"The river has, in it's course, many noisome marshes on it's sides;
and the trees are so thick, as to intercept the rays of the sun:
consequently, the earth beneath their branches is covered with
rotten leaves and putrid vegetables. Hence arise copious
collections of foul vapours, which clog the atmosphere. These unite
with large clouds, and precipitate in rains. The rains are no
sooner over, than the sun breaks forth, and shines with scorching
heat. The surface of the ground, in places not covered with trees,
is scarcely dry, before the atmosphere is again loaded by another
collection of clouds and exhalations, and the sun is again
concealed.
"In the rainy seasons of the year, months successively pass away in
this sort of vicissitudes, without the least diminution of heat;
excepting at nights, when the air is poisoned by noxious chilling
dews. But, sometimes, during the periodical rains, which begin
about the middle of April, and with uncertain intervals of dry
weather end late in November, the torrents of water that fall, for
weeks together, are prodigious, which give the river a tremendous
aspect; and, from their suddenness and impetuosity, cannot be
imagined, by a European, to portend any thing but a deluge. This
bursting of the waters above, and the raging of the river below,
with the blackness of the nights, accompanied with horrid tempests
of lightning and thunder, constitute a magnificent scene of terror
unknown but in the tropic world.
"Of the little army destined for the San Juan expedition after some
delay at the mouth of the river, two hundred regulars, with
ammunition and stores; proceeded up the river with the Indians, in
their several crafts. It being now near the end of the dry season,
the river contained very little water, and the shoals and sandy
beaches rendered the passage difficult. The men were frequently
obliged to quit their boats, and unite their strength in the water,
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