these days are all over now," said he to Philips, "and when you are in your best health, and your happiest days, remember how short your time may be, and think of Thompson's deathbed."

Philips, who was still young in the world, had never before witnessed but two death-beds, his poor father's and mother's; and who will wonder that the present scene brought back to his mind all that passed in their last moments. The following day every thing was prepared for poor Thompson's burial. A coffin was made by the ship's carpenter, and in the evening, all the men being ranged in order on deck, the funeral service was read, and the body was slowly let down over the ship's side, and buried in the waters. Little did Thompson think, when he entered the mouth of the Orinoco, that the fine river he was sailing up so ' cheerfully, was to be his grave; and let all who read his story, learn to be prepared for their latter end.

After a couple of days sail, the Erin came to anchor before the town of Angostura. Here the Captain and some of the crew went ashore, and, being informed that this was an evening of some national festival, Philips gladly went also. In the square, in the front of the Governor's house, a crowd of Indians were assembled together to dance, according to the custom of their country, dressed in short petticoats

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fied round the waist, and ornamented with different coloured feathers; they wore on the. head crowns made of coloured paper, and had high plumes of feathers: their long black hair hung behind, in twists, like ropes; and the chief of the party had a scarlet mantle, and carried a sort of staff in his hand. Most of the dancers were boys, from the age. of twelve and upwards, and all carried bows and arrows. When the chief arrived, he walked slowly along, and took his seat in a chair of state, near which a tall pole, about ten feet high, was fixed firmly in the earth and to the top of it were fastened long strings of different colours, which hung down to the ground. Round this pole the dancers ranged themselves, and each taking one of the coloured streamers in his hand, the music struck up, and all danced, not round and round the pole, but each changing place with the other, in regular order and succession. This they perform with the most graceful move. ments, and in perfect step and time to the music; and, by the regularity with which they go through the figure of the dance, the coloured strings which they still lead with them as they go, become interlaced, one with another, and form a kind of beautiful net-work, extending from the top of the pole down to the group of dancers. A pause then takes place for an in stant in the music; all stand, gracefully holding up the strings in their hands; and the music

striking up again, with a quick and lively air, the dance is renewed to untwist the strings, which is as regularly completed as before, by reversing the figure, so that each person returns to his own place by the same movement by which he had quit it. This amusement was kept up until a late hour in the evening, when all were regaled with a feast of fruits and wines, and thus ended the night's amusement.

Angostura is a large town, built on the side of a high hill, which over-hangs the river, and on the summit of which stands the fort, and the Governor's palace. There are several stores in the town, belonging to both the natives and foreigners, where English rum, wine, tobacco, and cheese, can be procured. But all European articles, bear an exorbitant price. What was Philips' astonishment on being asked a dol lar for a bottle of porter, such as he was accustomed to buy at home for four pence; and every thing else, of the kind, bore a proportionate price. On the south side, the town slopes down to a lake, which, from the stagnation of its waters, is extremely unwholesome.

From the difficulty of the navigation of that part of the river which yet remained to them to go up, so large a vessel as the Erin was not cal. culated for the rest of the voyage; and it was, therefore, necessary to procure another, of that kind which usually plies on the river. These

are called Flecheras, and are large open barges, with one mast, and carrying a spacious square sail; the boat can, however, also be rowed, when there is but little wind, and in places where the stream does not flow with great rapidity; but, in some cases, the Flecheras, even with these helps, cannot stem the cur rent, and are obliged to draw near the shore, and anchor until a breeze comes on. They are calculated to carry upwards of forty persons; and that in which Philips now took his passage had, at least, that number on board, including all the passengers of the Erin, and some of her seamen, amongst which was our acquaintance, Denis, and also several other persons from Angostura.

Every necessary arrangement being made for this the most dangerous part of the voyage, they set sail early in the morning, and continued their course uninterruptedly until the evening of the second day, when the Captain apprehending that foul weather was coming on, they drew to shore, and landed for the night. Fires were immediately lighted to keep off the wild beasts, which they could plainly hear howling all round them, and some of the men being directed to take their turn in keeping watch through the night, the passengers laid themselves. down to rest, some in hammocks slung on trees, and some, who were not so well provided for, stretched themselves on the sod; though this,.

from the number of serpents and other vene❤ mous animals which abound here, was dangerous in the extreme. Early in the night the air became so sultry as to render it almost impossible to breathe, and soon a tremendous thunder storm came on. Philips thought, as he lay in his hammock, he had never witnessed so awful a scene, so far did it surpass any thunder storm he had ever seen at home. Each flash of lightning lasted for six or seven seconds, and seemed to dart all across the sky, making the whole firmament appear as if on fire, while the very rain that fell was hot.

It was then that one of the passengers, who was a person of learning, informed them that the very worst situation they could have chosen during the thunder, was under the trees. It is a well known fact," said he, "that any thing tall and pointed, draws the thunder clouds to it, and, therefore, it is, that trees are so often struck by the lightning. If 1," continued he, were overtaken by such a storm, the place I should chuse for safety, would be the most open and exposed part of the plain. It is true, I should be more drenched with rain, but there is very little danger of the lightning, and it is easy to discover which is the evil we should most dread. In like manner, I always, in such cases, place myself in the middle of the house, and if my feet rest on a carpet, I am happy."