CHAPTER IV. THE PERUVIAN SAND-COAST. Its desolate Character--The Mule is here the ‘Ship of the Desert.’--A Shipwreck and its Consequences--Sand-Spouts-- Medanos--Summer and Winter--The Garuas--The Lomas--Change produced in their Appearance during the Season of Mists--Azara’s Fox--Wild Animals--Birds--Reptiles--The Chincha or Guano Islands 30 CHAPTER V. THE AMAZONS, THE GIANT RIVER OF THE TORRID ZONE. The Course of the Amazons and its Tributaries--The Strait of Obydos--Tide Waves on the Amazons--The Black-water rivers-- The Rio Negro--The Bay of the Thousand Isles--The Pororocca-- Rise of the River--The Gapo--Magnificent Scenery--Different Character of the Forests beyond and within the verge of Inundation--General Character of the Banks--A Sail on the Amazons--A Night’s Encampment--The ‘Mother of the Waters’-- The Piranga--Dangers of Navigating on the Amazons--Terrific Storms--Rapids and Whirlpools--The Stream of the Future-- Travels of Orellana--Madame Godin 36 CHAPTER VI. THE PRIMEVAL FORESTS OF TROPICAL AMERICA. Their peculiar Charms and Terrors--Disappointments and Difficulties of the Botanist--The Bush-ropes--Variety of Trees and Plants--Trees with Buttresses--Numberless parasites-- Character of the Primitive Forest according to its Site--Its Aspect during the Rainy Season--A Hurricane in the Forest-- Beauty of the Forest after the Rainy Season--Our Home Scenes equally beautiful--Bird Life on the rivers of Guiana--Morning Concert--Repose of Nature at Noon--Nocturnal Voices of the Forest 53 CHAPTER VII. THE WILD INDIANS OF TROPICAL AMERICA. The wild Forest Tribes--Their Physical Conformation and Moral Characteristics--Their Powers of Endurance not inferior to those of other Races--Their stoical indifference--Their Means of Subsistence--Fishing--Hunting--The Wourali Poison-- Ornaments--Painting--Tattooing--Religion--The Moon, a Land of Abundance--The Botuto--The Piaches--The Savage Hordes of Brazil and Guiana--The Ottomacas--Dirt-eaters--Their Vindictive Ferocity and War Stratagems--The extinct Tribe of the Atures--A Parrot the last Speaker of their Language-- Their Burial-cavern--The Uaupes Indians--Their large Huts-- Horrid Custom of Disinterment--The Macus--The Purupurus--The ‘Palheta’--The Mandrucus--Singular resemblance of some of the Customs of the American Indians to those of Remote Nations--The Caribs--The Botocudos--Monstrous distension of the Ears and Under-lip--Their Bow and Arrow--Their Migrations--Bush-rope Bridge--Botocudo Funeral--‘Tanchon,’ the Evil Spirit 62 CHAPTER VIII. THE MEXICAN PLATEAUS, AND THE SLOPES OF SIKKIM.