Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1860-02-29

heard but the dripping of water from the
leaVes OF the forest trees, and the hoarse voice
OF the billows. One by one the stars peeped
out from behind the recedng curtain viii ct
had veled them. l also ventured out of my
retreat and lay myself on the sandy beach to
eat my supper, for [ dared not sleep, throug
fear OF being picked up by some rowing jaguar
or alligator.
was absorbed in reflection, when suddenly
l perceived out in the sea, within about half a
mile of the coast, large black mass approach
ing toward me. l strained my eyes to pierce
the darkness which separated me from it, and
clearly discerned small light, or lantern, mo-
wing regularly up and down. i knew by this
that 1t must be some ship sailing fast to des
truction. Without losing minute l set fire
to the rancho, and in few seconds a column
OF flame was towering high up in the air, and
casting ray OF light throughout the surroun-
ding wilderness. My signal was perceived,
and the vessel soon tackled ont Of sight. Ma
ny ships have of late years been lost on this
coast-among others, two Belgian vessels. the
Constant and the Dylc. l have no doubt the
cause of these disasters is the action of the
marine current before mentioned, and which
is not marked upon the nautical maps in gen.
eral use among seamen.
The coast being very low, cannot be seen
from any distance during the night, and altho'
exact observations of latitude and longitude
may have been taken during the day previous,
the stream causes an unexpected deviation
from the point steered for, and when at last the
danger is apparent, especially if the north
wind should chance to blow, the saving of the
vessel is hopeless. When / returned to St.
Thomas, l found there the bark Progress, from
Antwerp. The captain had noticed my signal
and by the use of his glass distinguished me
he had come 10 the conclusion that l was of
the native Caribbs, camping out for the night.
had nevertheless preserved him from destruc-
tIon. l heaped up some wood on the fire, and
determining on taklrg few hours Of repose, l
cooked my pistols, rolled myself up in my ban-
ket, and lay down. l had reckoned without
the sand flies and nocturnal sounds. Every
thing, at first, was STILL The beautiful red,
green, and yellow fire. flies were fitting by
thousands through the air. Gradually, a sort
of humming sound reached my ears, proceed
ing from the depths of the forest. 1t swelled
and waxed louder and louder it seemed to
approach me. Ten minutes more and 1 was
in the midst of the most internal concert that
ever fell on human ears.
The din and uproar was astounding. Thou
sands of tree frogs occupied every tree in my
vicinity, and probably for hundred miles "a
round the numbers OF enormous toads of va
rious species were crawling everywhere; gee
kos Ga species of lizard) gided inyisblv over
my face and body; innumerabie Swarms OF
crckets, grasshoppers and cicades covered ev-
cry plant of the Manabique territory. All
these creatures seemed STRIVING to Outdo the
others in the production of unearthly sounds.
1t was one immense accumulation of singular
and inharmonous noises-of croakings, pi-
pings, bellowings, strdulatiOns, w-sharpen-
ings, chirpings, squeakings, gatherings. I'M
agine to yourselves million of voices rails
ed simultaneously, with every variety of in
tonation and with increasing perseverance.
and you will still have but weak idea of
the discord which that night drove sleep from
my couch
From time to time the shrill cry of some
night bird startled it silently lowered
over me, and several times l distinctly heard
the roar of jaguar, roaming along the beach
in search of the large turtles which at this sea-
son come to spawn in the dry sand. Hosts of
sand flies and mosquitoes assaulted me all
night, and irritated me, by the hopelessness
of getting rid of them scratching and slap
ping were of no avail, as those thus destroy
ed with sort of savage satisfaction were inn
medately replaced by new myriads. At last
the long wished for dawn appeared and the sun
rose rapidly above the horizon. The bowling
monkeys saluted its presence by terrific cho-
rus, which echoed far and wide through the
solitary woods, and crowned the wonderful vo-
cal performances of this memorable night.