STRANGE SOUNDS. 145

the trees the cries of the large animals. They
awaken the birds that live in society, and by de-
grees the whole assembly is in movement. We
shall soon find that it is not always in a fine moon-
light, but more particularly at the time of a storm
and violent showers, that this tumult takes place
among the wild beasts. ‘May Heaven grant them
a quiet night and repose, and us also!’ said the
monk who accompanied us to the Rio Negro, when,
sinking with fatigue, he assisted in arranging our
accommodations for the night. It was indeed a
strange situation, to find no silence in the solitude
of woods. In the inns of Spain we dread the sharp
sounds of guitars from the next apartment; in
those of the Oroonoko,—which are an open beach,
or the shelter of a solitary tree,—we are afraid of
being disturbed in our sleep by voices issuing from
the forest.”

Immediately succeeding this night-scene we
have a striking account of the perils encountered
by our travellers during the day-time:—“ We
stopped at noon in a desert spot, where I left my
companions while they drew the boat to land, and
were occupicd in preparing our dinner. I went
along the beach to observe nearer a group of croco-
diles sleeping in the sun, and placed in such a
manner as to have their tails, furnished with broad
plates, resting on one another. Some little herons,