Frank Radcliffe; a story of travel and adventure in the forests of Venezuela . hed bythe drowsy rush of the river, we enjoyed a profoundsleep. At break of day the howling monkeys rousedus; and having cooked our slender breakfast, wejourneyed onwards through the Mesa de Pavones, adreary flat, enlivened to some extent by herds ofcattle, attended as usual by the crotophagi, whichsearched the animals for parasites, alighting for thispurpose on their backs. A long and very fatiguing day brought us to avillage on the banks of the Guarico, where we spentthe night in the house of the missionary, whose
Frank Radcliffe; a story of travel and adventure in the forests of Venezuela . hed bythe drowsy rush of the river, we enjoyed a profoundsleep. At break of day the howling monkeys rousedus; and having cooked our slender breakfast, wejourneyed onwards through the Mesa de Pavones, adreary flat, enlivened to some extent by herds ofcattle, attended as usual by the crotophagi, whichsearched the animals for parasites, alighting for thispurpose on their backs. A long and very fatiguing day brought us to avillage on the banks of the Guarico, where we spentthe night in the house of the missionary, whosehospitable welcome to us, entire strangers, won ourlastino^ gratitude. In the morning we forded the Guarico, and pursuedour way over low alluvial flats, which seemed yet toreek from the soaking of the last inundation. Thenight was passed in the open air, and although awhite fleecy mi,st covered the plain like a lake, wesustained no ill effects from our exposure. For daysI had sighed for the cool green forests of the llanos, with their perpetually receding horizon,. REACH SAN FERNANDO. 85 their arid dusty soil scorched by a blazing sun, theirmonotonous landscape, and the insufferable thirstwhich parched our throats and mouths until ourtongues felt shrivelled, impressed me with a sense ofdesolation which almost made me doubt that beyondthem lay a land as beautiful as they were seemed incredible that these sterile, sun-bakedplains could exist side by side with murmuringstreams, graceful palms, and shady groves. While thinking thus we perceived lights in the dis-tance, and in half an hour more we arrived at thetown of San Fernando. A large river flowed pastthe town, reflecting the few scattered lights in itsbroad bosom. It was the Apure. CHAPTER Y DISPOSE OF OUR HORSES AND MULES — WE BUY A LANCHA, AND ENGAGEINDIANS AS CREW—LEAVE SAN FERNANDO—FORESTS — ARAGUATOS —AQUATIC BIRDS—ALLIGATOR SHOOTING—TURTLES — JAGUAR SHOOTING —PARTICULARS OF THE J
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1880, bookpublisherlondo, bookyear1884
