Romantic Incidents In The Lives Of Naturalists Celebrated Travellers

Author : Cecilia Lucy Brightwell
Publisher : Rarebooksclub.com
ISBN 13 : 9781230016481
Total Pages : 72 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (164 download)

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Download or read book Romantic Incidents in the Lives of Naturalists and Celebrated Travellers written by Cecilia Lucy Brightwell and published by Rarebooksclub.com. This book was released on 2013-09 with total page 72 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1861 edition. Excerpt: ... extraordinary gestures when preparing to drink. The monks say that it makes the sign of the cross upon the water; and this popular belief has obtained for the toucan from the Creoles the name of diostede (God grant it thee). Most of our animals were confined in small willow cages, others ran at full liberty all over the boat. At the approach of rain the macaws sent forth frightful cries; the toucan wanted to gain the shore to fish; and the little monkeys, the titis, went in search of Father Zea, to take shelter in the large sleeves of his Franciscan habit. These scenes were often repeated, and made us forget the torment of the moschettoes. At night, when we rested, we placed a leather case containing our provisions in the centre; then our instruments and the cages of the animals; our hammocks were suspended around these, and beyond were those of the Indians. The exterior circle was formed by the fires which were lighted to keep off the jaguars of the forest." Even this fiery defence encircling the encampment of the voyagers was not suflicient to preserve the enclosure inviolate. "Our satisfaction," says Humboldt, " was disturbed at our last resting-place on the Cassiquiare. We slept on the edge of a forest. In the middle of the night we were warned by the Indians that they heard very near us the cries of the jaguar, and that they came from the top of some neighbouring trees. Such is the thickness of the forests in these regions that scarcely any animals are to be found there but such as climb trees, including various species of the feline genus. Our fires burning bright, and having by long habit become tranquil respecting dangers, we paid little attention to the cries of the jaguars. They were attracted by the...