Theytoldhowthroughthewoodstangledwithundergrowth，mattedtogetherwithlianas，theyhadhewedapath。Monkeysandparrotschatteredatthem，andawhitemiasmaticvapourhungovertreesandlakes，buryingtheclearingsinitswreaths，andliftingonlyatmid
day，tocloseagainuponthewoodsatnight。Theytalkedofalligators，jaguars，thegiantant
eater，andthemysteriousbirdknowntothemasthe`ipetata\'，whichinitstailcarriesaburningfire。Intherecessesofthethicketsdemonslurked，andwildCaaguas，whowithablowpipeandapoisonedarrowslewyouandyourhorse，themselvesunseen。PoolscoveredwithVictoriaregia；massesofredandyellowflowersuponthetrees，thetreesthemselvesgigantic，andthemosswhichfloatedfromtheirbrancheslongasaspear；thevoyageincanoes，whirledlikeacorkupontherapids；
lastlythefallsthemselves，andhowthey，awestrickenatthesight，fellprostrateandpromisedmanycandlestotheVirginandthesaintsontheirreturn，theytalkedofintothewatchesofthenight。
Somehow，Ilikethosecountrieswhich，astheprovinceofGuayraandParaguay，appeartohavenofuture，andofwhichthecharmisinthepast。