ade my uncle anxious to continue our voyage.

We passed several plantations of the cocoa-tree, from the seed of which
chocolate is made. The cocoa-pod resembles a small, rough melon, and is
of a dark-red colour, full of small beans.

We had now in view in the distance ranges of mountains, which appeared
to be of vast height; a sign that we were approaching a region very
different from that which we had hitherto traversed.

The second or third night of our voyage in the champan, we brought up
alongside a narrow sand-bank backed by lofty trees; and after we had
lighted our fire, and just as we were preparing for our evening meal, on
looking up I saw a number of comical little faces grinning down upon us.
As we did not move, their monkey owners became bolder, and advanced
towards the ends of the boughs, playing all sorts of gambols,--such as
hanging by their tails, and swinging backwards and forwards. Many of
them had young ones on their backs, who, in spite of the leaps made by
their parents, clung fast, even when they were swinging by their tails
with their heads downwards. An old monkey led the way, followed by the
others, with flankers and a rear-guard. Sometimes, as a variety, they
played a regular game of "follow the leader," and amused us much. They
were succeeded by vast flights of parrots and parrakeets, which came to
rest in couples on some wild fig-trees which grew near, and indulged in
a vociferous concert till the shades of night crept over the river. At
times the air was full of them, coming from all directions; but,
notwithstanding the din they made, we allowed them to enjoy their repose
undisturbed.

As the interior of the toldo, or cabin, of the champan was excessively
close, and infested by mosquitoes, we formed a sort of tent of the
boat's sail, which we stretched on four uprights, leaving room below for
the air to circulate. Under this covering we spread our bedding,
trusting to the Bogos, as the boatmen are called, to keep a proper
watch; and still more to the vigilance of the doctor's dog, Jumbo, who
always lay at his master's feet. We had been so accustomed to hear of
alligators, jaguars, and huge serpents, without having hitherto suffered
from them, that all anxiety on the subject had vanished. When we went
out shooting in the woods, we of course kept a sharp look-out on either
side, and took care where we stepped, that we might not be putting our
feet on a venomous serpent, or allow a j