Ours was a light and graceful-looking craft, and we soon discovered she was one of the speediest on the river.

After taking leave of Señor R––. we shot off at a merry pace, sitting under parasols and umbrellas and veils, which tolerably skreened us from the burning sun, and taking it by turns every now and then to squeeze ourselves under the apology for an awning, where we found it comparatively cool, but, from the necessarily cramped position which one had to maintain, it was not so pleasant otherwise as the outside. We had no seats but our trunks; however, the boat progressing rapidly, soon bore us into scenes of such incredible enchantment and beauty, that all minor inconveniences were pretty well forgotten. We seemed transported to a new world–all was so indescribably wild and beauteous around us. The astonishing excess and superabundance of the gorgeous chaos of vegetation on all sides, even outdid that of the Tierra Caliente of Mexico, and it is difficult to say more.

The sun raged like a blazing tempest overhead, pouring down cataracts of golden flame, as it were, over all these matted masses of flowery and leafy luxuriance, without being able to penetrate their dense and intricate foldings.