ting with impenetrable thickets of bush, the
foliage of which was of the most variegated colours and curious forms,
beyond which again rose the umbrageous masses of lofty trees, several of
which were clothed with blossoms of pure scarlet instead of leaves,
while over all trailed the serpentine convolutions of gorgeous flowering
creepers. Euphorbias, acacias, baobabs, all were in blossom, and the
fresh morning air was laden with delicious and almost overpoweringly
fragrant perfume. Wherever a slight break in the continuity of the
mangrove belt permitted the river bank itself to be seen, the margin of
the water was ablaze with tall orchids, whose eccentricities of form
were matched only by their unsurpassable beauty of colouring; and even
the tall, luxuriant grasses contributed their quota to the all-pervading
loveliness of the scene by the delicate purple tints of their stamens;
while the curious, pendent nests of the weaver-bird, hanging here and
there from the longer and coarser grass-stalks curving over the water,
added a further element of strangeness and singularity to the picture.
Brilliant-plumaged birds flashed hither and thither; kingfishers of all
sizes perched solemnly upon the roots and overhanging branches of the
mangroves, intently watching the surface of the muddy water for the tiny
ripple that should betray the presence of their prey, or flitted low
athwart the placid, shining surface of the creek; bright-coloured
parrots were seen clawing their way about the trunks of the more lofty
trees, or winging their flight fussily with loud screams from branch to
branch; the cooing of pigeons was heard in every direction; and high
overhead, a small black spot against the deep, brilliant blue of the
sky, marked the presence of a fishing eagle on the look-out for his
breakfast.

In less than half-an-hour we had traversed the distance to the mouth of
the creek, just before reaching which we were astonished to discover the
_Barracouta_ hard and fast upon a sand-bank that lay just off the
entrance, with her topgallant-masts struck, and her remaining boats in
the water, apparently engaged in the task of lightening her. The
captain looked terribly annoyed, but said nothing until we had rounded
the last point and come to an anchor near the spot at which we had left
the _Barracouta_ on the previous night, when he ordered the gig to be
hauled alongside, and, directing me to accompany him, gave the word for
us to pull to