ke their supper, being almost devoured by
mosquitoes, but at last were off at nine o'clock. Our force consisted
of two men and a little lad. It was with difficulty that two could
be accommodated beneath the awning, and Manuel and I took our places
outside. For my own part, sleep was impossible. Now that we were in
motion, the mosquitoes ceased to trouble us. The stream was narrow, and
on account of the curves, we were forced to move slowly. We floated out
under and beneath bamboos, which hung far over the water and outlined
themselves like lace-work against the sky. At first, there was
moonlight. Later, the moon set, but the stars were brilliant. The early
morning was cold, and a heavy dew dampened everything outside the
awning. During the day our men stopped on every pretext to rest and
sleep, and whenever we came to a considerable stretch of water, any sign
of storm or cloud was heralded. Just before daybreak, we had reached the
beginning of the first large lagoon. Here our sail was hoisted, though
it was of little use, while we poled along near shore, following all the
long curves. Our first stop, on account of a norther, was exciting; from
the anxiety of the men, we expected to be instantly upset. We ran
into the mouth of a little stream and lay to, and the men were almost
instantly asleep. Our party went out exploring; our landing place was a
heap of shells, whether artificial or natural I am not sure; the place
was a favorite spot with hunters of caimans, or alligators, and we found
numbers of almost complete skeletons and skulls lying on the banks. The
boys picked up quantities of scales and teeth, and it was interesting to
see how the new conical teeth grow up under the hollows of the old ones.
We killed a duck or two for supper. One or two large caimans were seen,
as we strolled along. Finally, I insisted upon the men starting again.
We were traversing a system of great lagoons which opened one into
another. Poling was our only mode of progress. That night Manuel and I
occupied the shelter. When we rose, we found the great lagoon, through
which we were then passing, quite different in its character from those
preceding it. Thickets of mangroves bordered the shore; the display
of aerial roots was interesting, and here we were able to examine the
curious smooth tips of the roots which are to penetrate the soft mud
bottom. We landed at one place to get wood and to catch a glimpse of
the sea, whose roaring we had for
|