BAJABONITA  RIVER.
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through some magnificent sweep of tableland, over grassy
paths that led by a tobacco, plantain, or coffee patch ; now
I would be slowly picking my way down to some rapid
river by its stony and precipitous bank, the rapid but clear
waters of which had to be forded, sometimes saddle-flaps
deep; then again I pulled up at some negro "bohio" (hut)
to inquire my way—one thing never ceasing, and that was
the movement of my switch either upon the body of the
horse or before his eyes, the effect being good in either
case. Before striking the Puerto Plata road I counted no
less than ten rivers or turns of rivers that I had crossed,
the water, without exception, being sweet, clear, and cold,
and their beds usually gravel or small stone ; the banks,
in many cases, being exceedingly precipitous. The principal
one of these, and that I crossed several times, was the
Bajabonita or Isabella, whose waters, though swift, were
On the Bajabonita.
generally shallow, though, from the nature of its banks, it