The Argosy — page 41: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Ree | | Alone in the Forest. 31 cries and shouts. At last nature was getting exhausted, and I stopped to rest. Those only who have experienced what it is to travel through the tangled bush of a South American forest, where the moist air generates innumerable hosts of mosquitoes and other venomous insects, whose bites render a European almost mad, can understand the state of tor- ture under which this part of my journey was performed. Perspiring at every pore ; overwhelmed with a thirst which, since the early morning, I had not been able to quench; my flesh torn, and my garments reduced almost to nothing by scrambling through the brake, I was in a truly pitiable plight, and I began to think that death would be preferable to a longer continuance of the pain and anguish I experienced. Exhausted as I was, [ had no sooner seated myself than I was obliged to rise again. It was high noon, and the heat had drawn up a misty exhalation, a sort of mephitic vapour, which nearly suffocated me, causing a gasping, choking sensation, which was exceedingly painful. In short, what with anxiety, irritation, and fatigue, I felt that I was verging on high fever or madness, and that the only way to keep it under was to push on till I reached a place where I could get more aur. On, on, on, through briar and brake, I fought my way, till I came to a part of the forest where the brush almost ceased ; and here, with a feeling of thankfulness which words are powerless to express, I threw myself down on the soft moss. But my thirst was too painful for me to do other than rest temporarily ; and I arose and searched for water. Of spring or rivulet there was no sign; but I soon found that a beneficent Creator had provided in other ways for the thirsty forest traveller. Prompted by curiosity, I examined a sort of wild pine, or parasite, which grew upon many of the trees, the leaves of which formed a natural bucket or reservoir, and which, on inspecting, I found to contain as much as a quart of pure water. I was not long in quenching my thirst; and this done, I again threw myself on the soft turf to rest. I believe I slept for some time, and when I awoke, though I was still suffering a martyrdom from the bites of the insects, I felt I had much to be thankful for. This part of the forest presented an aspect altogether novel, but sin- gularly impressive. The trees, which grew to a size and height which it was startling to look upon, seemed arranged more according to the rules of art than the caprice of nature, forming a long vista of pillared and arched aisles, like the nave of some giant cathedral. I had been previously greatly struck with the floral beauties of the forest ; but here, the soft green moss, with its embroidery of flowers, which carpeted every inch of the ground; the delicacy and luxunance of the creepers, which clothed the stems of the trees, and hung pendant from the lofty branches like verdant chandeliers; the variety and elegance of the air plants; the singularity and beauty of the parasites ; comicaocks (GO)