This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1869. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XXIV. THE START UP RIVER. TRAVELLING BY NIGHT.--AN ARCTIC NEGRO. BRACKISH WATER. A CARIB BREAKFAST. MOSQUI TIAN VILLAS. HIEROGLYPHICS. WOOLWA INDIANS. KISI LALA. MUSH-LA.--A LIVE CANDLESTICK.--MAHOGANY. ITS GREAT VALUE. INDIAN MANNEB8. CHOCOLATE. THE SPANISH HAMMOCK. Having now given some idea of the preparations necessary for canoe travelling, it is high time we cmbarked and set off on the journey. Accordingly, the men were summoned, and in due course (not very quickly, it must be owned, for there is always something to be done at the last moment) made their appearance at the little pier belonging to the Moravian missionaries. One man carried the mast, spreets, sails, etc., another the paddles, a third the rudder, iron pot, and what a Yankee would call the fixings; while the others divided between them their own provisions, well wrapped in plantain leaves, and the personal luggage of the crew, packed in a Carib trunk or basket, so closely woven of split cane that it is impervious to the heaviest rain. It is simply made, in the form of two deep trays, one of which fits tightly over the other, and requires neither lock nor hinges. Each man brings his own machete, a most useful tool, either as sword or pruning-hook, to kill a snake or a man, or to pick his teeth or cut down a plantain. As to the culinary utensils, the crew always look out for them. If going on a long trip, they are charged to the passenger, and, when the voyage is over, become the perquisites of the crew; but on the present occasion, the necessary articles, such as a large iron pot on three legs (the favourite cooking apparatus on this coast), a kettle, and a large tin dish, were borrowed from friends. Each man carries a sheath knife in a belt, and as to fork or spoon, they do not k...