. The gate of the Pacific . flinging their paddles with a twirling motionhigh into the air, caught them as they fell with greatdexterity, and striking the water with the flats sent acloud of spray over the canoe. This bit of wild pan-tomime seemed to infuse a sort of demoniacal strengthinto all hands; for a moment all was spray, noise,and shouting, during which the canoe rushed over therapid like a mad thing. Las Balas, Mico, and Machuca having thus beenpassed in safety, we soon arrived at Mr. Emmonss house,where we had left the Laura Frances on our way up;at we were at the landing, and g
. The gate of the Pacific . flinging their paddles with a twirling motionhigh into the air, caught them as they fell with greatdexterity, and striking the water with the flats sent acloud of spray over the canoe. This bit of wild pan-tomime seemed to infuse a sort of demoniacal strengthinto all hands; for a moment all was spray, noise,and shouting, during which the canoe rushed over therapid like a mad thing. Las Balas, Mico, and Machuca having thus beenpassed in safety, we soon arrived at Mr. Emmonss house,where we had left the Laura Frances on our way up;at we were at the landing, and gladly made ourway with all speed under shelter from the pouring Emmons soon had a hot dinner ready for us, towhich we did ample justice. The contrast betweenthe interior of a native house and that of an Anglo-Saxon settler is wonderful. Mrs. Emmons had herhouse as neat and clean as possible, everything in itsplace; poor thing, she seemed born for better thingsthan living in an amphibious state on the banks of the. 5 z n Oct O TAPIR MEAT. 309 San Juan ; she was ladylike and educated. Her husbandhad hoped to realize a rapid fortune, and he would, nodoubt, have been successful in doing so had the Transitcontinued, but with its downfall his hopes were de-stroyed. We had some tapir for dinner; it was like toughbeef, and it would take, I should think, some time toacquire a taste for it. We bought some of the meat totake home with us, but it was never cooked; the smellwas so strong that it was unanimously determined tothrow it away. Mr. Emmons told me that neither him-self nor family have had a days sickness since cominghere; and he confirms my opinion that a clean, airyhouse, and a plentiful use of water over the person, isthe secret of maintaining health in this climate. Sunday\ Jan. 29th.—After a few hours sleep I rousedup the party, shortly after midnight, and then—stowinga good cargo of provender, in the shape of coffee andsolids, like Major Dalgetty, to be ready fo
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