148 A FIERY DEFENCE.

bird makes 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 Fran-
ciscan 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 be-
yond 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 encamp-
ment of the voyagers was not sufficient 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