Toward evening we returned on our path, to regain the schooner; but instead of taking the circuitous way of the river, by which we had come, we made for Oak Point by the most direct route, through these channels; but night coming on, we lost ourselves.

Our situation became the most disagreeable that can be imagined.

Being unable to find a place where we could land, on account of the morass, we were obliged to continue rowing, or rather turning round, in this species of labyrinth, constantly kneeling in our little canoes, which any unlucky movement would infallibly have caused to upset.

It rained in torrents and was dark as pitch.

At last, after having wandered about during a considerable part of the night, we succeeded in gaining the edge of the mainland.