natty.

"I hope not," I observed.

"If we could stop them we might hire their canoes to convey us up the
river."

"It might be dangerous to do so," said David, "on two accounts: they
might prove treacherous, and the miasmas rising from the stream might
also possibly give some of us fever. I think we had better let them go
on their way, and proceed as Senhor Silva proposed."

Returning, we found the party ready to start. We told Senhor Silva
about the canoes.

"I think you did wisely to let them go," he remarked. "Unless we were
under the protection of their chief man, or king, as he is called, we
could not tell how they might behave. We must use great caution in our
intercourse with these people. When we have shown them that we are
friends, and desire to do them all the good in our power, we, I hope,
shall find them faithful; but they have become so debased by their
intercourse with the white people, and especially, I am sorry to say,
with my countrymen, who often deal treacherously with them, that they
cannot be depended on. They in return, as might naturally be supposed,
cheat and deceive the whites in every way."

Our path first led through the forest near the banks of the river, of
which we occasionally got glimpses. It was here of considerable width,
bordered by mangrove bushes. In one or two places there were wide flats
covered with reeds. Suddenly, as we passed a point of the river, I saw
drawn up what had much the appearance, at the first glance, of a
regiment of soldiers, with red coats and white trousers.

"Why, where can those men have come from?" I cried out.

David, who was near me, burst into a laugh, in which his sisters and the
boys joined. "Why, Andrew, those are birds," he answered. "A regiment,
true enough, but of flamingoes; and see! they are in line, and will
quickly march away as we approach."

A second glance showed me that he was right; and a very curious
appearance they had.

"See! there is the sentinel."

As he spoke, one of the birds nearest to us issued a sound like that of
a trumpet, which was taken up by the remainder; and the whole troop,
expanding their flaming wings, rose with loud clamours into the air,
flying up the stream. We went on, and cutting off a bend in the river,
again met it; and here our bearers declared that they must stop and
rest. We accordingly enc